New places opening

Lemon Grass Bar The Spa Garden

A new Brasserie-style French restaurant, named Le Grillon, has just opened on Lane Xang Road in Luang Prabang. It serves French and American dishes, including croque-monsieur sandwiches, barbecue, hamburgers and salads.

A new wine bar, named Lemon Grass Bar, opened in February along the Mekong in Luang Prabang, near the Sala Prabang Hotel.

The Spa Garden, located in the centre of Luang Prabang, offers traditional body, foot, head and aromatherapy massages, as well as treatments for skin detoxification, slimming or cellulite.

Hotel projects

Maison Souvannaphoum

After several delays due to construction, the Maison Souvannaphoum Colours of Angsana in Luang Prabang opened its accommodations for guests, with comfortable deluxe suites and guest rooms which offer daily champagne breakfast and afternoon tea, contemporary interior designs, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms. A new building houses the garden and veranda rooms, which come with private verandas and modern amenities. The hotel also offers relaxing body treatments, massages and facials at the Angsana Spa, the Angsana Gallery, and international cuisine at the Elephant Blanc Restaurant.

Merry Swiss Hotel

The Merry Swiss Hotel has just opened in Luang Prabang along the Nam Kham with eight standard guest rooms, all equipped with televisions.

The Talat Sao in Vientiane has begun renovating and extending its facilities and accommodations, beginning with the removal of some shops and merchants.

Visa-free in Laos and Philippines

Passport holders in Laos and the Philippines are now allowed to travel between the two countries without having to apply for travel visas if they plan to stay for 30 days or less. Passports must be valid for at least six months. Many officials are hoping that this move will facilitate the establishment of a new visa free policy that would allow citizens of ASEAN nations to travel between their countries without need of a visa.