Last month more than 24 riverside entertainment venues in Vang Vieng were permanently closed down for operating in contravention of regulations, including the provision of unsafe drinks and operating without a proper business license. The shutdown was the result of the findings of a task force made up of senior tourism, health and public security officials, according to Lao media sources. This task force was sent to Vang Vieng after the unlikely party town became an international news sensation, with story after story centered upon gruesome tourist deaths.

Vang Vieng has become a highlight of the Southeast Asian backpacker trail in recent years with the main attraction being a tubing adventure; lying in an inflated truck inner-tube and floating down the Nam Song River. But what happens when you leave young backpackers alone on a river alongside cash-strapped farmers looking for extra income? What began as an innocent activity designed as a relaxing way for tourists to admire Vang Vieng’s stunning limestone mountain scenery soon became an alcohol fueled deathtrap replete with drugs and crazy river games. Many tourists openly purchased cocktails mixed with hallucinogenic mushrooms at any one of the makeshift riverside bars and following this, would jump headfirst into shallow water from slapdash rickety structures such as bamboo platforms and rope ladders.

It is no wonder that reports of tourist drownings, overdoses and head injuries eventually found their way to international media. The issue received major attention in safety conscious nations such as Australia, which lost  two of its citizens to Vang Vieng within one month early this year. According to local doctors, up to 10 backpackers per day would arrive at the local hospital for treatment of wounds such as broken bones and large gashes. It is surprising that action was not taken earlier.

Reports from travellers in post-clampdown Vang Vieng suggest that the town is far from quiet (bars televising Friends re-runs and happy pizza abound), but that tubing, at least, is now a little closer to its humble beginnings as a an innocent, floating nature walk. How long will the lid stay on? That remains to be seen.

Photo Credit: The Slow Boat, Sarah

Phu Bia, one of the largest miners operating in Laos, has expressed satisfaction over the discovery of copper and gold ore in Phonsavan district, Xieng Khuang province. PanAust, the parent company of Phu Bia, announced this week it had discovered about six to seven million tonnes of ore at its Phonsavan project, which will lead to a new mining project in the district. At present, the company operates two mines at Phu Kham and Ban Huayxai in its 2,636 square-kilometre contract area.

The Australian miner expects that with the discovery of the ore, the new mining project will be able to produce around 25,000 tonnes of copper a year and 20,000 ounces of gold a year in concentrate over a mine life of about 10 years. The company launched a prefeasibility study for the Phonsavan project in the northern part of the contract area in Phonsavan district in the June quarter of this year, with the study set for completion during the June quarter of next year. Once the company completes the feasibility study, it expects to spend
two years to build the copper and gold processing plant and begin commissioning. Production could start in late 2015.

The company said that based on its experience in developing operations in Laos, it is expected that the capital cost to develop the  Phonsavan project will be very competitive compared to industry norms and within a range of US$200 million to US$300 million. The Phonsavan project benefits from access to existing infrastructure, including grid power and sealed roads. It also has a potential route for the export of concentrate by road to the coast in Vietnam, about 250 kilometres to the east. PanAust recently successfully trialled the export of concentrate from its Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation via a port in Vietnam as an alternative export route for that operation.

The project is located near to the town of Phonsavan, which has a population of about 55,000 and is expected to be able to provide a workforce for the new mining project. phu Bia’s Phu Kham operation last year produced 59,897 tonnes of copper in concentrate, 53,590 ounces of gold, and 538,123 ounces of silver. The project expects to produce 65,000 tonnes of copper in concentrate, 60,000 ounces of gold, and 400,000 to 450,000 ounces of silver in 2012. Phu Bia kicked off the Ban Houayxai Gold-Silver Operation about 25 kilometres
west of the Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation in May. The project has an annual production target of 100,000 ounces of gold and 700,000 ounces of silver during a nine year mine life

Source: Vientiane Times

The government has given permission for a Lao company to build a four-storey building to house the Lao National Museum, which will be relocated from its current site on Samsenthai Road in central Vientiane. A local construction company has undertaken to build the new museum as part of an exchange deal where it will be allowed to develop the site of the old museum. Khamphay Sana Construction Group will spend US$10 million on the new museum, which will be located in the Km 6 area near the Kaysone Phomvihane Museum in Xaythany district. An agreement on the project was signed on Tuesday between the Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Buangeun Xaphouvong, and company President Mr Khamphay Somsana. Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara and other officials also attended the signing.

Mr Khamphay said work on the new museum will begin in the upcoming dry season, either in November or December, and the project is expected to take about two years. “The Party and government have given priority to building a new National Museum, which will provide a new face for our capital,” he said, revealing that the new building will be more than 80 metres long and 56 metres wide. Mr Khamphay spoke to the media after the signing ceremony, saying his company intends to build a five star hotel on the site of the existing museum.

“As we all know, there are not enough luxury hotels in Vientiane, particularly when regional or international events take place. For this reason, I want to build a hotel to satisfy the market demand,” he said. “I want to build the hotel as high as possible – at least more than 20 floors - depending on the decision of the authorities.” Mr Khamphay said construction of the hotel will start after the new National Museum is built and all the fixtures and artefacts contained in the museum have been relocated. In the meantime, the company will prepare to build the hotel, finalising the name, design and other details.

The French colonial building opposite the National Culture Hall where the National Museum is currently housed was built in 1925. The museum displays the history of Laos, and highlights the Lao people’s struggle to liberate the country from foreign occupiers and imperialist forces. Recent archaeological finds in Vientiane and other areas have further added to the richness of the cultural section. Officials said the existing building was degraded and believed it would not prove useful in the long run so they felt it was necessary to build a new one.The new museum will be built in a modern Lao style and will showcase the history of Laos so that overseas visitors can learn more about the country and its people through the exhibits on display.

Plan for the new Lao National Museum

ກະຊວງ ຖວທ ໃຊ້ງົບປະມານ 10 ລ້ານໂດລາ ສ້າງຫໍພິພິທະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດ ຫຼັງໃໝ່

ທ່ານ ສຈ.ດຣ. ບໍ່ແສງຄຳ ວົງດາ­ລາ ລັດ­ຖະ­ມົນ­ຕີວ່າ­ການ ກະ­ຊວງຖະ­ແຫຼງຂ່າວ ວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ (ຖວທ) ໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມເປັນສັກ­ຂີພິ­ຍານ ໃນພິ­ທີເຊັນສັນ­ຍາກໍ່­ສ້າງຫໍພິພິທະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດ ຫຼັງໃໝ່ ລະ­ຫວ່າງກະ­ຊວງຖະ­ແຫຼງຂ່າວ ວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ກັບບໍ­ລິ­ສັດກຸ່ມຄຳໄພຊະ­ນະກໍ່­ສ້າງ ຈຳ­ກັດຜູ້ດຽວ ໃນວັນທີ 18 ກັນ­ຍາ 2012 ທີ່ຫໍວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳແຫ່ງຊາດ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໂດຍການຮ່ວມລົງນາມລະ­ຫວ່າງທ່ານ ບົວເງິນ ຊາພູວົງ ລັດ­ຖະ­ມົນ­ຕີຊ່ວຍວ່າ­ການ ກະ­ຊວງ ຖວທ ແລະ ທ່ານ ຄຳໄພ ສົມຊະ­ນະ ຫົວ­ໜ້າບໍ­ລິ­ສັດດັ່ງ­ກ່າວ.

ໂຄງ­ການກໍ່­ສ້າງຫໍພິພິທະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດ ຫຼັງໃໝ່ ທີ່ມີເອ­ກະ­ລັກທາງດ້ານວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳຂອງຊາດ ມີໂຄງປະ­ກອບພາຍໃນທີ່ທັນສະ­ໄໝ ຈະເລີ່ມລົງ­ມືກໍ່­ສ້າງພາຍ­ຫຼັງທີ່ໄດ້ເຊັນສັນ­ຍາເປັນ­ຕົ້ນໄປ ເນື້ອ­ທີ່ກໍ່­ສ້າງ 2 ເຮັກ­ຕາກວ່າ ໂດຍຈະສ້າງເປັນອາ­ຄານ 4 ຊັ້ນ ແລະ ຈະໃຫ້ສຳ­ເລັດການກໍ່­ສ້າງພາຍໃນ 24 ເດືອນ ໂດຍແມ່ນບໍ­ລິ­ສັດ ຄຳໄພຊະ­ນະກໍ່­ສ້າງ ຈຳ­ກັດຜູ້ດຽວ ເປັນຜູ້ຮັບເໝົາ ລວມມູນຄ່າການກໍ່­ສ້າງປະ­ມານ 10 ລ້ານໂດລາສະ­ຫະ­ລັດ ຫໍພິພິທະພັນຫຼັງໃໝ່ນີ້ ແມ່ນຕັ້ງຢູ່ເຂດດິນຫຼັກ 6 ຂ້າງຫໍພິພິທະພັນ ໄກ­ສອນ ພົມ­ວິ­ຫານ.

ທ່ານ ຂັນທອງ ມະ­ໂນທຳ ຫົວ­ໜ້າຫ້ອງ­ການ ກະ­ຊວງ ຖວທ ແຈ້ງໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ: ປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ອາ­ຄານຫໍພິພິທະພັນແຫ່ງຊາດ ຫຼັງເກົ່າ ແມ່ນມີອາ­ຍຸເກືອບ 1 ສະ­ຕະ­ວັດ ອາ­ຄານດັ່ງ­ກ່າວມີລັກ­ສະ­ນະຊຸດ­ໂຊມຫຼາຍ ເຖິງວ່າໄລ­ຍະຜ່ານມາ ພັກ-ລັດ­ຖະ­ບານໄດ້ສຸມທຶນ­ຮອນເພື່ອບູ­ລະ­ນະມາແລ້ວກໍຕາມ ແລະ ເພື່ອເປັນການປົກປັກຮັກ­ສາເອ­ກະ­ລັກວັດ­ທະ­ນະ­ທຳຂອງຊາດລາວໄວ້ໃຫ້ຍາວນານນັ້ນ ມີຄວາມຈຳ­ເປັນທີ່ຈະຕ້ອງມີຫໍພິພິທະພັນຫຼັງໃໝ່ ເພື່ອວາງ­ສະ­ແດງວັດ­ຖຸພັນ ໂຄ­ສະ­ນາໃຫ້ແຂກຄົນພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງ­ປະ­ເທດ ໄດ້ຮັບຮູ້ເຖິງປະ­ຫວັດ­ສາດຄວາມເປັນມາຂອງປະ­ເທດເຮົາ ໃນແຕ່ລະຍຸກ ແຕ່ລະ­ສະໄໝ.

Sources: Vientiane Times, Vientiane Mai

Thai state-owned enterprise CAT Telecom has signaled its intention to expand into Laos ahead of the setting up of the Asean Economic Community in 2015. The Thai telco yesterday teamed up with Laos’ state owned ETL to host a seminar titled ETL-CAT Network Showcase 2012 in Vientiane, giving a strong indication of its interest in the Lao market. CAT announced earlier this year that it wanted to purchase a share in ETL as part of attempts to expand within Asean. The regional grouping is aiming to establish a single market and production base.  CAT also wants to expand into Myanmar after learning of the huge business potential in the neighbouring nation. The Lao government planned to sell 30 percent of its shares in ETL to the public last year but postponed the decision due to internal and external stock market conditions. It is still unclear when ETL will issue the IPO enabling local and foreign investors to subscribe. CAT said it would invest 20 million baht to expand its fibre-optic link between Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand and Khammuan province in Laos, and from Kanchanaburi province to Dawei in Myanmar. At the seminar, CAT representatives presented the latest IT and telecoms technology used on the Thai network, which they want to transfer to potential Lao business partners. They said improved IT and telecoms infrastructure would boost the growth of business operations in Laos.

Banking and the management of businesses would become much easier if IT and telecoms infrastructure is modernised, CAT staff said. They pointed out that managers could do their work while on the move thanks to improved IT and telecoms services. “You no longer have to wait for a long time at a bank to check the balance on your account. Now you can use your mobile phone to check it,” one of the Thai lecturers said.

Lao ministry and telecom officials attended the seminar. They not only learned about Cloud Solution Deployment and ETL’s Data Centre, but also saw a demonstration of video conferencing using modern IT and telecom equipment. In March, CAT joined forces with Lao Telecom to host a similar seminar and agreed to provide more service options to customers by opening an international leased line by Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) via Lao Telecom and the CAT network. The network connects along common borders between countries, and provides services that link business headquarters with their branches as well as overseas partners via the Multi Protocol Label Switching. This system was created to respond to the increasing demand for international communication.  Competition in the telecom sector in Laos is growing now that all four telecom operators offer a number of service options. The four operators are Lao Telecom, ETL, Unitel and Beeline.

Vientiane Times
20 September 2012

Lanith hit pay dirt on Saturday, 8 September, when the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith) began the initial survey of its proposed Vientiane campus and turned up a section of the capital’s ancient city wall. Lanith Chief Technical Advisor Peter Semone had requested a preliminary archaeological survey of the Mekong Riverbank site, having learned the Vientiane City Wall and its southwest bastion, built in the 14th-15th centuries, could be hidden under the planned location for Lanith.

“When I approached archaeologist Marion Ravenscroft, a consulting conservator at the Lao National Museum, with the idea of a survey, she sprung into action.”  Lanith partnered with the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism (MoICT); the museum’s archaeologists; Aqua Survey and their state-of-the-art detection device; and the Metals Mining Group (MMG), which co-sponsored the dig. Mr Semone pointed out, “This survey is a true public-private sector partnership as well as a contribution to Laos’ cultural heritage.” The MoICT’s Director of Archaeology Dr Tonglith Luangkhot was quite certain this dig would prove positive, based on a 16th century Dutch map of Vientiane, the presumed location of the vanished Pasak River, and the remains of Prince Souphanouvong’s (1909–95) house.

While workers cleared brush from the Lanith site, and Aqua Water’s Field Operations Specialist Eric Wartenweiler Smith put “Big Bamboo” into action, Dr Luangkhot pointed to a spot on a path and suggested three students attending the dig grab shovels. “It’s fun,” he told them. Mr Smith and the MMG team continued assembling an archaeological sled named Big Bamboo. The sled traces a land grid using a device that sends and receives an electromagnetic pulse that can detect metallic objects up to 2.5 metres deep. Mr Smith explained that sled designs vary among sites, and this technology was new to Laos. “I designed the sled and turned it over to the MMG team, which built it with materials found locally.” Big Bamboo has a plastic pipe base under a bamboo pyramid tied together with rattan. Meanwhile, Mr Semone and Ms Ravenscroft consulted with Viengkeo Souksavatdy, MoICT’s Acting Director for the Department of Heritage, over the survey strategy. Then, at about 2:30 p.m., Mr Semone’s son Morgan and his friends, Andrea and Hannah Rosenbloom hit pay dirt; they found the top of the Vientiane City Wall!

Dr Luangkhot instructed his students on how to carefully remove the dirt without disturbing the bricks. “This is really exciting…and the wall is exactly where we predicted,” he said. Ms Ravenscroft added, “This is definitely a successful archaeological dig.” The students also turned up 17th-18th-century Chinese porcelain shards, which they turned over to Naho Shimizu, an archaeological researcher and ceramics expert at the Lao National Museum. “This is quite impressive. I really expect to find more,” Ms Shimizu said. Ms Ravenscroft then directed a backhoe to the front of Prince Souphanouvong’s house, while Mr Smith electronically sent his preliminary findings to engineers in the US, who will interpret them, and return the results within days. Mr Semone concluded, “Lanith will definitely place cultural heritage before development. If the dig’s results are consistent with the archaeologists’ predictions, Lanith will be able to incorporate the Vientiane Wall and bastion into a culturally-sensitive design for the campus.” The first phase of the survey should be completed by the end of September.

By Bernie Rosenbloom

Soochow University in Laos has signed a concession agreement for 23 hectares of land in Vientiane, which will be the site of its campus in the capital. According to information provided by the school, the deal they have concluded with Vientiane authorities involves a 50 year concession at a rate of US$500 per hectare per year for a period of 50 years, with an option to extend the deal for another 25 years if they wish. Up until now, Soochow University  has been using the campus facilities at Kavin College, but the new agreement will allow them to build their own facilities in Vientiane.  The campus will be built in Xiengda village, Xaysettha district, and is expected to cost more than US$24.3 million to construct. Soochow University will finance the payment of compensation to people who will have to relocate to make way for the campus, with the compensation process to be overseen by Vientiane authorities.

Soochow University  is based in Suzhou in southern China. It commenced educational cooperation with Laos in 2007 and since then has been laying the groundwork for the opening of its own campus, which is now coming to fruition. In 2010, Soochow University  obtained the approval of the Lao government to provide undergraduate and graduate education in the country, becoming the first foreign institute of higher education to gain such approval in the country. Vice President of Soochow University  in Laos, Mr Wang  Jiexian, said at the signing ceremony that the university will offer another choice in education and help further development in Laos. He said the campus will extend over 23 hectares, and revealed that the university has entered into an agreement with a Suzhou-based company for the construction of the facility.

Soochow is one of the major universities in Jiangsu province and has 20 colleges covering 11 disciplines. Soochow has a student population of over 50,000, including over 1,300 international students from 37 different countries. Starting a school outside China is an important strategy for Soochow University  to develop into a world renowned university. Initially it is planned to send Chinese lecturers to teach at the campus, but over time the management will increase the intake of local teachers and hire more local staff. The opening of the Soochow campus in Vientiane will further strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and China, Mr Wang said, especially in the field of education. The Lao Soochow campus offers various majors including Chinese language and literature, engineering and economy and trade, with its student population continuing to grow.

ຈະສ້າງຕັ້ງມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລຊູໂຈ ຢູ່ເມືອງໄຊເຊດຖາ

ພິ­ທີເຊັນສັນ­ຍາວ່າດ້ວຍການສຳປະ­ທານທີ່ດິນ ກໍ່­ສ້າງມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ຢູ່ເມືອງໄຊເຊດຖາ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ລະ­ຫວ່າງພະແນກແຜນ­ການ ແລະ ການລົງ­ທຶນ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ແຫ່ງ ສປ ຈີນ ໄດ້ຈັດຂຶ້ນໃນວັນທີ 21 ກັນ­ຍາ 2012 ນີ້ ຢູ່ທີ່ໂຮງ­ແຮມລາວພາຊາ.

ການເຊັນສັນ­ຍາຄັ້ງນີ້ ມີຂຶ້ນລະ­ຫວ່າງທ່ານ ວິໄຊ ຊາວັນ­ນາ ຫົວ­ໜ້າພະແນກແຜນ­ການ ແລະ ການລົງ­ທຶນນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງ ແລະ ທ່ານ ສຈ. ວັງເຈຍຊຽນ ຮອງອະ­ທິ­ການບໍ­ດີ ມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ໂດຍການເຊັນເປັນສັກ­ຂີພິ­ຍານຂອງທ່ານ ຖະ­ໜອມ ທຳທອງ ເຈົ້າ­ເມືອງໄຊເຊດຖາ ແລະ ທ່ານ ສຈ. ໜີເພ້ຫົງ ຫົວ­ໜ້າພະແນກຄຸ້ມຄອງວຽກງານສຶກສາ ມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ຢູ່ ສປປ ລາວ ໂດຍມີທ່ານຫົວ­ໜ້າຫ້ອງວ່າ­ການປົກ­ຄອງນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຕາງ­ໜ້າກະ­ຊວງຊັບ­ພະ­ຍາ­ກອນທຳມະຊາດ-ສິ່ງ­ແວ­ດລ້ອມ ບັນ­ດາຫົວ­ໜ້າພະ­ແນກ­ການອ້ອມຂ້າງນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ບັນ­ດາພະ­ນັກ­ງານທີ່ກ່ຽວ­ຂ້ອງເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ.

ມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ໄດ້ສຳປະ­ທານເນື້ອ­ທີ່ດິນຈຳ­ນວນ 23 ເຮັກ­ຕາ 4,724 ຕາແມັດ ຢູ່ບ້ານຊຽງດາ ເມືອງໄຊເຊດຖາ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ເພື່ອກໍ່­ສ້າງເປັນວິ­ທະ­ຍາເຂດແມ່ ຕາມຂໍ້ຕົກ­ລົງຂອງເຈົ້າຄອງນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ສະ­ບັບເລກທີ 1148/ຈຄນວ ລົງວັນທີ 14/9/2012 ໂຄງ­ການດັ່ງ­ກ່າວມີມູນຄ່າການລົງ­ທຶນທັງໝົດ 24.320.000 ໂດລາສະ­ຫະ­ລັດ ເຊິ່ງມູນຄ່າຈະເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ ຫຼື ຫຼຸດລົງ ແມ່ນອີງຕາມແຜນ­ຜັງທີ່ລັດ­ຖະ­ບານຮັບ­ຮອງຫຼັງຈາກສຳຫຼວດ ແລະ ອອກແບບສຳ­ເລັດແລ້ວ ໃນນັ້ນທຶນຈົດທະ­ບຽນແມ່ນບໍ່ຕ່ຳກວ່າ 30% ຂອງມູນຄ່າການລົງ­ທຶນທັງໝົດ ໂຄງ­ການກໍ່­ສ້າງມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ມີອາ­ຍຸການສຳປະ­ທານກຳ­ນົດເວ­ລາ 50 ປີ ແລະ ສາ­ມາດຕໍ່ໄດ້ຢ່າງໜ້ອຍ 25 ປີ.

ຕາມແຜນ­ການພັດ­ທະ­ນາລວມຂອງມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ໃນໄລ­ຍະເວ­ລາ 10-20ປີ ຈະສ້າງມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລຊູໂຈ ໃຫ້ໄດ້ຂະ­ໜາດທີ່ສາ­ມາດບັນ­ຈຸນັກສຶກສາໄດ້ 5.000ຄົນ ໃນນັ້ນ ຈະເປີດສອນຫຼັກ­ສູດລະ­ດັບປະ­ລິນ­ຍາຕີ ປະ­ລິນ­ຍາໂທ ປະ­ລິນ­ຍາເອກ ແລະ ເຝິກ­ອົບ­ຮົມພາ­ສາຈີນ ເປີດສອນຫຼັກ­ສູດສາ­ຂາວິ­ຊາທີ່ແທດ­ເໝາະກັບຄວາມຮຽກ­ຮ້ອງຕ້ອງ­ການໃນການພັດ­ທະ­ນາເສດ­ຖະ­ກິດ-ສັງ­ຄົມຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ສ້າງເປັນມະ­ຫາ­ວິ­ທະ­ຍາ­ໄລແບບລວມສູນ ທີ່ມີໂຮງ­ໝໍເປັນຂອງຕົນເອງ ເປົ້າໝາຍການຮັບນັກສຶກສາທັງໝົດປະ­ມານ 5.000 ຄົນ.

Vientiane Times, Vientiane Mai
25 September, 2012

The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) has opened an office in Laos, creating a focal point for US businesses intending to invest in the country. The Lao Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce held an official opening ceremony last week after getting the green light from the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs to set up the office. More than 75 people representing over 50 US and Lao businesses and companies attended the event, which was held at the Vientiane residence of the US Ambassador to Laos, Ms Karen Stewart, on September 19.

AMCHAM said one of its main objectives in opening the Vientiane office is to facilitate and spur investment by US businesses in Laos, to take advantage of the country’s strong economic growth over the past five years. US businesses believe the office will be able to contribute to the overall development of Laos, which will soon become a member of the World Trade Organisation. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ambassador Stewart explained how the Vientiane AMCHAM office would benefit both Lao and US businesses and strengthen economic ties between the two nations.“AMCHAM can be a strong partner to the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Lao government as this country continues to develop its business environment and works to integrate its economy regionally and globally,” Ms Stewart said as quoted in a press release from the US Embassy. AMCHAM expects to host activities each month for members, alternating between social networking events and business-oriented presentations. Currently, there are 40 US businesses operating in Laos. Licensed US investment in Laos is US$77 million, while bilateral trade between Laos and the US is valued at US$85 million.

Laos was ranked as America’s 182nd trading partner in 2007 moving up from 193rd place in 2005. Laos’ main exports to the US consist of apparel and clothing accessories, coffee, tea, spices, works of art, collectors’ pieces, antiques and other items. Laos established Normal Trade Relations with the United States after becoming a signatory to a Bilateral Trade Agreement in 2004. However, Laos is not a beneficiary of the Generalised System of Preferences that the United States grants to some least developed countries.Despite Laos having Normal Trade Relations status, the US prohibits and restricts imports of some Lao products such as alcohol, live animals and animal products, certain types of medicines, guns and arms, military arms, fruits, beans, meat and meat products, live poultry and poultry products, petroleum and petroleum products, and vegetables.

The Chair of the Laos chapter of AMCHAM is Mr. Chris Manley of RMA Laos and the Vice-Chair is Hetal Petal, of EMC. The chapter can be contacted by email at committees@amchamthailand.com. The Laos Chapter Coordinator is Khun Sheree.

US Embassy Laos, Vientiane Times
26 September, 2012

ຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ເມືອງລາວແພງຢູ່ບໍ? Is electricity cheap or expensive in Laos? ກະລຸນາກົດທີ່ນີ້ເພື່ອອ່ານເປັນ ພາສາລາວ.  This article compares the prices of electricity in Laos to other countries in the region and the world.

With 10 large hydro power projects already operational in Laos and still more under construction, it’s no wonder the country proudly refers to itself as the ‘Battery of Asia’. Many of these hydro power projects export power directly to neighboring countries and yet in Laos itself only 76% of all households have access to electricity. It is hoped that by 2020 the entire nation will be connected.

Electricity tarrifs have recently increased in Vientiane and this has certainly hit everyone’s pockets hard, but should we really be complaining? Just how much are residents of Laos paying versus people in other countries? Work Live Laos did some investigating and came up with a comparison; it seems that electricity is still remarkably cheap in Laos even when compared to our neighbors. So next time you get hit with a big bill, count yourself lucky that you’re living in Laos and not Cambodia, let alone Sweden or the Netherlands where you would be paying up to 7 times as much!  See the table below for a comparison:

Ok, so electricity tariffs are relatively cheap in Laos. But did you ever receive a power bill that was still extremely high? Were you left scratching your head as to how it could have happened? The bottom line of your electricity bill depends very much on how you use your appliances and how often. To get an idea of what your appliances might be costing you (in Laos), see the below table:

Air-conditioners and clothes dryers are the appliances that consume the most electricity. Limit your use of these by only cooling the rooms you are using. Dry your clothes outside on sunny days instead of using the dryer. Remember to turn lights off and switch your computer to ‘hibernate’ mode when not using it. You’ll also make quite a saving if you replace all the light bulbs in your house with compact fluorescent bulbs. But the rest of the time, relax and be happy that you’re paying a lot less than everyone else in the world!

Find this interesting?  You might also find like this: Is Laos Expensive?

ຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ເມືອງລາວແພງຢູ່ບໍ?

ອີງຕາມບັນດາຈຳນວນເຂື່ອນໄຟຟ້າໃຫຍ່ໆທັງ 10 ແຫ່ງໃນປະເທດລາວ ແລະ ລວມໄປເຖິງອີກຫຼາຍໆແຫ່ງທີ່ກຳລັງກໍ່ສ້າງຢູ່ ກໍ່ຈະບໍ່ເປັນທີ່ໜ້າແປກໃຈວ່າເມືອງລາວຈະຖືກກ່າວເຖິງວ່າເປັນ “ແບດເຕີລີ້ຂອງອາຊີ”. ໃນບັນດາເຂື່ອນທັງຫຼາຍນີ້ ສ່ວນໃຫຍ່ແມ່ນສົ່ງອອກໄຟຟ້າໄປຫາປະເທດເພື່ອນບ້ານໂດຍກົງ ແຕ່ສຳລັບໃນເມືອງລາວເຮົາເອງ ບ້ານເຮືອນທີ່ມີໄຟຟ້າເຂົ້າເຖິງແມ່ນຊ້ຳພັດມີແຕ່ 76% ເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ດີ ເພິ່ນກໍ່ໄດ້ຕັ້ງເປົ້າໄວ້ວ່າພາຍໃນປີ 2020 ນີ້ ຈະໃຫ້ມີໄຟຟ້າເຂົ້າເຖິງທຸກໆບ້ານເຮືອນໃນປະເທດລາວ.

ໃນຫວ່າງບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ໃນຕົວເມືອງວຽງຈັນໄດ້ມີການຂຶ້ນລາຄາ ເຊິ່ງຄົງຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ຫຼາຍໆຄົນເຈັບຫົວ ແລະ ກະເປົາແຫ້ງໄປຫຼາຍເຕີບ, ແຕ່ເຮົາລອງມາຄິດຄືນເບິ່ງວ່າ ເຮົາຄວນຈະຈົ່ມກັນດີ ຫຼື ບໍ່? ແລ້ວຄ່າໄຟບ້ານເຮົາກັບຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ປະເທດອື່ນນັ້ນແຕກຕ່າງກັນຫຼາຍຊ່ຳໃດ? ທາງທີມງານ WorkLiveLaos ໄດ້ທຳການສຳຫຼວດ ແລະ ປຽບທຽບຄ່າໄຟໃນບັນດາປະເທດຕ່າງໆ, ແລະ ຫຼັງຈາກປະເມີນຄ່າປຽບທຽບແລ້ວ ກໍ່ເຫັນໄດ້ວ່າຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ປະເທດລາວແມ່ນຖືວ່າຍັງຖືກຫຼາຍເມື່ອປຽບທຽບໃສ່ບັນດາປະເທດເພື່ອນບ້ານໃກ້ຄຽງ. ຖ້າຫາກວ່າຕໍ່ໄປໃນອະນາຄົດຄ່າໄຟບ້ານເຮົາຍັງຂຶ້ນອີກ ກໍ່ໃຫ້ຄິດສາວ່າເຮົາຍັງໂຊກດີທີ່ຢູ່ລາວ ແລະບໍ່ໄດ້ຢູ່ກຳປູເຈຍ, ແລະ ກໍ່ແຮ່ງໂຊກດີຂຶ້ນໄປຕື່ມທີ່ບໍ່ໄດ້ໄປຢູ່ ສະວີເດັນ ຫຼື ໂຮນລັງ ເພາະຢູ່ພຸ້ນແມ່ນຕ້ອງຈ່າຍແພງຕັ້ງວ່າ 7 ທົບຂອງຄ່າໄຟບ້ານເຮົາ! ຕາຕະລາງລຸ່ມນີ້ແມ່ນສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນເຖິງການປຽບທຽບຄ່າໄຟໃນປະເທດຕ່າງໆ:

ອີງຕາມຕາຕະລາງຂ້າງເທິງແລ້ວ ເຮົາກໍ່ໄດ້ເຫັນແຈ້ງວ່າຄ່າໄຟຢູ່ເມືອງລາວເຮົາຖືວ່າຍັງຖືກຫຼາຍເມື່ອປຽບທຽບກັບຊາດອື່ນໆໃນໂລກ, ແຕ່ທ່ານເຄີຍບໍ່ທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບບິນແລ້ວຕົກໃຈວ່າ “ເປັນຫຍັງບິນຄ່າໄຟຂອງຂ້ອຍຄືມາແພງແທ້? ເປັນໄປໄດ້ແນວໃດຫວ໋ະ!”. ເລື່ອງຂອງເລື່ອງກໍ່ແມ່ນວ່າ ບິນຄ່າໄຟຂອງທ່ານນັ້ນ ຫຼັກໆແມ່ນຂຶ້ນຢູ່ກັບວ່າທ່ານໃຊ້ເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ໄຟຟ້າປະເພດໃດ, ໃຊ້ເລື້ອຍ ແລະ ໃຊ້ຫຼາຍໜ້ອຍຊ່ຳໃດ. ພວກເຮົາມີຕາຕະລາງລາຍລະອຽດເພື່ອໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ພໍຮູ້ວ່າເຄື່ອງໃຊ້ໄຟຟ້າແຕ່ລະຢ່າງພາຍໃນບ້ານຂອງທ່ານນັ້ນແມ່ນກິນໄຟຫຼາຍໜ້ອຍຊ່ຳໃດ:

ອີງຕາມຂໍ້ມູນຂ້າງເທິງນັ້ນກໍ່ເຫັນໄດ້ວ່າ ແອ ແລະ ຈັກອົບເຄື່ອງ ແມ່ນກິນໄຟຫຼາຍທີ່ສຸດ. ທ່ານສາມາດຫຼຸດຜ່ອນຄ່າໄຟໄດ້ໂດຍການເປີດແອຢູ່ແຕ່ພາຍໃນຫ້ອງທີ່ທ່ານກຳລັງໃຊ້ຢູ່ເທົ່ານັ້ນ. ສ່ວນເຄື່ອງນຸ່ງຫົ່ມກໍ່ໃຫ້ຕາກຢູ່ນອກຕອນມີແດດແທນທີ່ຈະໃຊ້ຈັກອົບເຄື່ອງ. ຢ່າລືມມອດໄຟ ແລະ ປ່ຽນໂໝດຄອມພິວເຕີ້ໃຫ້ເປັນໂໝດ “Hibernate” ( ຮາຍເບີເນດ) ໃນເວລາທີ່ທ່ານບໍ່ໄດ້ໃຊ້ຄອມ. ນອກນັ້ນ ທ່ານກໍ່ຈະສາມາດປະຢັດໄຟໄດ້ຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນເມື່ອທ່ານປ່ຽນມາໃຊ້ຫຼອດໄຟ CFL (compact fluorescent bulbs) ແບບປະຢັດ. ແຕ່ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ດີ ໂດຍລວມແລ້ວກໍ່ຢາກໃຫ້ທ່ານສະບາຍໃຈສາ ເພາະຖືວ່າທ່ານໂຊກດີແລ້ວທີ່ອາໃສຢູ່ໃນເມືອງລາວເຊິ່ງເປັນບ່ອນທີ່ຄ່າໄຟຖືກຫຼາຍໆ ແລະ ທ່ານເອງກໍ່ຖືວ່າໄດ້ຈ່າຍຄ່າໄຟໜ້ອຍກວ່າຄົນປະເທດອື່ນໆໃນໂລກນີ້ຫຼາຍ.

Find this interesting?  You might also find like this: Is Laos Expensive?

I’ve had an on-again off-again relationship with Sinouk Coffee since I went to visit their beautiful plantation in the south of Laos, where I enjoyed walking through the plantation grounds looking at the coffee plants but was a little disappointed with the coffee once it arrived in my cup. Who knows though, maybe they were having an off day down at the plantation that day? I figured I’d give the coffee chain’s new Vientiane venture a chance and see if things might be better in the big city.

Unlike other ‘loud and proud’ developments popping up in Vientiane recently, Café Sinouk opened their branch on the corner of Vientiane’s Quay Fa Ngum rather quietly and without much fanfare.  Serving the same freshly brewed Sinouk coffee as at the other Sinouk locations (Morning Market Mall and Home Ideal), Café Sinouk makes a nice spot for a quiet coffee where you won’t bump into anyone you know.

The place is decked out in a style more suited to Luang Prabang than Vientiane with its stained bamboo furniture, light upholstery and dark wooden ceiling fans but a brickwork feature wall at least helps to mix things up a bit. There’s plenty of comfortable seating including booths and smaller tables interestingly decorated with coffee beans, and although very spick and span, the cafe just sort of feels like a complicated way to help sell the Sinouk brand coffee beans (there’s a large display that takes up a whole wall). I do like the big floor-to-ceiling windows at the front, though, which afford a view of the road and Mekong River beyond.

There’s a fairly simple revolving lunch menu at Café Sinouk that includes quiche, pasta or ‘baguette pizza’ depending on the day of the week. I didn’t notice the menu at all because it was just a small sign on top of one of the tables, and nearly walked out under the impression that they didn’t serve food at all. Luckily one of the staff explained the situation and I sat down again to order some Bolognese. This arrived fairly quickly and was well presented and I would describe it in a word as ‘modest’.  It came with a small side salad that was quite fresh. I noticed that Café Sinouk does breakfast, too, and I believe that their breakfast set is probably better than their lunch menu, as the croissants and other buns looked pretty tasty.

When reviewing a café it would be wrong of me not to try the coffee, so I ordered a latte to test out the taste of the brew and the barista’s skill at the machine. My latte was just the right temperature, had a pleasant aroma and was a full-bodied cup, which is good, but like other times I’ve tried Sinouk coffee I found it to have a slightly bitter flavor. I suppose this comes down to personal preference and I prefer a sweeter, nuttier coffee with lower acidity. But try it for yourself.

Either way, it’s nice to have another option for coffee in Vientiane. Café Sinouk serves organic coffee grown in Laos at its own plantations and accepts takeaway coffee orders by phone if you’re in a hurry.  The café is very well air-conditioned but unfortunately has no WiFi connection for customers yet.

ກາເຟສີໜຸກ

ຄວາມຄິດເຫັນຂອງຜູ້ຂຽນທີ່ມີຕໍ່ກາເຟສີໜຸກ ໂດຍສ່ວນຕົວແລ້ວແມ່ນມັກແດ່ບໍ່ມັກແດ່ ເພາະຕັ້ງແຕ່ຕອນທີ່ໄດ້ມີໂອກາດໄປເລາະຊົມສວນກາເຟຂອງສີໜຸກຢູ່ທາງພາກໃຕ້ແລ້ວ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ຮູ້ສຶກເພີດເພີນມ່ວນຊື່ນໄປກັບທິວທັດທຳມະຊາດຂອງສວນກາເຟທີ່ສວຍສົດງົດງາມຫຼາຍ ແຕ່ບາດພໍຮອດຍາມໄດ້ລອງຊິມກາເຟແລ້ວ ຊ້ຳພັດຮູ້ສຶກຜິດຫວັງຢູ່ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ ແຕ່ກໍ່ບໍ່ກ້າເວົ້າຫຍັງຫຼາຍ ເພາະບາງເທື່ອມື້ນັ້ນອາດຈະມີການຜິດພາດເກີດຂຶ້ນກໍ່ເປັນໄດ້. ດັ່ງນັ້ນ ເມື່ອໄດ້ຍິນຂ່າວວ່າມີຮ້ານກາເຟສີໜຸກສາຂາໃໝ່ເປີດຂຶ້ນຢູ່ແຄມຂອງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ເລີຍຖືໂອກາດໄປລອງອີກເທື່ອໜຶ່ງ ເພື່ອວ່າລົດຊາດຂອງກາເຟຢູ່ໃນເມືອງອາດຈະດີຂຶ້ນ ແລະ  ແຕກຕ່າງໄປຈາກທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຄີຍລອງມາ.

ຕ່າງຈາກບັນດາອາຄານ ແລະ ໂຄງການໃຫຍ່ໆທີ່ຖືກກໍ່ຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໃນວຽງຈັນໃນປັດຈຸບັນ, ຮ້ານສີໜຸກເປັນຮ້ານນ້ອຍໆ ເປີດຂຶ້ນຢ່າງງຽບໆຢູ່ແຄມຂອງ ຢູ່ຫົວມຸມຖະໜົນເຈົ້າຟ້າງຸ່ມ. ສ່ວນກາເຟທີ່ຂາຍກໍ່ແມ່ນຄືກັນກັບສາຂາອື່ນໃນວຽງຈັນ (ສາຂາຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ ແລະ ໂຮມໄອເດຍ). ຮ້ານສີໜຸກເປັນຮ້ານງຽບໆ ຄົນບໍ່ສົນລະວົນຫຼາຍ ເໝາະສຳລັບການນັ່ງກິນກາເຟແບບມິດໆ, ບໍ່ສວນກັບໃຜ ແລະ ບໍ່ມີໃຜມາລົບກວນ.

ພາຍໃນຮ້ານຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງໃນຮູບແບບທີ່ຄິດວ່າໜ້າຈະແທດເໝາະກັບເມືອງຫຼວງພະບາງຫຼາຍກວ່າ ເຊັ່ນເຟີນີເຈີ້ໄມ້ໄຜ່, ເບາະສີຄຣີມ, ແລະ ພັດລົມໄມ້ສີເຂັ້ມໆ, ແຕ່ຝາກ້ອນດິນຈີ່ບາງສ່ວນກໍ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ມີຮູບແບບທີ່ແຕກຕ່າງຂຶ້ນມາແດ່ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ. ນອກນັ້ນ ກໍ່ຍັງມີບ່ອນໃຫ້ນັ່ງສະບາຍໆລວມທັງໂຕະສູງ ແລະ ໂຕະນ້ອຍໆ ທີ່ຖືກປະດັບປະດາດ້ວຍເມັດກາເຟເຊິ່ງກໍ່ໜ້າສົນໃຈຢູ່, ແຕ່ເຖິງວ່າຮ້ານຈະຍັງໃໝ່ໆ ແລະ ສະອາດສະອ້ານ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຊ້ຳພັດຮູ້ສຶກວ່າຮ້ານກາເຟນີ້ ຄືໆຢາກວ່າຕັ້ງໃຈຂາຍຍີ່ຫໍ້ໝາກກາເຟຂອງສີໜຸກໂພດ (ເຊິ່ງກໍ່ເຫັນໄດ້ຈາກຖ້ານທີ່ວາງຂາຍກາເຟເປັນຖົງຢູ່ເຕັມຝາຟາກຫນຶ່ງ) ກໍ່ເລຍຮູ້ສຶກແປກໆແດ່ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ. ແຕ່ວ່າຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ມັກບານປ່ອງຢ້ຽມແກ້ວໃຫຍ່ໆທີ່ຢູ່ທາງໜ້າ ເພາະວ່າເຮັດໃຫ້ເຫັນທິວທັດຖະໜົນ ແລະ ທິວທັດແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງໄດ້ຊັດເຈນດີ.

ສ່ວນເມນູເຂົ້າສວາຍທີ່ຮ້ານກາເຟສີໜຸກກໍ່ທຳມະດາ, ລວມມີກິສ (quiche), ພາສຕ້າ ຫຼື “ພິດຊ້າ ບາແກັດ”, ປ່ຽນໄປຕາມແຕ່ລະມື້. ຕອນທຳອິດ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າແນມບໍ່ເຫັນເມນູເລີຍເພາະມັນມີແຕ່ປ້າຍນ້ອຍໆຢູ່ຂອບໂຕະໜ່ວຍໜຶ່ງ ແລະ ເກືອບຍ່າງອອກຈາກຮ້ານແລ້ວເພາະຄິດວ່າທາງຮ້ານບໍ່ໄດ້ຂາຍອາຫານ. ໄຄແຕ່ວ່າມີພະນັກງານຄົນໜຶ່ງມາອະທິບາຍໃຫ້ຟັງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ເລີຍນັ່ງລົງ ແລະ ກໍ່ສັ່ງສະປາເກັດຕີ້ຊີ້ນ. ອາຫານທີ່ສັ່ງໄປກໍ່ມາຮອດໄວຢູ່ ແລະ ກໍ່ຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງດີ, ສ່ວນລົດຊາດກໍ່ທຳມະດາ “ຊື່ໆ” ບໍ່ຄ່ອຍມີຫຍັງພິເສດຫຼາຍ. ສະປາເກັດຕີ້ຊີ້ນມາພ້ອມກັບຜັກສະຫຼັດເຊິ່ງກໍ່ສົດຢູ່. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າສັງເກດເຫັນວ່າຮ້ານກາເຟສີໜຸກກໍ່ຂາຍອາຫານເຊົ້ານຳ ເຊິ່ງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຄິດວ່າອາຫານເຊົ້າຊົງຊິແຊບຫຼາຍກວ່າອາຫານທ່ຽງ ເພາະແນມເຫັນຄົວຊອງ ແລະ ເຂົ້າໜົມຕ່າງໆກໍ່ຄືໆວ່າເປັນຕາແຊບດີ.

ໃນເມື່ອວ່າໄດ້ວິຈານຮ້ານກາເຟແລ້ວ ຖ້າຊິບໍ່ໃຫ້ລອງຊິມກາເຟຈັກໜ້ອຍກໍ່ຄືຊິບໍ່ແມ່ນແນວ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າກໍ່ເລີຍສັ່ງລາເຕ້ມາຈອກໜຶ່ງ ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະໄດ້ທົດລອງຊິມລົດຊາດຂອງກາເຟ ແລະ ຝີມືການຊົງກາເຟຂອງຜູ້ເຮັດກາເຟ. ລາເຕ້ຂອງຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມາໃນອຸນຫະພູມທີ່ພໍດີງາມ, ມີກິ່ນຫອມຫວນ ແລະ ພໍດີເຕັມຈອກ ເຊິ່ງກໍ່ເປັນສິ່ງທີ່ດີ. ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮູ້ສຶກວ່າລົດຊາດກາເຟແມ່ນດີຂຶ້ນຫຼາຍເມື່ອທຽບກັບຕອນທີ່ລອງຢູ່ຈຳປາສັກ, ແຕ່ວ່າກໍ່ຄືກັນກັບທຸກໆເທື່ອທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າໄດ້ດື່ມກາເຟສີໜຸກ, ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າຮູ້ສຶກວ່າມັນຄືມີລົດຊາດຂົມແດ່ໜ້ອຍໜຶ່ງ. ແຕ່ວ່າ ຄິດວ່າມັນກໍ່ຂຶ້ນຄວາມມັກຂອງໃຜມັນ; ໃນຂະນະທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າມັກກາເຟທີ່ມີລົດຊາດຫວານ, ມັນ ແລະ ບໍ່ສົ້ມ ຫຼື ຝາດຫຼາຍ, ຄົນອື່ນອາດຈະມັກລົດຊາດຂົມໆ ຫຼື ປຸກໆ ແຕກຕ່າງກັນໄປ. ແຕ່ກໍ່ຢາກໃຫ້ຜູ້ອ່ານລອງຊິມເອງເບິ່ງ ແລະ ລອງເບິ່ງວ່າທ່ານຄິດວ່າແນວໃດ.

ເຖິງຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ດີ ມັນກໍ່ເປັນການດີທີ່ເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮົາໄດ້ມີຮ້ານກາເຟໃຫ້ເລືອກຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນຢູ່ໃນວຽງຈັນ. ກາເຟທີ່ເສີບຢູ່ຮ້ານສີໜຸກເປັນກາເຟປອດສານພິດທີ່ປູກຢູ່ໃນເມືອງລາວ ຢູ່ທີ່ສວນຂອງກາເຟຂອງສີໜຸກເອງ ແລະ ທ່ານກໍ່ສາມາດສັ່ງກາເຟທາງໂທລະສັບ ແລະ ມາແວະເອົາໄດ້ ໃນຍາມທີ່ທ່ານຟ້າວຟັ່ງ. ຮ້ານກາເຟມີແອເຢັນໆໃຫ້ທ່ານໄດ້ນັ່ງສະບາຍໆ ແຕ່ກໍ່ເປັນທີ່ໜ້າເສຍດາຍທີ່ຕອນນີ້ທາງຮ້ານຍັງບໍ່ທັນມີອິນເຕີເນັດວາຍຟາຍໃຫ້ລູກຄ້າໄດ້ໃຊ້ເທື່ອ.

The Seventh Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP-7) kicked off in Donchan Palace Hotel Vientiane Lao PDR on Wednesday Oct. 3-2012.

ASEP is to admit new membership, possibly, of Australia, Myanmar, New Zealand and Russia on Wednesday, and to hold two panel discussions on Thursday.

For the economic matters panel, lead speakers from China, Finland, South Korea and IMF are to present reports on ensuring food security in the current situation of global climate change and on strengthening the Asia-Europe cooperation in the field of public debts for sustainable development.

For the social and environmental matters panel, lead speakers from Belgium, Indonesia and UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) are to present reports on Asia- Europe partnership in increasing social participation for disaster management.

“The seventh ASEP meeting will coincide with intensive preparations toward the ninth Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM) to be held on November 5-6, 2012 in Vientiane. We strongly believe that the outcome of the ASEP-7 meeting will duly enrich the deliberation of ASEM with representative view of peoples of our two continents,” said H.E Mrs. Pany Yathotou.

The ASEP-7 sees representatives from 43 members, among which 15 nations in Asia, 27 countries in Europe and the European Parliament, from seven observers namely Australia, Bangladesh, Norway, Myanmar, New Zealand, Russia, and Switzerland, and from six international organization, namely AIPA (ASEAN Inter Parliamentary Assembly), IPU (Inter-Parliament Union), ASEAN, UNDP, IMF, UNISDR.

ອາແຊັບ 7 ໄຂຂຶ້ນຢ່າງເປັນທາງການຢູ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ຢູ່ທີ່ໂຮງ­ແຮມດອນຈັນພາເລດ

ກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄູ່ຮ່ວມລັດຖະສະ­ພາອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບ ຄັ້ງທີ 7 (ອາແຊັບ 7) ຫົວ­ຂໍ້ “ການເປັນຄູ່ຮ່ວມລັດຖະສະ­ພາອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບ ເພື່ອການພັດ­ທະ­ນາແບບຍືນຍົງ” ໄຂຂຶ້ນຢ່າງເປັນທາງການ ໃນວັນທີ 3 ຕຸ­ລາ 2012 ຢູ່ທີ່ໂຮງ­ແຮມດອນຈັນພາເລດ ນະ­ຄອນ­ຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ໂດຍການເປັນປະ­ທານຂອງທ່ານນາງ ປາ­ນີ ຢາທໍ່ຕູ້ ປະ­ທານອາແຊັບ 7 ປະ­ທານສະ­ພາແຫ່ງຊາດລາວ ເປັນກຽດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມພິ­ທີໂດຍນາ­ຍົກ­ລັດ­ຖະ­ມົນ­ຕີແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ ທ່ານ ທອງສິງ ທຳມະວົງ ພ້ອມດ້ວຍຄະ­ນະຜູ້ແທນສະ­ມາ­ຊິກລັດຖະສະ­ພາ ລັດ­ຖະ­ມົນ­ຕີ ທູ­ຕາ­ນຸ­ທູດ ຕາງ­ໜ້າອົງການ­ຈັດ­ຕັ້ງສາ­ກົນ ລວມ 30 ຄະ­ນະ ຈາກ 27 ປະ­ເທດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ.

ພິ­ທີເລີ່ມຈາກການ­ສະ­ແດງສິ­ລະປະວັນ­ນະ­ຄະ­ດີ ແລະ ຮ້ອງ­ເພງອາແຊັບ ຈາກນັກສິ­ລະປະຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ຈາກນັ້ນ ທ່ານນາງ ປາ­ນີ ຢາທໍ່ຕູ້ ໄດ້ຂຶ້ນກ່າວບົດປາໄສເປີດກອງປະ­ຊຸມອາແຊັບ 7 ຢ່າງເປັນທາງການ ຊຶ່ງມີບາງຕອນສຳຄັນ­ວ່າ: ໃນສະ­ພາບການພັດ­ທະ­ນາເສດ­ຖະ­ກິດ-ສັງ­ຄົມຂອງໂລກປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ການພັດ­ທະ­ນາແບບຍືນຍົງພວມກາຍ­ເປັນທ່າອ່ຽງລວມຂອງບັນ­ດາປະ­ຊາຊາດໃນໂລກ ການຮັດແໜ້ນສາຍພົວ­ພັນ ແລະ ເສີມຂະ­ຫຍາຍການຮ່ວມມືລະ­ຫວ່າງສອງທະ­ວີບ­ອາ­ຊີ ແລະ ເອີຣົບ ແມ່ນຜົນປະ­ໂຫຍດລວມຂອງທຸກປະ­ເທດ ການຕົກ­ລົງເລືອກເອົາບັນ­ຫາ “ການເປັນຄູ່ຮ່ວມລັດຖະສະ­ພາອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບ ເພື່ອການພັດ­ທະ­ນາແບບຍືນຍົງ” ໃຫ້ເປັນຫົວ­ຂໍ້ຫຼັກໃນການປຶກ­ສາຫາ­ລືໃນກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄັ້ງນີ້ ນັ້ນສະ­ແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນວ່າ ອາແຊັບໄດ້ໄປທັນກັບຄວາມຮຽກ­ຮ້ອງຕ້ອງ­ການຂອງຍຸກສະ­ໄໝ ແລະ ຖືສຳ­ຄັນຄວາມມຸ້ງມາດປາ­ຖະ­ໜາຂອງບັນ­ດາປະ­ຊາຊາດ ທີ່ຕ້ອງ­ການສ້າງໃຫ້ຊີ­ວິດການເປັນຢູ່ດີຂຶ້ນ ບົນພື້ນ­ຖານຄວາມເຂົ້າອົກເຂົ້າ­ໃຈເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນ ແລະ ຮ່ວມກັນເພື່ອບັນ­ລຸຄວາມສົມ­ບູນພູນສຸກລວມຂອງທົ່ວໂລກ ຊຶ່ງຜ່ານການປະ­ຊຸມແຕ່ລະຄັ້ງ ເຫັນໄດ້ວ່າສະ­ມາ­ຊິກອາແຊັບແມ່ນມີຈຳ­ນວນເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ ແລະ ປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນມີ 43 ລັດຖະສະພາ­ເຂົ້າເປັນສະ­ມາ­ຊິກ ສຳ­ລັບກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄັ້ງນີ້ ພວກເຮົາຈະໄດ້ພ້ອມກັນປຶກ­ສາຫາ­ລືບັນ­ຫາຮີບດ່ວນຕ່າງໆ ເປັນ­ຕົ້ນແມ່ນການຮັບ­ປະ­ກັນຄວາມໝັ້ນ­ຄົງດ້ານສະ­ບຽງອາ­ຫານ ໃນເງື່ອນ­ໄຂການປ່ຽນ­ແປງດິນຟ້າອາ­ກາດທີ່ສັບ­ສົນ ປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ການເພີ່ມທະ­ວີການຮ່ວມມືອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບໃນການຄຸ້ມຄອງໜີ້ສາ­ທາ­ລະ­ນະ ເພື່ອການພັດ­ທະ­ນາແບບຍືນຍົງ ແລະ ບັນ­ຫາການເປັນຄູ່ຮ່ວມອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບ ໃນການເພີ່ມທະ­ວີການຮ່ວມມືຂອງສັງ­ຄົມເພື່ອຄຸ້ມຄອງໄພ­ພິ­ບັດ ໂອ­ກາດດັ່ງ­ກ່າວ ທ່ານນາ­ຍົກ­ລັດ­ຖະ­ມົນ­ຕີແຫ່ງ ສປປ ລາວ ກໍໄດ້ຂຶ້ນມີຄວາມເຫັນບາງຕອນສຳຄັນ­ວ່າ: ລັດຖະສະ­ພາອາແຊັບ ເປັນຕົວແທນແຫ່ງສິດ ແລະ ຜົນປະ­ໂຫຍດຂອງປະ­ຊາ­ຊົນອາ­ຊີ ແລະ ເອີຣົບ ຊຶ່ງມີຈຳ­ນວນເຖິງ 4.700 ລ້ານຄົນ ກວມເອົາ 65% ຂອງປະ­ຊາ­ກອນທົ່ວໂລກ ປະ­ຊາ­ຊົນສອງທະ­ວີບລ້ວນແຕ່ມີຄວາມມຸ້ງມາດປາ­ຖະ­ໜາອັນສູງສົ່ງ ໃນການຢູ່ຮ່ວມກັນດ້ວຍໄມ­ຕີຈິດມິດ­ຕະ­ພາບ ເຂົ້າອົກເຂົ້າ­ໃຈ ແລະ ເພີ່ມທະ­ວີການຊ່ວຍ­ເຫຼືອເຊິ່ງກັນ ແລະ ກັນສູງຂຶ້ນເປັນກ້າວໆ ພ້ອມນັ້ນ ກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄັ້ງນີ້ຍັງຈະສຸມໃສ່ປະເດັ່ນຕ່າງໆສຳ­ຄັນ ທີ່ກ່ຽວພັນກັບການຮ່ວມມືທາງດ້ານເສດ­ຖະ­ກິດ ແລະ ການຄ້າ ຂົງ­ເຂດການຜະ­ລິດກະ­ສິ­ກຳ ກໍຄືໂຄງ­ການຄ້ຳ­ປະ­ກັນຄວາມໝັ້ນ­ຄົງດ້ານສະ­ບຽງອາ­ຫານ ໃນສະ­ພາບການປ່ຽນ­ແປງຂອງດິນຟ້າອາ­ກາດ ປັດ­ຈຸ­ບັນ ແລະ ອານະຄົດ.

ພາກບ່າຍກອງປະ­ຊຸມຜູ້ແທນຂອງແຕ່ລະປະ­ເທດ ໄດ້ສືບ­ຕໍ່ປະ­ກອບຄຳເຫັນໃສ່ບັນ­ດາຫົວ­ຂໍ້ຕ່າງໆສຳ­ຄັນ ພ້ອມນັ້ນ ກອງປະ­ຊຸມຍັງໄດ້ຈັດພິ­ທີຮັບສະ­ມາ­ຊິກໃໝ່ (ສະ­ມາ­ຊິກລັດຖະສະ­ພາ) ຈຳ­ນວນ 4 ປະ­ເທດ ມີ: ປະ­ເທດຣັດເຊຍ ນິວຊີແລນ ມຽນມາ ແລະ ປະ­ເທດອົດສະຕຣາລີ ສຳ­ລັບກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄູ່ຮ່ວມລັດຖະສະ­ພາອາ­ຊີ-ເອີຣົບ ຄັ້ງທີ 6 ແມ່ນໄດ້ຈັດຂຶ້ນທີປະ­ເທດແບນຊິກ ຊຶ່ງທ່ານ ຣິກ ທອບຟ ຫົວ­ໜ້າຄະ­ນະຜູ້ແທນປະ­ເທດແບນຊິກ ປະ­ທານອາແຊັບ 6 ກໍໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມກອງປະ­ຊຸມຄັ້ງນີ້ ແລະ ກອງປະ­ຊຸມອາແຊັບຄັ້ງທຳອິດ ໄດ້ຈັດຂຶ້ນທີ່ປະ­ເທດຝຣັ່ງ ໃນປີ 1996.

Source: Don Chan Palace,Vientiane Mai

Laos and Indonesia expect to kick off direct flights between Vientiane and Jakarta at the end of next year, aiming to boost tourism and economic cooperation. The two governments reached an agreement on bilateral aviation cooperation last week, giving the green light
for airlines of the two nations to launch direct flights between their capital cities.“The agreement will create many benefits for both
countries, especially in the economic and tourism sectors,” air transportation director Djoko Murjatmodjo of Indonesia’s Transportation Ministry said after signing the agreement, as quoted in the Jakarta Post on Friday.

“A direct flight between Jakarta and Vientiane will bring the people of Indonesia and Laos closer together, strengthening the friendship between the two Asean countries.” The Indonesian official said Laos and Indonesia expect to launch the direct flight at the end of 2013, two years ahead of the Asean Economic Community coming into being in 2015. He said Asean is currently enjoying strong economic growth and this is the perfect time to connect one city in the region to another. While Laos and Indonesia have good diplomatic relations,
tourism and economic cooperation between the two nations is at a low level compared to the links between other Asean countries.

Analysis shows there is considerable potential for Laos and Indonesia to operate a direct flight because the nations are home to the popular tourist destinations of Bali and Luang Prabang. International tourists today want to visit many countries in the region.Tour operators are preparing to sell package tours that include visits to several countries in the region as travel between Asean nations gets easier. Asean plans to introduce a single visa for the citizens of member countries, but it is still unclear when this might occur.

Lao officials said the government plans to establish air links with many Asean cities as part of efforts to improve connectivity within the region. Laos also wants to end reliance on Thailand as a gateway for tourists and business-people coming to Laos. National carrier Lao
Airlines operates a direct flight to Singapore, another regional air transport hub, which targets passengers transiting in Singapore on their way to Laos. The airline also plans to open a direct flight to the Republic of Korea and cities in China at the end of this year.
The Thai airline Bangkok Airways plans to launch a Bangkok-Vientiane flight next month, based on the growing demand for this sector. Myanmar also plans to launch a direct flight between Vientiane and Yangon in the near future.

Vientiane Times,
9 October, 2012

Laos is going all out to make the delegates’ welcome at the ASEM Summit next month a truly unique affair, with the release of the song Asia-Europe Chai pa san Chai. This novel song which, roughly translated, means ‘Asia-Europe connecting hearts’ was composed by Bounlieb Phengsanouvong and is the product of a collaborative effort between 26 artists from a variety of musical backgrounds.
The recording was spearheaded by Mee Soulinthon. The artists who feature on the song were invited to do so by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The honour roll includes some of the most popular names in Lao music, such as Sak of The Cells, Ola Black Eyes, Sam Inthalaphithak, and Aluna.

The words of the song aim to promote the meeting, while reflecting the unity to be found in Laos and the hospitable nature of its people.
The lyrics speak of the importance of the ASEM partnership for building friendship between Asia and Europe, and encourages all Lao people to support next month’s meeting.One of the singers, Buratino, said it was a pleasure to be part of such a project and said it was now up to the Lao people as the hosts of the Summit to demonstrate the Lao spirit and culture that the song speaks of. The song can be heard on the radio and a music video is expected to be released by the end of the month.

Vientiane Times
10 October, 2012

Vientiane’s new City Pillar Shrine is now finished and was handed over by the contractor to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. A ceremony took place at the shrine on Setthathirath Road, attended by representatives of the ministry and Phettaphab Housing and Road Construction Co., Ltd. Former Prime Minister and Honorary President of the project, Mr Bouasone Bouphavanh; former Minister of Information and Culture and project President, Mr Mounkeo Oraboun; Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Buangeun Xaphouvong; ministry officials, monks and representatives of nearby villages attended the ceremony. The shrine is located in Phiawat village, Sisattanak district. It was built on the spot where 473 stone city pillar fragments dating back to the 4th or 5th century were unearthed along with other artifacts.

Construction work began in 2010 but was delayed because of problems relating to the original design. Revised plans were drawn up but required the approval of higher authorities.

Phettaphab Housing and Road Construction Co., Ltd. spent 13.3 billion kip on construction, of which the ministry has already repaid 10.3 billion kip.

The shrine houses the ancient city pillar fragments. The ministry also plans to build a two-storey museum beside the shrine to exhibit other artefacts relating to Vientiane in the era of the Lane Xang Kingdom.

“The shrine and museum will become a cultural landmark in Vientiane, marking an important site of historical interest,” Mr Mounkeo said when speaking at the ceremony.

About 15 billion kip will be needed to build the shrine, museum and associated facilities. Aside from the government’s input, the ministry also received financial support from individuals and companies such as Kolao, Dao Heuang Group, ST Group, Lao Brewery Company, Duangchareun Construction Group, Lao Telecom, Khamphayxana Construction, VXP companies, Phongsavanh Bank, Khounxay Construction Development Group, DM Construction Company, Lao Soft Drink Company, K&C Group, SMV Consulting Company, and the family of Mr Phisith Xayasith.

A celebration for the Vientiane City Pillar Shrine is scheduled to be held from November 15-17.

Vientiane Times
October 11, 2012

October 10 witnessed the signing of an agreement on the construction of a new office in Ban Phonpapao, Vientiane Capital, for the two largest daily newspapers in Laos; the Vientiane Times and the Pasaxon. The new location of the two dailies will be about three kilometers on the southeast side of the Nam Phu intersection where Vientiane Times, KPL News, Vientiane Mai, Lao Phatthana and Socio-Economic dailies are located.

Signatories to the document were Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Savahkhone Razmountry and President of the TK Road and Bridge Construction Company Thatsaphone Thammavong. The signing ceremony was held at the Vientiane Times office in the presence of Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara , his deputy Bouangeun Saphouvong and officials concerned. According to the agreement, the contractor is expected to spend two years to complete constructing the new building of the Vientiane Times and Pasaxon as a modern three-storey building on a 24,800 m2 plot in Phonpapao Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane Capital.

ເຊັນສັນຍາກໍ່ສ້າງສໍານັກພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ 

ໜັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດ

ວັນທີ 10 ຕຸລາ 2012 ນີ້, ທີ່ສຳນັກງານຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດ ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ໄດ້ຈັດໃຫ້ມີພິທີເຊັນສັນຍາໂຄງການກໍ່ສ້າງສຳນັກງານ
ຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດຫລັງໃຫມ່ລະຫວ່າງກະຊວງຖະແຫລງຂ່າວ, ວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ( ເຈົ້າຂອງໂຄງການ )
ກັບບໍລິສັດທີເຄ (TK) ກໍ່ສ້າງຂົວ - ທາງຈຳກັດ ( ບໍລິສັດຮັບເຫມົາກໍ່ສ້າງ ). ຮ່ວມລົງນາມໃນສັນຍາດັ່ງກ່າວຝ່າຍເຈົ້າຂອງໂຄງການແມ່ນທ່ານ ສະຫວັນຄອນ
ຣາຊມົນຕຣີ ລັດຖະມົນຕີຊ່ວຍວ່າການກະຊວງຖະແຫລງຂ່າວ-ວັດທະນະທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ.  ສ່ວນຝ່າຍຜູ້ຮັບເຫມົາກໍ່ສ້າງແມ່ນທ່ານ ທັດນະຄອນ ທຳມະວົງ
ປະທານບໍລິສັດທີເຄກໍ່ສ້າງ ແລະ ຂົວທາງຈຳກັດ ໂດຍຊ່ອງຫນ້າທ່ານ ສຈ. ດຣ. ບໍ່ແສງຄຳ ວົງດາລາ ລັດຖະມົນຕີວ່າການກະຊວງຖະແຫລງຂ່າວ-ວັດທະນະ
ທຳ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ, ບັນດາລັດຖະມົນຕີຊ່ວຍວ່າການ, ຫົວຫນ້າກົມ, ຮອງກົມກະຊວງດັ່ງກ່າວພ້ອມດ້ວຍພະນັກງານທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງທັງສອງຝ່າຍເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ. ສຳນັກ
ງານໃຫມ່ຂອງຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດ ຈະສ້າງຂຶ້ນໃນຮູບແບບທີ່ມີເອກະລັກທາງດ້ານວັດທະນະທຳຂອງຊາດທີ່ມີໂຄງປະກອບ
ພາຍໃນທີ່ທັນສະໄຫມຕັ້ງຢູ່ຕິດກັບເສັ້ນທາງ T5 ຢູ່ບ້ານໂພນປ່າເປົ້າ ເມືອງສີສັດຕະນາກ ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ນອນໃນເນື້ອທີ່ 2.480 ຕາແມັດເປັນອາຄານ
3 ຊັ້ນ 2 ຫລັງແຕ່ລະຫລັງມີຂະຫນາດລວງກວ້າງ 18 ແມັດ, ຍາວ 30 ແມັດ ກຳນົດເວລາໃນການກໍ່ສ້າງ 24 ເດືອນພາຍຫລັງເຊັນສັນຍາ.ການກໍ່ສ້າງສຳນັກ
ງານໃຫມ່ຂອງສອງຫນັງສືພິມແມ່ນເປັນການແລກປ່ຽນກັບສຳນັກງານເກົ່າຂອງຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດ ຫລັງປະຈຸບັນພ້ອມເນື້ອ
ທີ່ດິນ ໂດຍມອບໃຫ້ບໍລິສັດທີ່ເຄກໍ່ສ້າງຂົວທາງຈຳກັດ. ທ່ານ ບົວລະພັນ ທັນພິລົມ ຫົວຫນ້າບັນນາທິການຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ໄດ້ກ່າວວ່າ : ອີງໃສ່ທີ່ຕັ້ງ ແລະ
ສະຖານທີ່ຂອງສຳນັກງານຫລັງເກົ່າ ທີ່ມີຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດຢູ່ໃນຕຶກດຽວກັນ ບໍ່ສາມາດຕອບສະຫນອງໄດ້ຄວາມຮຽກຮ້ອງ
ຕ້ອງການຂອງວຽກງານກໍ່ຄືການຂະຫຍາຍຕົວຂອງພະນັກງານຕາມໂຄງປະກອບການຈັດຕັ້ງ. ເພື່ອຕອບສະຫນອງກັບການພັດທະນາເສດຖະກິດ-ສັງຄົມ ໃນປະ
ຈຸບັນ ແລະ ອະນາຄົດເພາະວ່າອາຄານນີ້ມີສະພາບແອອັດຄັບແຄບເປັນຕຶກເກົ່າ 2 ຊັ້ນ. ຕຶກນີ້ຕັ້ງຢູ່ບ້ານຊຽງຍືນ, ເມືອງຈັນທະບູລີ, ແຍກນ້ຳພຸຖະຫນົນເສດຖາ
ທິລາດ-ປາງຄຳນຳໃຊ້ມາ ແຕ່ເດືອນ ມີນາ ປີ 1965 ເປັນຂອງຂວັນຈາກລັດຖະບານອັງກິດມອບໃຫ້ແກ່ລັດຖະບານລາຊະອານາຈັກ (ລະບອບເກົ່າ)ເປັນສຳນັກ
ງານຂອງກະຊວງໂຄສະນາການ ແລະ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວ. ເຫັນໄດ້ຄວາມຈຳເປັນທີ່ຕ້ອງມີອາຄານສະຖານທີ່ເປັນໂຄງລ່າງຮັບປະກັນການພັດທະນາວຽກງານນີ້ ສູນກາງ
ພັກ ແລະ ລັດຖະບານ ຊຶ່ງຍາມໃດກໍ່ມີຄວາມເປັນຫ່ວງເປັນໄຍຊອກຊ່ອງທາງດ້ວຍຫລາຍຮູບການ ເພື່ອຫາທຶນຮອນກໍ່ສ້າງໃຫ້ມີສຳນັກງານຫລັງໃຫມ່ໃຫ້ສົມຄູ່ກັບ
ຖານະບົດບາດຂອງຫນັງສືພິມໃຫຍ່ຂອງຊາດ. ດ້ວຍເຫດນັ້ນຫ້ອງການລັດຖະບານຈຶ່ງໄດ້ອອກຫນັງສືແຈ້ງການສະບັບເລກທີ 1736/ຫລບ, ລົງວັນທີ 21/9/2012
ວ່າດ້ວຍການເຫັນດີອະນຸຍາດໃຫ້ສ້າງອາຄານຫນັງສືພິມປະຊາຊົນ ແລະ ຫນັງສືພິມພາສາຕ່າງປະເທດໂດຍມອບໃຫ້ບໍລິສັດທີເຄກໍ່ສ້າງ ແລະ ຂົວທາງຈຳກັດເປັນ
ຜູ້ສະຫນອງເນື້ອທີ່ດິນ ແລະ ທຶນດຳເນີນການກໍ່ສ້າງໂດຍປ່ຽນແທນເອົາສະຖານທີ່ຕຶກອາຄານສຳນັກງານຫນັງສືພິມທັງສອງດັ່ງກ່າວ.

KPL News, Pasaxon News
Vientiane, 12 October 2012

The FangMaeKhong festival is the first international dance festival in Laos, created in 2010 with the objective of bringing access to arts and culture to various communities across the country, as well as to provide exposure, performance and networking opportunities for young artists in the Mekong Region.  The annual festival began its first edition with performances and workshops in the major cities of Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and in two years has since expanded its reach to other towns and rural communities, and now includes elements of community outreach for youth, the handicapped and residents of drug rehabilitation facilities.

The organising team of the Fang Mae Khong International Dance Festival invites all Work Live Laos readers to attend its 3^rd edition in Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The 2012 festival theme is international artistic collaboration, with performances from France, Laos, Singapore, as well as French-Laotian and French-Singaporean collaborations. This year FangMaeKhong welcomes back collaborators from the first edition of Fang Mae Khong, the companies DANS6T and STYLISTIK from France.  The audience will also discover the Singaporean company SRI WARISAN, the brand new Laotian company HOPPIN from Vientiane, as well as the increasing number of emerging youth groups from Laos.

The dance programme of the Fang Mae Khong Festival is about crossing new boundaries on the artistic front. And while introducing a bold selection of experimental and contemporary forms, the festival preserves an important place for Hip-hop dance with the “FMK Hip-hop Battle” where we look forward to an explosion of young dancers’ positive energy and creativity.

The festival developed from a series of collaborative performance projects undertaken by choreographer Olé Khamchanla and the dancers of the Vientiane-based hip hop group Lao Bang Fai that took place in 2007 in Laos and subsequently toured to France in 2008 and 2010.  The collaboration led the young Lao dancers to establish and mentor youth dance workshops and groups in Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Pakse and Thakhek.  In 2009, the workshops by Olé and the Lao dancers were incorporated in the international cooperation programme between the Rhone-Alpes region in France and Khammouane province in Laos. Also in 2009, the group entered into a collaboration with television station France 3 and produced its first performance for a village in the rural community in the south of the country, in one of the dancer’s home villages.

With the development of these regional dance groups, the FangMaeKhong festival was a natural progression.  Olé proposed the festival to provide a performance platform for their efforts and to create networking opportunities between them and other emerging artists in the Mekong and Southeast Asian region, as well as counterparts from Europe. The festival features intimate performances including both local and international artists in both ticketed and non-ticketed events in formal venues as well as open air spaces, introducing a diverse and growing audience in the country to different dance forms and artistic expression beyond hip hop and popular commercial forms.  Through workshops, film screenings and discussion forums, the festival offers opportunities for young artists in Laos to develop their skills, make international connections, engage in artistic, cultural and personal exchanges and open their imaginations to new techniques, cultures and ideas.

 The third edition of FangMaeKhong in 2012 will feature performances and workshops in Luang Prabang. Future plans for the festival include an expansion to other countries in the Mekong Region. See the performance schedule at the bottom of the FMK website here.

ງານມະຫາກຳການເຕັ້ນສາກົນ “ຟັງແມ່ຂອງ” ກັບມາແລ້ວ ໃນປີ 2012

ພວກເຮົາ ມີຄວາມຍິນດີເປັນຢ່າງສູງທີ່ຈະນຳສະເໜີ ແລະ ຮຽນ ເຊີນທຸກໆທ່ານມາຮ່ວມງານກັບພວກເຮົາເປັນປີທີສາມ ທີ່ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ຫຼວງພະບາງ.
ປີ 2012 ນີ້ເປັນປີແຫ່ງການຮ່ວມມືທາງດ້ານສິນລະປະການສະແດງລະຫວ່າງນັກສະແດງສາກົນ ກັບການສະ ແດງຈາກປະເທດຝຣັ່ງ, ລາວ, ສິງກະໂປ, ລາວຝຣັ່ງ ແລະ ຝຣັ່ງສິງກະໂປ. ໃນປີນີ້, ເຮົາມີຄວາມຍິນດີຕ້ອນຮັບສິນລະປິນຈາກຄະນະເຕັ້ນ DANS6T ແລະ STYLISTIK ຈາກປະເທດ ຝຣັ່ງ ທີ່ເຄີຍຮ່ວມງານນຳເຮົາມາແລ້ວໃນງານມະຫະກຳການເຕັ້ນສາກົນສະບັບທີ່ 1.

ນອກຈາກນີ້, ທ່ານຍັງຈະໄດ້ພົບກັບການສະແດງຂອງຄະນະເຕັ້ນຈາກສິງກະໂປ SRI WARISAN, ຄະນະເຕັ້ນ HOPPIN ຈາກນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະ ນັກເຕັ້ນໃໝ່ໆມາຈາກທົ່ວປະເທດລາວ. ການສະແດງທີ່ຈະນຳມາສະເໜີໃນງານມະຫາກຳ “ຟັງແມ່ຂອງ” ນີ້ບໍ່ມີເຂດຈຳກັດທາງດ້ານສິນ ລະປະ. ເຖີງແມ່ນວ່າລາຍການການສະແດງຈະໃຫ້ຄວາມສົນໃຈແກ່ການເຕັ້ນແບບຮ່ວມສະໄໝ ແລະ ການທົດລອງ ຮູບແບບໃໝ່ໆກໍ່ຕາມ, ການເຕັ້ນແບບ Hip Hop ກໍ່ຍັງມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມຫຼາຍຄືເກົ່າຊຶ່ງຈະປ່ອຍໃຫ້ນັກເຕັ້ນໄວໜຸ່ມໄດ້ມີໂອກາດຖ່າຍທອດພະລັງ ແລະ ຄວາມຄິດສ້າງສັນຂອງຕົນອອກມາ ໃນ “FMK Hip Hop Battle”.
ຂໍຂອບໃຈມາຍັງອາສາສະໝັກ, ຜູ້ສະໜັບສະໜູນ ແລະ ອຸປະຖຳງານທາງພາກລັດ ແລະ ເອກະຊົນ.

ເຄີຍບໍ່ເວລາທີ່ເຮົາໄປສະຖານທີ່ຕ່າງໆຫຼືຮ້ານອາຫານທີ່ມີ WiFi ໃຫ້ເຮົາໃຊ້ຟຣີ ແຕ່ບັນຫາມັກຈະເກີດຂຶ້ນ ເລື້ອຍໆນັ້ນກໍ່ຄືສະຖານຕ່າງໆເຫຼົ່ານັ້ນມັກຈະໃສ່ລະຫັດຜ່ານແບບຍາກໆແລະກວ່າທີ່ພະນັກງານຈະບອກລະຫັດຜ່ານໝົດທຸກໂຕກໍ່ເສຍເວລາ,ຫຼຶຊໍ້າບໍ່ໜໍ່າແລ້ວກໍ່ອາດມີບັນຫາໃນການສື່ສານທີ່ອາດຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ເຮົາຟັງຜິດໄປໂຕໜຶ່ງ ເຊິ່ງອາດເຮັດໃຫ້ບໍ່ສາມາດນໍາໃຊ້Wifiໄດ້ເລີຍ. ທ່ານຄິດວ່າດີບໍ່ຖ້າມີໂປຣແກຣມໜຶ່ງທີ່ ຈະມາຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ຮ້ານຄ້າຫຼືສະຖານທີ່ຕ່າງໆແກ້ບັນຫານີ້ໃຫ້ໝົດໄປແບບງ່າຍໆ, ພຽງແຕ່ລູກຄ້າຈົກໂທລະ ສັບແບບ Smartphone ຫຼຶTabletອອກມາຖ່າຍຮູບບາດໜຶ່ງແລ້ວກໍ່ສາມາດນໍາໃຊ້ WiFi ນັ້ນໄດ້ທັນທີ.

ໃນສະບັບນີ້ເຮົາຈະຂໍແນະນໍາໂປຣແກຣມຂອງລະບົບAndriodທີ່ມີຊື່ວ່າInstaWifi ເຊິ່ງເປັນໂປຣແກຣມ ທີ່ເຮົາສາມາດເຮັດໃຫ້ລະຫັດຜ່ານຂອງ WiFi ຕ່າງໆກາຍເປັນ QR Code ເພື່ອທີ່ຈະໃຫ້ລູກຄ້າຂອງພຽງ ແຕ່ນໍາເອົາໂທລະສັບແບບ Smartphone ຫຼຶ Tabletມາຖ່າຍຮູບເອົາ QR Code ແລ້ວລະບົບກໍ່ຈະ ເຮັດ ໃຫ້ໂທລະສັບໜ່ວຍນັ້ນສາມາດນໍາໃຊ້ WiFi ໄດ້ທັນທີເລີຍ ເພື່ອບໍ່ຕ້ອງເສຍເວລາຂອງ ພະນັກງານໃນ ການບອກລະຫັດຜ່ານໃຫ້ລູກຄ້າແຕ່ລະຄົນອີກຕໍ່ໄປ  ແຕ່ເອົາເວລາມາຂາຍເຄື່ອງດີກວ່າ ^_^. ເຮົາມາເບິ່ງວິທີການໃຊ້ງານໂປຣແກຣມນີ້ກັນເລີຍ.

1. ໃຫ້ທ່ານເຂົ້າ Google Play store ແລ້ວຄົ້ນຫາໂປຣແກຣມ ດັ່ງກ່າວມາຕິດຕັ້ງໃສ່ໂທລະສັບຂອງທ່ານກ່ອນ ເລີຍໂດຍພິມຊື່ວ່າ InstaWifi ໃນບ່ອນຄົ້ນຫາແລະໃຫ້ຕິດຕັ້ງລົງເຄື່ອງເລີຍ

2. ເມື່ອເປີດໂປຣແກຣມຂຶ້ນມາຈະເຫັນໜ້າຫຼັກຂອງໂປຣແກຣມດັ່ງຮູບປະກອບ.

3. ກ່ອນອື່ນໝົດໃຫ້ທ່ານສ້າງຮູບ QR Code  ຂອງທ່ານເອງກ່ອນໂດຍກົດເຂົ້າທີ່ຮູບສໍ(ຢູ່ທາງຂວາມືເທິງສຸດ) ແລ້ວທ່ານຈະເຫັນບ່ອນໃຫ້ເຮົາໃສ່ຂໍ້ມູນລົງໄປດັ່ງນີ້:

SSID: ນັ້ນໝາຍເຖິງຊື່ສັນຍານ WiFi ຂອງເຮົາທີ່ຕ້ອງການຈະເຮັດເປັນ QR Code ເຊັ່ນຮ້ານຊື່ ນ້ອຍກາເຟກໍອາດໃສ່ເປັນ “noycafewifi” ເປັນຕົ້ນ (ການຕັ້ງຊື່ແມ່ນເຮັດໄດ້ຕາມໃຈເລີຍ)

Security: ແມ່ນປະເພດການເຂົ້າລະຫັດຂອງສັນຍານ WiFi ຂອງເຮົາ (ແນະນໍາໃຫ້ໃຊ້ເປັນ WPA/WPA2)

Password: ແມ່ນລະຫັດການເຂົ້ານໍາໃຊ້(ຕ້ອງໃສ່ລະຫັດ 8 ໂຕຂຶ້ນໄປເທົ່ານັ້ນ)

4. ຫຼັງຈາກໃສ່ຂໍ້ມູນແລ້ວໆກໍໃຫ້ກົດປຸ່ມAddໄດ້ເລີຍເພື່ອເປັນການສ້າງ QR Code ຂອງເຮົາຂຶ້ນມາ

5. ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນທ່ານກໍ່ສາມາດນໍາເອົາຮູບ QR Code ດັ່ງກ່າວອອກມາພິມແລ້ວເອົາໄປຕິດຕາມໂຕະຫຼືຝາ ຮ້ານໄດ້ເລີຍ.

6.  ຫຼັງຈາກນີ້ເມື່ອລູກຄ້າເຂົ້າມາຮ້ານ ກໍ່ພຽງແຕ່ໃຊ້ໂທລະສັບທີ່ມີໂປຣແກຣມສະແກນ QR Code,ໂດຍການ ເປີດກ້ອງແລ້ວສະແກນຮູບທີ່ຮ້ານພິມອອກມາຕິດນັ້ນ ລະບົບກໍ່ຈະຕໍ່ອິນເຕີເນັດແບບW i – F i ໃຫ້ທັນທີເລີຍ, ຫມົດບັນຫາໃຫພະນັກງານທີ່ຕ້ອງມາຖ້າບອກລະຫັດຜ່ານເຂົ້າWiFiກັນອີກຕໍ່ໄປ. ນີ້ກໍ່ເປັນຂັ້ນຕອນທັງໝົດຂອງ ການນໍາໃຊ້ໂປຣແກຣມ InstaWifi. ທັງໝົດນີ້ກໍ່ຫວັງວ່າມັນຈະຊ່ວຍໃຫ້ທ່ານປະຢັດເວລາຂອງທ່ານໄດ້ບໍ່ຫນ້ອຍ ກໍ່ຫຼາຍແລະທີ່ສໍາຄັນໂປຣແກມມນີ້ສາມາດດາວໂຫຼດໄດ້ຟຣີເລີຍ.

ໝາຍເຫດ: ທ່ານສາມາດພິມ QR Code ໄດ້ເລີຍຫຼັງຈາກທີ່ສໍາເລັດການສ້າງ ຫຼືຈະສົ່ງ QR Code ດັ່ງກ່າວເຂົ້າ social network ຂອງຮ້ານເອງກໍ່ດີເພື່ອຄວາມສະດວກໃນການນໍາໃຊ້.

ໂປຣແກຣມທີ່ຕ້ອງມີ: ໂທລະສັບມືຖືເຄື່ອງທີ່ຈະໃຊ້ສະແກນ QR Code ດັ່ງກ່າວໜ່ວຍນັ້ນຈໍາເປັນຕ້ອງມີ

ໂປຼແກຣມປະເພດ Barcode Scanner ກ່ອນຈຶ່ງຈະສາມາດນໍາໃຊ້ QR Code ນີ້ໄດ້, ແຕ່ຖ້າບໍ່ມີທ່ານ ສາມາດເຂົ້າໄປໂຫຼດໂປຣແກຣມປະເພດ Scan Barcode ໄດ້ຈາກ PlayStore ເລີຍເຊິ່ງມີຫຼາຍແບບແລະຟຣີ.

Re-published from ວາລະສານ eCorner Lao IT Magazine ສະບັບທີ 18. ຜູ້ຂຽນ: ເຈດຕະນາ ວຽງສາລີ (BO). ອ່ານ ບົດຄວາມຕົ້ນສະບັບ ທີ່ນີ້.

The InstaWifi Android App

Have you ever been to a restaurant or somewhere else with free wireless internet and the WiFi password is really long or complicated and difficult to remember? It can sometimes be a painstaking process to enter in a long password, particularly if it contains various special characters. If you ask the storekeeper for the WiFi password they might tell you incorrectly or else you might mishear and spend even more time trying to enter an incorrect password over and over. This can be really frustrating!  Wouldn’t it be great if there was a program that would allow customers to instantly connect to a store’s WiFi just by taking a photo from their smartphone or tablet?

The solution is an Android app called Insta WiFi. This app converts a WiFi password into a QR Code so that customers can use their smartphones or tablets to photograph the QR Code and instantly access the WiFi connection without keying anything in. This way the shopkeeper doesn’t need to waste time telling the password to each customer (and can concentrate on sales instead) ^_^.

Let’s take a look at how to set up and use Insta Wifi:

1. Open Google Play Store, type in “Insta WiFi”, locate the app, download and install it.

2. After opening the program, navigate to the first screen.

3. Before anything else, make sure to get your QR Code by clicking the pencil icon (at the top right) and then you will see a place to enter WiFi information.

Under ‘SSID’, enter the name of your wireless connection as this will appear in the QR Code. If your shop is called “Noy’s Café” you might want to call the SSID “noycafewifi”. But of course you can name it whatever you like.

Security: Here you must enter the type of security password used by your WiFi connection (the most secure password type is WPA/WPA2)

Password: In this section you should enter the actual WiFi password itself (8 characters or more).

4. After adding the above information, go ahead and click “add” to create a QR Code.

5. After that, you can print the QR Code image and display it on tables or elsewhere in your shop or restaurant.

6. Now when customers come to your shop or restaurant it’ll be really easy for them to access your WiFi. All they  need to do is use their smartphone and scan the QR Code on your display and the system will set up the WiFi internet connection on their phone automatically.  That’s it for setting up InstaWifi. Hopefully you’ll find this app useful and a good way to save time. Best of all, it’s free!

You can either print the QR Code out directly or you can post it up on social networking sites such as Facebook directly from the program.

All you will need is a program that can scan QR Codes as well as a Barcode Scanner. If you don’t have a Barcode Scanner you can download an app from the PlayStore, just like the QR Code apps.

This article was written by Jetdtana Viengsani and first published in Issue 18 of eCorner Lao IT Magazine who have agreed to its republication here. View the original article at their website.

Handicraft artisans from all over Laos are preparing for the Lao Handicraft Festival to be held from 1-7 November 2012. Over 200 Lao handicraft producers will be selling handmade textiles (including famous Lao silk and cotton with natural dyes), jewellery, basketry, wood and recycled products, pottery and many other cultural items. From inexpensive souvenirs to exquisite high-end collectables, there is something to suit all budgets. Members of Fair Trade Laos and villagers from NGO projects will join the festival and food products made in Laos also feature.

The Lao Handicraft Festival helps to promote and preserve the country’s ancient craft heritage while also improving market access and opportunities for handicraft producers. One week of selling at the LHF can dramatically increase sales and income for handicraft producers. Some artisans will even develop business relationships that lead to repeat orders and contracts for popular products. Catch the free daily fashion shows from 7-8pm or buy tickets to the ‘Grand Fashion Show’ evening featuring top Lao designers to be held on 1^st November 2012. Call LHA office to book tickets. Ticket price is 200,000 kip.

When?             1-7 November 2012 from 10am – 8pm daily.

Where?           Lao ITECC. Kamphengmuang Road, Saysettha District, Vientiane. Located approximately 5 km from downtown Vientiane.

Cost                 Entrance is free

The festival is organised by the Lao Handicraft Association under the supervision of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Email:              lhalaos@laotel.com
Phone:             021 452 956 or 020 5581 9587.

ງານມະຫາກຳສີມືຫັດຖະກຳລາວ 2012

ເພື່ອເປັນການຄຳນັບຮັບຕ້ອນກອງປະຊຸມສຸດຍອດ ອາຊີ-ເອີລົບ ຄັ້ງທີ9 (ASEM9) ທີ່ ສ.ປ.ປ.ລາວ ເຮົາໄດ້ຮັບກຽດເປັນເຈົ້າພາບ,ທາງສະມາຄົມຫັດຖະກຳລາວແມ່ນຈະໄດ້ຈັດງານມະຫາກຳສີມືຫັດຖະກຳລາວຄັ້ງທີ 11 ຂຶ້ນຢ່າງເປັນທາງການ, ໃນລະຫວ່າງວັນທີ   1 – 7 ພະຈິກ 2012ທີ່ຈະມາເຖິງນີີ້, ຈຸດປະສົງຂອງການຈັດງານໃນຄັ້ງນີ້ແມ່ນເພື່ອເປັນການສົ່ງເສີມແລະພັດທະນາງານວາງສະແດງດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນຕະຫລາດຈຳໜ່າຍຜະລິດຕະພັນຫັດຖະກຳຂອງຄົນລາວແບບຍືນຍົງ, ມີເອກະລັກສະເພາະໃນດ້ານສິລະປະ, ດ້ານວັດທະນະທຳຂອງຊາດລາວ ແລະ ພ້ອມທັງເປັນແຫລ່ງທ່ອງທ່ຽວໃຫ້ກຸ່ມນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທັງພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດ.

ນອກຈາກນີ້ຍັງເປັນການສ້າງໂອກາດໃຫ້ຊາວຊ່າງຫັດຖະກຳລາວໄດ້ຮັບຄວາມຮູ້ດ້ານການຕະຫລາດ, ໄດ້ພົບປະແລກປ່ຽນບົດຮຽນ,ປະສົບການດ້ານທຸລະກິດເພື່ອນຳໄປພັດທະນາຕົນເອງ ແລະ ທຸລະກິດໃຫ້ເຕີບໃຫຍ່ຂະຫຍາຍຕົວທັງດ້ານປະລິມານ ແລະ ຄຸນນະພາບຂອງສີນຄ້າອີກດ້ວຍ, ພາຍໃນງານຄັ້ງນີ້ແມ່ນຈະໄດ້ມີກິດຈະກຳຫລາຍໆຢ່າງໃຫ້ຜູ້ທີ່ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມງານໄດ້ຮັບຊົມເຊັ່ນ: ການເດີນແບບເສື້ອຜ້າອາພອນແລະເຄື່ອງປະດັບລາວ, ການສາທິດການຕໍ່າຫູກທໍໄຫມ, ການຝຶກອົບຮົມການຜະລິດເຄື່ອງຫັດຖະກຳ, ລວມເຖິງການຈັດການປະກວດຜະລິດຕະພັນດີເດັ່ນ ແລະ ກອງປະຊຸສຳມະນາຕ່າງໆເປັນຕົ້ນ.

ສະມາຄົມຫັດຖະກຳລາວ(ສຫລ)ແມ່ນສະມາຄົມທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບການສ້າງຕັ້ງຂຶ້ນໃນວັນທີ 1 ເມສາ 1998, ໃນໄລຍະເລີ່ມຕົ້ນແມ່ນໄດ້ມີສະຖານະເປັນພຽງກຸ່ມຫັດຖະກຳ, ໂດຍໄດ້ມີສະມາຊິກຈຳນວນ 20 ກວ່າຫົວໜ່ວຍແລະມາຮອດເດືອນກຸມພາປີ 2004 ໄດ້ປ່ຽນສະຖານະຈາກກຸ່ມມາເປັນສະມາຄົມຫັດຖະກຳລາວໂດຍໄດ້ມີສະມາຊິກເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນຈຳນວນ 100 ກວ່າຫົວໜ່ວຍ ແລະ ປະຈຸບັນມີສະມາຊິກທັງໝົດຫລາຍກວ່າ 120 ຫົວໜ່ວຍທີ່ຢູ່ໃນນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ ແລະຕ່າງແຂວງ, ສຫລ ປະກອບມີ 6 ຂະແໜງການຫັດຖະກຳຕົ້ນຕໍເຊັ່ນ : ຜະລິດຕະພັນແຜ່ນແພ, ເຄື່ອງປ່າຂອງດົງ, ເຄື່ອງເງິນ ແລະ ວັດຖຸມີຄ່າ, ຜະລິດຕະພັນວັດທະນະທຳ, ຜະລິດຕະພັນຈາກວັດຖຸເສດເຫລືອແລະຜະລິດຕະພັນເຄື່ອງປັ້ນດິນເຜົາ, ເພື່ອເປັນການອະນຸລັກ ແລະ ສົ່ງເສິີມຫັດຖະກຳທຸກຂະແໜງການຫັດຖະກຳດັ່ງທີ່ໄດ້ກ່າວມານີ້ ສຫລ ແມ່ນໄດ້ລິເລີ່ມຈັດງານມະຫາກຳສີມືຫັດຖະກຳລາວຄັ້ງທີ 1 ໃນປີ 2002 ແລະຈັດງານດັ່ງກ່າວຂຶ້ນເປັນປະຈຳທຸກໆປີຈົນຮອດປະຈຸບັນນີ້,ເຊິ່ງງານດັ່ງກ່າວນີ້ຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນບຸນປາງໃຫຍ່ຂອງສະມາຊິກ ແລະ ຊາວຊ່າງຫັດຖະກຳລາວໃນຂອບເຂດທົ່ວປະເທດທີ່ຈະໄດ້ເອກອ້າງຜະລິດຕະພັນຂອງຕົນໃຫ້ທົ່ວສັງຄົມລາວກໍ່ຄືສາກົນໄດ້ຮັບຮູ້ອີກດ້ວຍ.

ດັ່ງນັ້ນທາງສະມາຄົມຫັດຖະກຳລາວຈຶ່ງຂໍຖືໂອກາດນີ້ເຊີນຊວນບັນດານັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທັງພາຍໃນ ແລະ ຕ່າງປະເທດໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຊົມ ແລະ ຊື້ສີນຄ້າຫັດຖະກຳໃນງານຄັ້ງນີ້ທີ່ສູນການຄ້າລາວ-ໄອເຕັກ, ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ,ສປປລາວ,ໃນລະຫວ່າງວັນທີ 1 -7 ພະຈິກ 2012,ທີ່ຈະມາເຖິງນີ້ໃນເວລາ 10 ໂມງເຊົ້າເຖິງ 8ໂມງແລງ, ໂດຍບໍ່ໄດ້ເສຍຄ່າເຂົ້າຊົມແຕ່ປະການໃດ.

The government targets 3.4 million tourist arrivals this year and hopes to earn US$452 million in tourism related revenue.

ASEAN remains the largest source of arrivals at 1,597,092 (+17.98%), but the numbers are mostly coming from neighbours Thailand and Vietnam.

Thailand is the top supplier accounting for 59.14% of all visits. It posted a strong growth of 18.68% supplying 1,026,979 tourists. The accumulated growth expanded from 11.04% at the end of the first quarter. The tourism boom between the two countries, especially overland travel, has been attributed to better road networks and bridge links. There are three bridges across Mekong River and the the fourth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge in Chiang Rai province is projected to open in 2013. The Thai Cabinet recently approved the fifth Friendship project at a cost of Bt2 billion. It will connect Thailand’s Bung Kan province and Laos’ Bolikhamxai province and will take three years to build.

Vietnam, the second top source market supplied 355,212 tourists growing slightly at 8.13%. Contributions from other ASEAN countries were around 10,000 visits or lower.

Arrivals from other Asian countries and the Pacific reached 182,789 (+33.5%).  China leads the list with 107,032 arrivals, growing at 40.33%. It shares a border with Laos and overland travel is expanding mainly to Luang Prabang, via the northwest town of Luang Namtha.

Other significant sources include Korea, Japan and Australia supplying around 20,000 visits each.

Europe facing an economic downturn at home, grew by just 4.13% (95,899). Six out of 16 identified countries including the important Germany reported single digit declines except Austria (-35%). Laos’ main suppliers from Europe are France and UK and they still grew 11.46% and 4.4% respectively.

Arrivals from the Americas were positive from the US and Canada. The average growth during the six month period was 11.54% (+9.94% from the US and 21.5% from Canada).

The smallest regional market, Africa and the Middle East, dropped slightly by 3.68% to 3,563.

Top 10 source countries for international arrivals to Laos, January to June 2012

International Arrivals into Laos during the first half of 2012 by Month

Originally published by www.ttrweekly.com. See the original post here.
by Rapeepat Mantanarat
BANGKOK, 10 October 2012
Source: Tourism Development Department

ຖ້າຫາກວ່າທ່ານກຳລັງເຮັດວຽກກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດຢູ່ ທ່ານເຄີຍພົບກັບບັນຫາໃນຊ່ວງໄລຍະຂອງການເຮັດວຽກກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດຫຼືບໍ່ ຫຼືວ່າ ທ່ານມີວິທີເຮັດວຽກໃດແດ່ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ເຂົ້າກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດໄດ້ ແລະ ໃຫ້ໄດ້ຮັບມີປະສິດທິຜົນທີ່ດີ. ເຊິ່ງມື້ນີ້ ເຮົາຈະຂໍແນະນຳບາງວິທີການທີ່ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານເອງສາມາດເຮັດວຽກກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດເພື່ອບໍ່ໃຫ້ເກີດມີບັນຫາ ແລະ ສາມາດເຂົ້າໃຈກັນໄດ້ເປັນຢ່າງດີ

(to read in English, click here)

ສັນຍາວ່າຈະເຮັດອັນໃດຕ້ອງໃຫ້ແນ່ໃຈວ່າເຮັດໄດ້.

ການທີ່ເຮົາໄດ້ເຮັດວຽກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດ ສິ່ງສຳຄັນໃນການເຮັດວຽກແມ່ນຜົນໄດ້ຮັບ, ເຊິ່ງຫຼາຍຄົນບໍ່ກ້າທີ່ຈະປະຕິເສດຄຳສັ່ງ ຫຼື ກ້າເວົ້າ ແລະ ສະແດງຄວາມຄິດເຫັນ, ເພາະວ່າວຽກທີ່ໄດ້ຮັບມອບໝາຍນັ້ນມັນຍາກທີ່ເຮົາຈະສາມາດເຮັດໄປຕາມແຜນທີ່ວາງໄວ້ໄດ້ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນເລື່ອງເວລາ. ສະນັ້ນ ຖ້າຫາກວ່າເຮົາບໍ່ສາມາດເຮັດໄປຕາມແຜນນັ້ນໄດ້ກໍ່ຕ້ອງໃຫ້ສະແດງຄວາມຄິດເຫັນອອກມາຢ່າງສຸພາບ ແລະ ກົງໄປກົງມາ. ເຊິ່ງຖ້າວ່າເຮົາຮັບປາກໄປກ່ອນແລ້ວບໍ່ສາມາດເຮັດໄດ້ນັ້ນຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ທ່ານຂາດຄວາມໜ້າເຊື່ອຖືໄດ້ ແລະ ຂາດຄວາມໄວ້ເນື້ອເຊື່ອໃຈຕໍ່ກັບເຮົາໄດ້.

1.  ຕ້ອງກ້າຖາມເມື່ອມີບັນຫາ.

ຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດສ່ວນຫຼາຍຈະຮູ້ສຶກດີຖ້າວ່າມອບວຽກໃດໜື່ງໄປແລ້ວ ລູກນ້ອງມີຄຳຖາມກັບຄືນ, ເພາະສະແດງເຖິງວ່າລູກນ້ອງມີຄວາມສົນໃຈຕໍ່ກັບລາຍລະອຽດຂອງວຽກ ແລະ ຕ້ອງການເຂົ້າໃຈຕໍ່ກັບວຽກນັ້ນໆ, ແຕ່ວ່າລູກນ້ອງຫຼາຍຄົນບໍ່ມັກຖາມ ເພາະຄິດວ່າຢ້ານເສຍໜ້າ ຫຼື ອາດຈະຖືກໄລ່ອອກຈາກວຽກ ສະນັ້ນຈຶ່ງເຮັດເສີຍໆເອົາໄວ້ກ່ອນ, ເຊິ່ງການເຮັດແບບນີ້ມັນອາດຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ມີຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈຜິດຕໍ່ກັບຈຸດປະສົງ ແລະ ລາຍລອຽດ ຂອງໜ້າວຽກທີ່ຈະເຮັດໄດ້ ເຊິ່ງອາດເຮັດໃຫ້ເກີດມີບັນຫາຕາມຫຼັງມາກໍ່ໄດ້.

2.  ມີບັນຫາຜິດພາດກັບວຽກງານໃຫ້ຮີບບອກຫົວໜ້າ.

ໃນກໍລະນີທີ່ເຮົາເຮັດວຽກແລ້ວເກີດມີຄວາມຜິດພາດຂຶ້ນ ຢ່າປົກປິດເອົາໄວ້ເພື່ອບໍ່ຢາກໃຫ້ໂຕເອງຖືກຕຳນິ, ແຕ່ວ່າຄວາມຈິງແລ້ວຖ້າຫາກວ່າເຮົາບອກເຈົ້ານາຍແຕ່ເນີ້ນໆໄວ້ກ່ອນ ຄວາມເສຍຫາຍທີ່ຈະເກີດຂຶ້ນ ແລະ ໂອກາດໃນການແກ້ໄຂບັນຫາກໍ່ຈະງ່າຍຂຶ້ນ. ແນ່ນອນທີ່ສຸດວ່າທ່ານອາດຈະຕ້ອງຖືກຫົວໜ້າຮ້າຍ ແຕ່ວ່າຫົວໜ້າຈະແຮງໃຈຮ້າຍຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນຖ້າຫາກວ່າປ່ອຍໃຫ້ເກີດຄວາມເສຍຫາຍຫຼາຍຂຶ້ນ.

3.  ການສື່ສານກັບຫົວໜ້າຕ້ອງໃຫ້ເຂົ້າໃຈຊັດເຈນ.

ຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດສ່ວນຫຼາຍມັກການເວົ້າທີ່ກົງໄປກົງມາ, ເຊິ່ິງວິທີການເວົ້ານັ້ນເຮົາຕ້ອງລຽງລຳດັບຄວາມຄິດຂອງໂຕເຮົາເອງກ່ອນວ່າ ເຮົາຕ້ອງການເວົ້າເລື່ອງຫັຍງ, ມີທີ່ໄປທີ່ມາຈຶ່ງໃດ, ເກີດບັນຫາຫັຍງ ແລະ ເປັນເພາະສາເຫດຫຍັງ, ຂໍ້ມູນທີ່ມີຢູ່ມີຫັຍງແດ່, ສຸດທ້າຍແມ່ນມີຂໍ້ສະເໜີແນະຫັຍງແດ່ສຳລັບບັນຫານັ້ນ ແລະ ເຮົາຄວນຈະມີຂໍ້ສະເໜີແນະຫຼາຍໆທາງເລືອກ ພ້ອມທັງສະເໜີທາງເລືອກຄວາມຄິດເຫັນຂອງເຮົາອອກໄປ ແລະ ຖ້າຫາກຈະລະອຽດແມ່ນຕ້ອງມີການວິເຄາະເຖິງຜົນໄດ້ຮັບ ແລະ ຄວາມສ່ຽງນຳ.

4.  ລາຍງານຄວາມຄືບໜ້າຂອງວຽກເປັນໄລຍະ.

ຫົວໜ້າສ່ວນຫຼາຍຕ້ອງການທີ່ຈະຮູ້ຄວາມຄືບໜ້າຂອງວຽກເປັນໄລຍະໆ, ດັ່ງນັ້ນເຮົາຄວນຈະລາຍງານໜ້າວຽກໃຫ້ຫົວໜ້າຮູ້ ຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ ແລະ ສະໝ່ຳສະເໝີ. ສຳລັບເລື່ອງຂອງຄວາມຖີ່ ແລະ ລາຍລະອຽດໃນຮູບແບບການສື່ສານກໍ່ອາດຈະຕ້ອງສຶກສາເບິ່ງວ່າຫົວໜ້າມັກຈະໃຫ້ລາຍງານທາງໃດ ອາດຈະແມ່ນການລາຍງານທາງໂທລະສັບ, ເປັນລາຍລັກອັກສອນ, ການເວົ້າຈາທຸກໆມື້ ຫຼື ທຸກໆອາທິດ ຕາມແຕ່ລະວິທີຂອງແຕ່ລະຄົນ.

ສຳລັບ 4 ວິທີ ທີ່ໄດ້ກ່າວມານັ້ນ ອາດຈະເປັນແນວທາງເລັກໆໜ້ອຍໆທີ່ສຳລັບຜູ້ທີ່ເຮັດວຽກກັບຄົນຕ່າງປະເທດຢູ່ ເຊິ່ງທ່ານອາດຈະນຳເອົາວິທີດັ່ງກ່າວໄປປະຍຸກໃຊ້ໃຫ້ເຂົ້າກັບຕົວຈິງໄດ້ເພື່ອໃຫ້ການເຮັດວຽກຂອງທ່ານມີປະສິດທິພາບ ແລະ ເຮັດວຽກໄດ້ງ່າຍຂຶ້ນ.

Re-published from ວາລະສານ 108ອາຊີບ ສະບັບທີ 23  

Working with Foreigners

If you work closely with foreigners you may have encountered some issues when working together, but hopefully you have also found some ways to work together effectively. This article will suggest some methods that will help you work alongside foreigners successfully and come to a better mutual understanding.

Ensure you really know how before you undertake a task

When working with foreigners, the most important thing is results. Many people are afraid to question instructions given them even when a set task is difficult or impossible to complete, especially when there is a strict deadline. Instead, if you are unable to work according to a particular plan, you must make your difficulties known politely and sincerely. Otherwise, if you have accepted the task in the first place but are unable to complete it, you may be considered unreliable or untrustworthy in the future.

1.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions

When setting a task, foreigners are usually happier if their employees ask questions because this means the employee is interested in the finer details or would like to know more about the job. Many employees, however, don’t like to ask questions because they feel they will appear foolish, lose face or may even lose their job. But if employees don’t ask questions they won’t be able to complete their tasks correctly and will only attract larger problems later on.

2.  If you make a mistake, always tell the boss

Never hide the truth or try to cover up your mistakes. Instead, inform the boss as soon as you make a mistake. This will make it easier for you to sort it out and solve the problem before it gets any worse. It’s true that you may face an angry boss, but the boss will be even angrier if the hidden mistake lads to even greater problems because you didn’t take responsibility for it in the first place

3.  Ensure Clear Communication With The Boss

Foreigners usually prefer speaking directly or in a straightforward manner, so you must think carefully and order your thoughts before broaching any issue. What are the possibilities? What problems could arise?  What are the causes? Lastly, what are your suggestions for solving this problem? You should have a few different suggestions at the ready, express your own opinions and analyze the expected outcome and risks involved.

4.  Periodically Report Progress

Bosses tend to like to know how your work is progressing from time to time. You should report your progress to your boss every now and then so that he or she can see that everything is going well. In regard to how often you report and how, you should observe your boss and see which communication methods they prefer; it may be by phone or by email, telling them daily or weekly – every employer will be different.

Try some of the above four strategies at your workplace; you never know, a very small change could make a very big difference. Hopefully this will help to create a more effective work environment for you and help you to work better alongside foreigners.

Re-published from 108job issue 21, page 8  

If you have kids enrolled at school in Vientiane then you’ll know that school holidays are coming up real soon. Some schools have their mid-term breaks right now, and for others school is out due to the upcoming ASEM meeting. If your kids are still small, you’re probably racking your brains trying to think of ideas to keep them entertained before they stage a coup and take over your house.

Why not introduce them to baking? Love Life Ice Cream is holding Baking Workshops for kids over the mid-term break at which they’ll learn how to make cupcakes the Love Life way. It’s a great way for them to interact with other kids whilst learning a new skill. Plus they get to eat lots and lots of free ice cream. Best of all, once they know how, you can put them to work making cupcakes for you any time you want!

The workshops go for 2.5 hours on Thursdays or Sundays and are open to a maximum of 8 children. Your child will learn how to mix and bake cupcakes, get a special Love Life chef’s hat and enough ice cream to satisfy the biggest appetite. If you haven’t been to Love Life Ice Cream yet, you’ll find it on 23 Singha Rd in Nongbone Village, Vientiane Capital (between Patuxay and That Luang, just near Vientiane College). To reserve a space in the workshop, call 020 56516799 or email lovelifelaos@gmail.com. Visit the facebook page here.

ກິດຈະກຳ ເຮັດເຂົ້າໜົມກັບເຄັກ ສຳລັບເດັກນອ້ຍ

ຢູ່ຮາ້ນກາແລັ້ມ ຮັກຊີວິດ

ຕັ້ງຢູ່ບ້ານໜອງບອນ ຢູ່ລະຫວ່າງ ປະຕູໄຊ ກັບ ທາດຫຼວງ

ທຸກໆວັນອາທິດ 2:00 – 4:30 ໂມງ

1. ເຮັດເຂົ້າໜົມກັບເຄັກ (ຈະປຽ່ນເຮັດແຕ່ລະຢາ່ງ ຂອງທຸກໆເດືອນ)

2.ເວລາອົບເຂົ້າໜົມຢູ່ ພວກເຮົາພາກັນ ກີນກາແລັ້ມ ແລ້ວ ຕົບແຕ່ງ ກ່ອງກັບບາ້ນ

3. ເວລາອົບສຸກແລ້ວ ຕົບແຕ່ງໜ້າເຄັກ ແລະ ເອົາກັບບາ້ນ

ລາຄາ 185,000 ກີບ / 1 ມື ຕໍ່ຄົນ. ຢູ່ໃນ່ລາຄາມີ:

-       ມີກັບເຄັກ 4 ກອ້ນກັບບາ້ນ

-        ເຄື່ອງເຮັດເຄັກ

-        ມີຜາ້ກັນເປຶ້ອນໃຫ້ຢືມ

-       ມີໜວກໃຫ້ກັບບາ້ນ

-       ມີກະແລ້ມໃຫ້ກີນ

-       ມີກອ່ງໃຫ້ກັບບາ້ນ

-       ມີເຄື່ອງຕົບແຕ່ງກອ່ງ

-       ມີສູດໃຫ້ກັບບາ້ນ

ເດັກນອ້ຍ 7 ປີຫາ 10 ປີ. ທຸກໆວັນອາທິດ ປະມານ 8 ຄົນ.

ຖ້າສົນໃຈ ໂທຈອງພວກເຮົາກ່ອນ ວັນເສົາຕອນສວຍ - 020 5651 6799.