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BUDDHIST
FESTIVAL PROCLAIMED WORLD BUDDHIST DAY BY UNESCO
Visaka
Buxa, the religious celebration to commemorate the birth of Buddha,
enlightenment and death, has been proclaimed world Buddhist Day
by UNESCO. Every year, the festival for Visaka Buxa Day is held
during the sixth lunar month of the Buddhist calendar or in May,
especially on the full moon day. The Buddhist fellowship over
the country has high regard for this ceremony and many traditional
festivals are organised. This year, the Visaka Buxa day corresponded
with the 15th day of the waxing moon for the sixth lunar month,
in the Year of Goat or 15th May 2003.
DISCOUNTED
AIRFARES FROM LAO AVITATION
Lao
Aviation has significantly cut its rates by an average of 20 percent
for all domestic flights during the summer period, from 15th May
to 15th September 2003. Please contact Exotissimo Laos for rate
and booking information at laos@exotissimo.com.
LAO AVIATION END FLIGHTS BETWEEN HO CHI MINH CITY AND VIENTIANE
Lao
Aviation has stopped operating their flights linking Ho Chi Minh
City and Vientiane. As a result, the code-share contract between
Vietnam Airlines and Lao Aviation has been terminated. Vietnam
Airlines however will continue to fly the route. Lao Aviation
has also temporarily suspended their Vientiane – Siam Reap route
until October 2003.
WEAPONS OF WAR FOLLOW PEACEFUL PURSUITS ON THE RIVER
Visitors
arriving in Sepon District, in the central province of Savannakhet,
sometimes have to remind themselves they have not stepped back
in time, and that the Indochina War is really over. This peaceful,
pretty place is littered with reminders of the conflict that savaged
the region. Tanks rust gently in fields and bombshells are everywhere.
Ingenious local people have turned the weapons of war into something
much more practical - they are used to make boats for fishing
and commuting by river to other villages.
POSA
PAPER WEAVING
Posa
paper weaving is an age old tradition in Laos and Vangvieng Posa
Handicraft is a truly innovative Lao initiative that meshes traditional
handicraft with local environmental resources. It is an important
income generator among various ethnic groups in Laos. In April
2002 Vangvieng Posa Handicraft received the honour of the UNESCO-AHPADA
Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products of South-East Asia.
Vangvieng Posa Handicraft is located 125Km north of Vientiane
and its products are available in Vientiane at Wattai International
Airport, Novotel Hotel, Lao Plaza Hotel and Namphou Handicrafts.
XIENG
KHOUANG TOUR GUIDES UPGRADED
The
National Tourism Authority, in cooperation with Xieng Khouang
province’s tourism service, recently organised a training course
for local tour guides on the promotion of cultural heritage. The
course, supported by UNESCO, aimed to help local guides understand
national policies on tourism development and promotion, national
defence and security and safeguarding national culture. The course
also aimed to provide an opportunity for the participants to learn
more about the history of tourism sites, particularly the history
of the Plain of Jar.
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