Luang Prabang Tourism: July 2010

Entering Laos

PASSPORT/VISA

All visitors entering Laos must possess valid passports. Visa can obtained from Lao Embassies and Consulates abroad. In addition, visa can also be obtained on arrival at the international Checkpoint.

30 days visas are available in advance of arrival at Lao embassies. This can be done in several ways through a tour company recognized by the Lao PDR from Lao Embassies or Consulate in countries such as: Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Cuba, PR of China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, DPR of Korea, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. The visa fee varies from between US$8- 42 depending o the agreement with the various governments.

For those wishing to extend their stay, it is possible to extend your visa at the Immigration Office in Vientiane, through travel agencies.

It is also possible to obtain a Visa-on-Arrival at the following international checkpoints:

China (Mohan) - Luang Namtha Province (Boten)
Thailand (Chiang Khong) - Bokeo Province (Houay Xay)
Thailand (Nong Khay) -Vientiane Capital (Friendship Bridge)
Thailand - Xayabouly Province (Nam Heuang Friendship Bridge)
Thailand (Nakhon Phanom) - Khammouane Province (Thakhaek)
Thailand (Moukdahan) - Savannakhet Province (Friendship Bridge II)
Thailand (Chong Mek) - Champasak Province (Vang Tao)
Vietnam (Nam Kanh) - Xieng Khouang Province (Nong Haet)
Vietnam (Kao Cheo) - Bolikhamxay (Nam Phao)
Vietnam (Lao Bao) - Savannakhet Province (Dene Savanh)
Wattay International Airport (Vientiane capital)
Pakse International Airport (Champasak Province)
Luang Prabang International Airport (Luang Prabang)

ENTRY POINTS

International Airports:
Laos has three International Airport :
- Wattay International Airport in Vientiane Capital.
- Luang Prabang International Airport in Luang Prabang Province .
- Pakse International Airport in Champasack Province .

A departure tax of 10US$ in levied for international flights, while 5.000 kips is levied for domestic flights.

Border Checkpoints

China-Laos
-Mohan - Botene , Yunnan to Luang Namtha Province .
- Xiangkok riverport on Mekong River in Luang Namtha Province (no visa on arrival).

Thailand-Laos
- Chiangkhong - Houixay, Chiang Rai to Bokeo Province.
- Nakaxeng - Kaenthao, Loei to Sayabouly Province.
- Nongkhay - Friendship Bridge , Nongkhay-Vientiane Capital.
- Bungkan - Pakxan, Nongkhay-Bolikhamxay Province (no visa on arrival).
- Nakorn Phanom - Thakhaek, Nakorn Phanom-Khammouane Province.
- Moukdahan - Savannakhet, crossing the Mekong River by boat.
- Chongmek - Vangtao, Ubol Ratchathani to Champasack Province.

Vietnam-Laos
-Taichang - Sobhoun, Laichau to Phongsaly Province (no visa on arrival).
-Nameo - Banleui, Thanh Hoa to Huaphanh Province.
-Namkan - Namkan, Nge An to Xieng Khouang Province.
-Keoneua - Nampao (Lak Sao), Ha tinh to Bolikhamxay Province.
-Napao - Chalo, Quangbinh to Khammouane Province (no visa on arrival).
-Laobao - Dansavanh, Quang tri to Savannakhet Province.

Cambodia-Laos
- Dong Calor - Veun Kham, Cambodia to Champasak Province.

Tourist Attraction

Royal Palace Museum: The National Museum, former Royal Palace. Constructed as a place between 1904 and 1909 A.D. During the reign of King Sisavangvong, now turned into a National Museum, It houses the Royal throne of Lane Xang Kingdom in its original splendor, and many other regalia and religious treasures. it is located on the bank of the Mekong river, facing mount Phousi. The building itself features a mixture of French beaut - arts style and traditional Lao motifs. The ground floor of the museum is divided into several halls and rooms in which are displayed gifts from other countries to the Lao king and collections of swords and Buddha images. The room to right of the entry, hall, once the King's reception room has walls covered with large-scale murals painted in 1930 by the French artist Alix de Fauteau. They depict scenes from traditional Laos life. A room in the rear of the former palace contains a small collection of traditional musical instruments and dancers' masks used for performances of the great Indian and southeast Asia epic the Ramayana.
Phousi Mountain: Phousi Mountain and That Chomsi situated 150 m and about 328 steps zigzag stair up above the peninsular views of the city and surrounding countryside. The climb is tiring, but the views from the top are certainly worth it. From the top you can see the old Royal palace museum, the river and surrounding villages. The temple has a gold spire stupa that can be seen from the parts of the city. That Chomsi of Luang Prabang was constructed on top of the Phousi hill in 1804 A.D. During the reign of King Anurut. It is a meaningful symbol as it stands in the center of the town. At mid-slope, and at the foot of the hill are several religious sites including caves, Buddha footprints, and templates. Drumming on top of Phousi hill was once a tradition of Luang Prabang people. The sound of the drum, every three hours could be heard from miles around.

Photo of Luang Prabang

The principle of self-Reliance

ຫຼັກການເພິ່ງຕົນເອງ
1. ດ້ານຈິດໃຈ ຕ້ອງຮູ້ຈັກຄໍາວ່າ ຕົນເປັນທີ່ເພິ່ງແຫ່ງຕົນ ສ້າງຈິດສໍານຶກທີ່ດີໃຫ້ກັບຕົນເອງ ຄືຮູ້ຈັກປານີປານອມ ເອື້ອອາທອນ ແລະ ປະໂຫຍດສ່ວນລວມເປັນທີ່ຕັ້ງ.

2. ດ້ານ ສັງຄົມ ຈະຕ້ອງມີຄວາມສາມັກຄີ ແລະ ຮູ້ຈັກການເອື້ອເຟື້ອເພື່ອແຜ່ ສ້າງເຄື່ອຄ່າຍຊຸມຊົນໃຫ້ເຂັ້ມແຂງ.
3. ດ້ານຊັບພະຍາກອນທໍາມະຊາດ ແລະ ສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມ ຕ້ອງຮູ້ຈັກໃຊ້ຊັບພະຍາກອນໃຫ້ເກີດປະໂຫຍດສູງສຸດ ແລະ ຫາທາງເພີ່ມພູນຊັບພະຍາກອນ ໂດຍຍຶດຫຼັກຂອງຄວາມຢັ້ງຢືນ.

4. ດ້ານເຕັກໂນໂລຢີ ຄວນເລຶອກເຕັກໂນໂລຢີທີ່ດີ ມາໃຊ້ ແລະເລຶອກໃຊ້ໃຫ້ເໝາະສົມກັບຄວາມຕ້ອງການ ແລະ ສະພາບແວດລ້ອມ.

5. ດ້ານເສດຖະກິດ ໃຊ້ວິທີການມຸ່ງລົດລາຍຈ່າຍກ່ອນ ຈາກນັ້ນຄ່ອຍຫາທາງເພີ່ມພູນລາຍໄດ້ ໂດຍຍຶດຫຼັກການ: ພໍຢູ່, ພໍກິນ, ພໍໃຊ້.

Luang Prabang Tourism: Luang Prabang is the World Heritage Town by UNESCO since 1995

Luang Prabang Tourism: Luang Prabang Festival and Daily Rituals

Luang Prabang Festival and Daily Rituals

Rituals and festivals, whether they occur once a day or once a year, convey the spirit and essence of a culture, identifying what is unique to a locality. In Luang Prabang, the ritual cycle is dominated by Thervada Buddhist customs and traditions, integrated with tributes paid to the animistic spirits (Phi) of the land and water. Because it is the traditional center of the region in Laos and the seat of the former royal family, annual festival(Boun) are often organized on a grand scale in Luang Prabang. Festivals are governed by different phase of the moon, but in general are held in the same month each year, as outline in the box below:

January: Boun Khoun Khao - Harvest festival, celebrated after rice has been harvested, in which a ceremony is held to give thanks to the spirit of the land and ensure the next harvest will be plentiful.

Boun Pha Vet - A temple based festival when jataka or story of Prince Vestsantara (the Buddha's penultimate life) are recited. The festival lasts for three days and three nights. Visiting fortuneteller are also a popular attraction at this time.

February: Boun Makha Bous'a - A temple - based festival held during the full moon commemorating the speech given by Buddha to 1,250 enlightened monks. Temple goers circumnavigate the Vat Three times with candles in a ceremony known as vien tian.Boun khao Chi - special bread of sticky rice, coated with egg and then grilled, is made and offered to the monks. This offering occurs during Makha bous'a, but is no longer widely practiced.

April: Boun Pimai - New year festival beginning in mid -April and last three days. Held before the onset of the rainy season, it recognizes the important of water in people's lives. It's also a purification festival during which Buddha images in the household and the temples are ritually cleaned with sacred water. the Prabang image is moved out of the national museum during the festival to be purified in the ground of Vat Mai. The water from cleaning ceremonies is then poured or splashed by people on to each other to clean them luck for the coming year. The most elaborate New year festival rites in Lao PDR are held in Luang Prabang with processions of the legendary guardian spirit of town. Traditionally, Boun Pi Mai also served to reaffirm Lao kingship.

Luang Prabang is the World Heritage Town by UNESCO since 1995

Luang Prabang, UNESCO World heritage site, is a city located in north central Laos, on the Mekong river about 400 km north of Vientiane, and the capital of Luang Prabang province.
Luang Prabang is rich in culture heritage, known as the seat of Lao culture, with monasteries, monuments traditional costumes and surrounded by many types of nature's beauty. Luang Prbang province has a total population of about 400,000. Main Ethnic groups are khmu, Hmong and Lao loum.
Luang Prabang is a town that wakes early each day when, beginning ever so faintly, the bells, gongs, and drums of local temples crescendo around 5 am to send Luang Prabang's estimated 1,000 resident monks and novices on their morning alms rounds. Making a circuit around the small peninsula formed by the Nam khan and Mekong, the crisp column of barefoot, orange - robed figures collect rice or treats to the monks as they pass - a unique way to connect in a city that alive with Buddhist culture and history. The colonial legacy and torch of Franch culture and custom is born by Luang Prabang 's colonial architecture and rich cousin. Even the briefest visit to this magically tranquil town is memorable.
Designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1995, Luang Prabang is named after the golden statue that's kept here, the prabang, or the great holy image. " Luang Prabang was the first capital of Laos and has mercifully remained relatively untouched by war, which means that many of 33 temples are original, and the town's charm is ancient and authentic.
And there is certainly something magical about Luang Prabang. It's a place to wander, to watch street -side craftsmen, get lost in lazy back alleys amid stately colonials, and stop for a chat down by the river or in one of many cozy street-side cafe. Allow yourself at least 3 days to sink into the city 's languid rhythms, but beware: You might end up staying longer than planned. Day trips by boat to Pak Ou caves, outlying weaving villages, and waterfalls round out the experience.

Luang Prabang History

LuangPrabang is the ancient capital city of the Lane Xang kingdom from 1354 A.D. The capital was then transferred to Vientiane city in 1560 A.D. According to the Xua around the eighth century, later known as Xieng Dong and Xieng thong. During the reign of King Fa Ngum between 1354 and 1372 A.D. Xieng dong and Xieng thong citties were renamed Luang Prabang in the name of the golden Buddha, the Prabang.

Muang Sua was the old name of Luang Prabang following its conquest in 698 A.D. by a Tai prince, Khun Lo, whoseized his opportunity wen Nan-Chao was engaged elsewhere. Khn Lo had been awarded the town by his father, Khun Borom, who is associated with the Lao legend of the creation of the world, which the Lao share with Shan and other people of the region. Khun Lo established a dynasty whose fifteen rulers reigned over an independent Muang Sua for the better part of a century.

In the second half of the 8th century, Nan-Chao intervened frequently in the affairs of the principalities of the middle Mekong Valley, resulting in the occupation are not known, but it ended well before the northward expansion of the Khmer empire under Indravarman I(r.877 - 89) and extended as far as the teritories of Sipsong Panna (Xi Shuan Banna China) on the upper Mekong.

In the meantime, the khmers founded an outpost at Xay Fong near Vientian, and Champa expanded again in southern Laos, maintaining its presence on the banks of the Mekong until 1070. Chanthaphanit, the local and his son had long had long reigns, during which the town became know by the Tai name Xieng Dong Xien thong. The dynasty eventually become involved in the squabbles of a number of principalities. Khun Chuang, a warlike rule

r who may have been a khmu tribesman, extended his territory as a result of the warring of these principalities and probably ruled from 1128 to 1169. Under Khun Chuang, a single family ruled over a far -flung territory and re-instituted the Siammese administrative system of the 7th century. At some point, Theravada Buddhism was subsumed by Mahayana Buddhism.

Xien Dong Xieng Thong experienced a brief period of Khmer suzerainty under Jayavarman VII from 1185 to 1191. By 1180 the Sipsong Panna had regained their independence from the khmers, however, and in 1238 an internal uprising in the khmer outpost of Sukhothai expelled the khmer overlords.

Xien Dong Xieng Thong in 1353 became the capital of Lane Xang. The capital was moved in 1560 by King Sethathirath I to Vieng Chanh(Vientiane), which remains the capital today.

In 1707, Lane Xang fell apart and Luang Prabang became the capital of the independent Luang Prabang kingdom. When France annexed Laos, the France recognized Luang Prabang as the royal residence of Laos. Eventually, the ruler of Luang Prabang became synonymous with the figurehead of the France Protectorate of Laos. When Laos achieved independence, the king of Luang Prabang , Sisavangvong, became the head of state for the king of Laos until 1975 when Laos has declared the independence as the Lao People Democratic Republic . Luang Prabang , however, has remained the charming ancient capital city of Laos.