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Wednesday, October 27, 2010
ງານບຸນລະນຶກເຖິງ 100 ປີ ຊາຕະການຂອງພຣະອາຈານ ມະຫາປາລ ອານັນໂທ
ເມື່ອວັນທີ 24 ຫາ 26 ທີ່ຜ່ານມາ ໄດ້ມີການຈັດງານບຸນສະຫຼອງ 100 ປີ ຊາຕະການມື້ລາງພຣະອາຈານໃຫຍ່ ມະຫາປາລ ອານັນໂທ,ອະດີດເຈົ້າສຳນັກມະຫາພຸດທະວົງສາປ່າຫລວງ ທ່ານເປັນພຣະອາຈານໃຫຍ່ຝ່າຍວິປັດສະນາທຸຣະ ທັງເປັນນັກພັດທະນາ ຜູ່ທີ່ເພັດມະນີແຫ່ງຍຸກຣາຊະອານາຈັກແລະຍຸກລະບຽບໃໝ່. ຜົນງານຂອງທ່ານມີຢ່າງອະເນກອະນັນເໜືອຈະຄະນານັບ, ເປັນຜູ້ສ້າງຮາກຖານແຫ່ງການສຶກສາທາງພຸດທະສາສະໜາ ພາກປະຣິຍັດຢ່າງໝັ້ນຄົງ ໂດຍສະເພາະແມ່ນວິຊາພຣະອະພິທັມ, ໂຮງຮຽນສອນສີລະທັມ, ສະມາຄົມຍຸວະພຸດ, ວາຣະສານພຸດທະວົງສ໌ ແລະຜົນງານອີກມາກມາຍທີ່ທ່ານມີໄວ້ປະດັບໄວ້ແກ່ຊາດ ແລະສາສະໜາ. ເພື່ອນ້ອມລະນຶກເຖິງຄຸນງາມຄວາມດີຂອງພຣະອາຈານໃຫຍ່ຜູ່ມີຜົນງານ ຜູ່ສ້າງຄຸນປະໂຫຍດແກ່ຊາດແລະສາສະໜາຜ່ານມາ.
ໃນງານບຸນ ໄດ້ມີນິທັດສະການກ່ຽວກັບຊີວິດແລະຜົນງານຂອງພຣະອາຈານມະຫາປາລ ອານັນໂທ, ການຟັງປາຖະກະຖາ, ການປະຕິບັດທັມ, ການໃສ່ບາດຖວາຍສັງຄະທານໃຫ້ແກ່ພຣະສົງຈຳນວນ 100 ກວ່າອົງ, ການຮົດສົງເຖຣາພິເສກຈຳນວນ 18 ກອງ. ນັບວ່າເປັນເຫດການທີ່ສຳຄັນຄັ້ງປະຫວັດສາດໃນລາວ ທີ່ໄດ້ຈັດຂື້ນເພື່ອລະນຶກເພື່ອເປັນອາຈາຣິຍະບູຊາຄົບ 100 ປີຊາຕະການແບບນີ້. ມີປະຊາຊົນເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຢ່າງຫລວງຫລາຍເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າຝົນຈະຕົກ. ອັນນີ້ກໍສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນວ່າ ສັດທາຂອງສາທຸຊົນຊາວພຸດຍັງເຊື່ອໝັ້ນນັບຖືບູຊາຕໍ່ພຣະພຸດທະສາສະໜາຢ່າງໝັ້ນຄົງແລະເປັນຂະບວນຟົດຟຶ້ນໃນການເຮັດບຸນ.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
ການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ 108
ຮູບຖ່າຍທີ່ວັດອົງຕື້ມະຫາວິຫານ ເມື່ອວັນທີ 24 ຕຸລາ 2010.
ການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ ໝາຍເຖິງການເອົາຫຼຽນທີ່ຄູບາກຽມໄວ້ແລ້ວໃນຈານນ້ອຍໆ ທີ່ກຳນົດເອົາໄວ້ ໄປປ່ອນລົງໃນບາດຢາງນ້ອຍໆ ທີ່ຕັ້ງ ລຽນກັນເອົາໄວ້. ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດນີ້ ບາງຄັ້ງເພິ່ນກໍເອີ້ນວ່າ ບາດສະຫວັນ ຫຼືວ່າ ບາດເທໂວ ຄວາມເປັນມາຂອງການໃສ່ບາດ ແບບນີ້ຍັງບໍ່ ທັນເປັນທີ່ແນ່ນອນວ່າກຳນົດກັນຂື້ນໃນເມື່ອໃດ. ແຕ່ທີ່ສຳຄັນແມ່ນນິຍົມເຮັດກັນຢູ່ປະເທດໄທ ຕາມທີ່ຜູ້ຂຽນຮູ້ມາຈາກການ ບອກເລົ່າຂອງ ພຣະອາຈານໃຫຍ່ ຜ່ອງ ສະມາເລິກ, ຜູ້ຮັກສາການປະທານອົງການພຸດທະສາສະໜາສຳພັນລາວ ເວົ້າວ່າ ຕອນທີ່ ເພິ່ນລະດົມທຶນສ້າງ ກຸຕິຢູ່ວັດຫລວງປາກເຊໃນຊ່ວງປີ 1950 ນັ້ນ ເພິ່ນໄດ້ນຳເອົາວິທີການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດນີ້ເຂົ້າມາເຜີຍແຜ່ແລ້ວ ແຕ່ຕອນນັ້ນ ຍັງບໍ່ທັນເປັນ ທີ່ຮູ້ຈັກແລະນິຍົມກັນຫລາຍ.ມີບາງຕຳນານບອກວ່າ ການກຳນົດການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ ຫຼື ບາດເທໂວນີ້ ແມ່ນມີຄວາມເປັນມາ ໂດຍອີງ ໃສ່ປະຫວັດຕອນພຣະພຸດທະເຈົ້າສະເດັດລົງມາຈາກສະຫວັນຊັ້ນດາວະດຶງ ໃນພັນສາທີ 7 ຫຼັງຈາກຕັດສະຮູ້ແລ້ວ. ເພື່ອເທສະໜາໂຜດພຸດ ທະມານດາ ແລ້ວສະເດັດລົງມາຍັງເມືອງມະນຸດ ຈິ່ງຖືເອົາການໃສ່ບາດນີ້ ເພື່ອລະນຶກແລະບູຊາເຖິງເຫດການສຳຄັນນີ້.
ຈຸດປະສົງແລະຄວາມໝາຍຂອງການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ ມີສອງລັກສະນະຕາມທີ່ນັກປາດອາຈານໄດ້ພັນລະນາເອົາ ຄື : ອັນທີໜຶ່ງ, ເພື່ອ ນ້ອມລະນຶກເຖິງຄຸນພຣະພຸດ, ພຣະທັມ ແລະພຣະສົງ ເຊິ່ງນັ້ນນັ້ນ ຄຸນພຣະພຸດມີ 56 ຄຸນພຣະທັມມີ 38 ແລະຄຸນພຣະສົງມີ 14 ລວມ ເຂົ້າກັນເປັນຮ້ອຍແປດ, ການເຮັດແນວນີ້ແມ່ນເພື່ອບູຊາຄຸນຂອງພຣະຣັຕຕະຣະໄຕ, ອັນທີສອງ ແມ່ນເພື່ອພັກຜ່ອນຈິດໃຈໃຫ້ເປັນ ສະມາທິ ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ເຮົາໃສ່ບາດ ຖ້າໃຫ້ຖືກວິທີແທ້ ແມ່ນໃຫ້ກຳນົດຈິດຢູ່ໃນຂະນະປັດຈຸບັນ ຕັ້ງຈິດໃຈໃຫ້ໝັ້ນ ເອີ້ນວ່າ ມີສະມາທິ ເມື່ອຈິດໃຈເປັນສະມາທິ ບຸນກຸສົນກໍເກີດຂື້ນໃນຂະນະນັ້ນ ເວົ້າລວມແລ້ວ ແມ່ນເປັນການຝຶກຈິດໄປໃນໂຕ ເຖິງແມ່ນວ່າ ຈະເປັນຊ່ວງເວລາ ອັນສັ້ນ ແຕ່ຖ້າເຮັດໄດ້ ແລ້ວນຳເອົາໄປໃຊ້ໃນຊີວິດປະຈຳວັນ ເຊັ່ນເວລາເຮົາເຮັດວຽກເຮັດງານຢູ່ບ້ານຢູ່ເຮືອນ ຖ້າທຸກຂະນະຂອງ ການເຄືອນ ໄຫວເຮົາມີຈິດຕັ້ງໝັ້ນ ຈົດຈໍ່ໃນວຽກງານ ເຮົາກໍຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ວຽກງານອັນນັ້ນເກີດປະສິດທິຜົນ ແລະໄດ້ຝຶກຝົນສະຕິແລະສະມາທິ ໄປພ້ອມໆກັນ.
ການເຮັດແນວນີ້ ເປັນວິທີທີ່ພຣະສົງໃຫ້ໂອກາດແກ່ຍາດໂຍມໄດ້ຝຶກຝົນ ແລະພັກຈິດໃຈໄປທາງອ້ອມ ພ້ອມດຽວກັນນັ້ນ ກໍເປັນສິ່ງປະກອບ ກັບກິດຈະກຳການໃຫ້ທານຂອງຍາດໂຍມ ແທນທີ່ຈະໃຫ້ເຂົາເຮັດບຸນດຽວກັນບໍລິຈາກທານໂລດ ແຕ່ເມື່ອມີການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ ກໍໝາຍ ຄວາມວ່າ ພໍ່ອອກ ແມ່ອອກທີ່ມາໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດນັ້ນ ໄດ້ມີໂອກາດພຳ່ເພັງບຸນຄົບອົງປະກອບສາມຢ່າງໄປພ້ອມໆກັນ ນັ້ນຄື: ເມື່ອໃຫ້ ທານດ້ວຍການປ່ອນໃສ່ບາດ ຫຼືບໍລິຈາກແລ້ວ ຕໍ່ໄປກໍໄດ້ຝຶກສະມາທິແບບການເຄື່ອນໄຫວ Dynamic meditation ໃນຂະນະທີ່ໃຫຍ່ ບາດຢູ່ ດ້ວຍຈິດຈົດຈໍ່ໃນຄຸນພຣະຣັຕຕະນະໄຕໃນຂະນະປັດຈຸບັນ ເມື່ອຈິດເປັນສະມາທິ ອົງປະກອບທີ່ບໍລິບູນຂອງສິນກໍເກີດຂື້ນ ເພາະວ່າ ເມື່ອໃນອາການທາງກາຍ, ວາຈາ ແລະຈິດໃຈ ເມື່ອນັ້ນເປັນສິນຢ່າງບໍລິບູນ. ອັນນັ້ນ ກໍໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ ການໃສ່ບາດຮ້ອຍແປດ ເຮັດໃຫ້ຜູ້ ໃສ່ໄດ້ພຳ່ເພັງບຸນຄົບສາມຢ່າງ ຄື ທານ, ສີນ, ພາວະນາ ໄປພ້ອມໆກັນ ແທນທີ່ຈະບໍລິຈາກທານຢ່າງດຽວ.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Noy-Itthilit crew prepare to defend title
Noy-Itthilit crew prepare to defend title
The winners of last year's Vientiane traditional boat race, the Noy-Itthilit crew, are confident of retaining their title at this year's event as Vientiane celebrates its 450th anniversary as the Lao capital.
The same rowers, from Thaphabath district in Borikhamxay province, have been invited to crew the Noy-Itthilit boat from Thanalaeng village in Hadxaifong district this year after ending the run of three-time champions Hadkieng at last year's races.
The races will take place on Sunday, with the first group starting at 8am and the last finishing at 5:30pm.
The owner of the Noy-Itthilit boat, Mr Nuan Sidala, said about 60 rowers from Thaphabath district have been practising hard over the past several months and are eager for the opportunity to defend their title.
“We have worked closely with local authorities to optimise the training schedule, aiming for victory. We particularly want to be the victors on the historic occasion of Vientiane's 450th anniversary,” he said.
Mr Nuan, who is on the festival organising committee, is hopeful that his boat will claim victory again and move closer towards the coveted special traditional trophy that is awarded to crews who win the races for three successive years.
Most boat owners concentrate on winning the traditional longboat category, because these boats are considered an important aspect of Lao culture.
Friday is considered to be a day of good fortune so many crews, including Noy-Itthilit, will perform a special ceremony to launch their boats on the Mekong ahead of the big day.
Most crews have been practising up and down the Mekong for many weeks, if not months, as they aim to get into form for the renowned races.
This year, 28 crews will take part in the races. The competitors will consist of six sport boats crewed by men, 14 traditional longboats crewed by men and eight traditional longboats crewed by women.
Last year's traditional l ongboat category saw Noy-Itthilit claim the title, followed by the Phonhong boat, the Oubmoung crew from Sikhottabong district, and the Hadsuan team in fourth place.
In the sports boat category last year, defending champions Thapha lost their title to the Khokxai boat. Both crews hail from Hadxaifong district in Vientiane.
Third place in this category went to the Sithane boat from Hadxaifong district.
In the women's traditional longboat races last year, another team from Phonhong village was crowned champions after defeating the Hadkieng women's team, while the Phanmanh boat came in third.
After monitoring the Mekong over recent weeks, the race committee is confident that there will be no problems caused by the low level of the river, claiming it is actually higher than in previous years.
Before the boat races on Sunday, Buddhist believers will go to their local temple early on Saturday morning to make offerings, while candlelight processions will occur at temples around the country on Saturday evening.
Later in the evening people will make lai heua fai (bamboo and banana leaf boats decorated with candles and fireworks) before launching them on the Mekong.
Others will flock to witness the mythical naga fireballs along the Mekong River from Pakgnum district to Borikhamxay province.
By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
(Latest Update October 22, 2010)
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Noy-Itthilit.htm
The winners of last year's Vientiane traditional boat race, the Noy-Itthilit crew, are confident of retaining their title at this year's event as Vientiane celebrates its 450th anniversary as the Lao capital.
The same rowers, from Thaphabath district in Borikhamxay province, have been invited to crew the Noy-Itthilit boat from Thanalaeng village in Hadxaifong district this year after ending the run of three-time champions Hadkieng at last year's races.
The races will take place on Sunday, with the first group starting at 8am and the last finishing at 5:30pm.
The owner of the Noy-Itthilit boat, Mr Nuan Sidala, said about 60 rowers from Thaphabath district have been practising hard over the past several months and are eager for the opportunity to defend their title.
“We have worked closely with local authorities to optimise the training schedule, aiming for victory. We particularly want to be the victors on the historic occasion of Vientiane's 450th anniversary,” he said.
Mr Nuan, who is on the festival organising committee, is hopeful that his boat will claim victory again and move closer towards the coveted special traditional trophy that is awarded to crews who win the races for three successive years.
Most boat owners concentrate on winning the traditional longboat category, because these boats are considered an important aspect of Lao culture.
Friday is considered to be a day of good fortune so many crews, including Noy-Itthilit, will perform a special ceremony to launch their boats on the Mekong ahead of the big day.
Most crews have been practising up and down the Mekong for many weeks, if not months, as they aim to get into form for the renowned races.
This year, 28 crews will take part in the races. The competitors will consist of six sport boats crewed by men, 14 traditional longboats crewed by men and eight traditional longboats crewed by women.
Last year's traditional l ongboat category saw Noy-Itthilit claim the title, followed by the Phonhong boat, the Oubmoung crew from Sikhottabong district, and the Hadsuan team in fourth place.
In the sports boat category last year, defending champions Thapha lost their title to the Khokxai boat. Both crews hail from Hadxaifong district in Vientiane.
Third place in this category went to the Sithane boat from Hadxaifong district.
In the women's traditional longboat races last year, another team from Phonhong village was crowned champions after defeating the Hadkieng women's team, while the Phanmanh boat came in third.
After monitoring the Mekong over recent weeks, the race committee is confident that there will be no problems caused by the low level of the river, claiming it is actually higher than in previous years.
Before the boat races on Sunday, Buddhist believers will go to their local temple early on Saturday morning to make offerings, while candlelight processions will occur at temples around the country on Saturday evening.
Later in the evening people will make lai heua fai (bamboo and banana leaf boats decorated with candles and fireworks) before launching them on the Mekong.
Others will flock to witness the mythical naga fireballs along the Mekong River from Pakgnum district to Borikhamxay province.
By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun
(Latest Update October 22, 2010)
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Noy-Itthilit.htm
ຕັກບາດງານບຸນອອກພັນສາທີ່ວັດອົງຕື້ມະຫາວິຫານ
ຕອນເຊົ້າຂອງວັນທີ 23 ຕຸລາ ເປັນວັນອອກພັນສາປະວໍຣະນາ ເຊ່ິງເປັນວັນທີ່ຊາວພຸດທົ່ວໂລກຕ່າງກໍມີບຸນອອກພັນສາເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນຕາມພຸດທະ ບັນຍັດ. ທີ່ວັດອົງຕື້ມະຫາວິຫານ, ມີພໍ່ແມ່ປະຊາຊົນຈຳນວນຫຼວງຫຼາຍມາໃສ່ບາດຖວາຍສັງຄະທານແກ່ພຣະສົງ ໃນນັ້ນ ໄດ້ມີຂັ້ນນຳມາຮ່ວມດ້ວຍ ຄື ທ່ານຈະເລີນ ເຢຍຣີເຮີ, ເຈົ້າຄອງກຳແພງນະຄອນ ກໍໄດ້ເປັນກຽດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມໃສ່ບາດນຳພໍ່ແມ່ປະຊາຊົນ ຖືໄດ້ວ່າເປັນສີຣິມຸງຄຸນຢ່າງຍິ່ງ.
ພິທີກັມໃນຕອນເຊົ້າໄດ້ປະກອບມີ ການໄຫວ້ພຣະສູດມົນ,ສະມາທານສີນ ແລະຮັບຟັງພຣະສັດທັມມະເທສະໜາ. ແລະຕອນບ່າຍ ມີການຟັງເທດອີກ ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນ ກໍເປັນການເຕົ້າໂຮມພຣະສົງທົ່ວເມືອງຈັນທະບູລີ ມາຮ່ວມອອກພັນສາປະວໍຣະນາສາມັກຄີ ທີ່ພັດທະສີມາວັດອົງຕື້ມະຫາວິຫານ ຈຳນວນ 288 ອົງ. ຫຼັງຈາກນັ້ນ ຕອນແລງກໍໄດ້ມີການໄຫຼເຮືອໄຟ, ການຟັງເທດແລະຝຶກສະມາທິ ເປັນອັນວ່າຈົບພິທີ.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
ອັດສະຈັນໃຈຟ້າ
ອັດສະຈັນໃຈຟ້າ ເດືອນດາວໃນໂລກ ເຮົາເດ
ສັງມາແປປ່ຽນປິ້ນ ບໍ່ຄືເຄົ້າເກົ່າຫລັງ
ລະດູເດືອນບໍ່ຢູ່ຢັ້ງ ໃນເຂດທີ່ຄວນເປັນ
ຍາມຝົນຝົນບໍ່ເທລົງ ຂາດເຫີຍເຫີນແຫ້ງ.
ຊາວນາແຊງນາປີເສົ້າ ຄອຍຝົນນັ່ງເຈົ່າ
ບາດວ່າຍາມລະດູໜາວ ເຫມັນຕະໝໍ່ໃກ້ ຝົນສັງມາສົ່ງໃຫ້ ຫຼາຍລົ້ນຖວ້ມນາ ເດນໍ.
ດຽວນີ້ຫລາຍເຂດກ້ຳ ຫລາຍປະເທດທົນທຸກ
ຊາວນາໆນອນຈົມ ແຊ່ນ້ຳຝົນສູນສ້ຽງ
ຫລາຍຄາເມແຖວບ້ານ ເມືອງໄກປະເທດຕ່າງ
ຖືກຝົນເທທັ່ງຖ້ວມ ຈົມພື້ນແຜ່ນດິນ.
ໄພພິບັດໂຫດຮ້າຍ ທຳມະຊາດບັນດານ
ຍ້ອນວ່າຄົນເຜົາຜານ ປ່າເລົາເຜົາໄໝ້
ປ່າຂາດເຂີນແນວໄມ້ ຜັນແປບໍ່ເປັນປ່າ ສາແລ້ວ
ເຫລືອແຕ່ເຄືອໄມ້ນ້ອຍ ເຫຼືອແຕ່ຮອຍກ່າງໄມ້ ຕໍເຕ້ຍບໍ່ຮົ່ມເຢັນ.
ເຫດມັນເປັນດັ່ງນີ້ ນ້ຳບໍ່ຢູ່ຄູນດິນ
ປິວລະເຫີຍຫາຍໜີ ແຫ້ງແໜງບໍ່ເຫລືອຄ້າງ
ຝົນຈິ່ງຮວຍຮຳຫົ້ງ ລົງມາບໍ່ສົມເຫດ
ບ່ອນຕົກຫລາຍນ້ຳຖ້ວມ ບ່ອນບໍ່ຕົກພັດແຫ້ງແລ້ງ ຊາວປະຊາທຸກຍາກໄຮ້ ໄປໜ້າຢູ່ບໍ່ຖອຍ.
ຈິ່ງຂໍຮ້ອງຮຽກເອີ້ນ ມວນໝູ່ຊາວປະຊາ
ໃຫ້ພາກັນອະນຸຮັກ ປ່າພະນາແນວໄມ້
ຢ່າໄດ້ທຳລາຍມ້າງ ຕັດຮອນທຳມະຊາດ ຫລາຍທ້ອນ
ເພື່ອແຜ່ນດິນເຂດບ້ານ ໃຫ້ຂຽວບານຢູ່ເລື້ອຍ ຝົນຈິ່ງຮວຍສົ່ງໃຫ້
ຕາມເຄົ້າແມ່ນລະດູ ຫັ້ນແລ້ວ.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Govt issues invitations to 450th anniversary celebrations
Govt issues invitations to 450th anniversary celebrations
Around 1,000 official guests from Laos and throughout the world have been invited attend next month's celebrations of the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the Lao capital.
Deputy Head of the Protocol and Tourism Promotion Sub-Committee, Mr Soukaseum Bodhisane, said his staff had sent invitations to guests in all Lao provinces and delegations from over 30 nations.
Mr Soukaseum, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration, spoke with Vientiane Times after a meeting in the capital on Friday to review the progress of the sub-committee's preparations for the 450th anniversary.
He said the invitations could be categorised in three ways. Some invitations have been sent to Lao people living overseas, of whom about 180 people from nine countries had been invited.
Also invited are delegations from Asean member countries, Asean dialogue partners and other friendly nations, while the third group comprises Lao provincial officials, retired officials and other honoured guests from around the country.
The 450th anniversary is not only being hosted by the Vientiane authorities but all the people of Laos, Mr Soukaseum said.
To commemorate the historic event the government has allocated more than 33.4 billion kip for celebratory activities. This is in addition to financing 21 priority projects in the run-up to the occasion, including building new roads in the capital, landscaping new parks and renovating old buildings.
The capital is set to greet visitors coming here on organised tours or travelling individually. As yet Mr Soukaseum said the department was unable to evaluate the number of foreign visitors who will attend the event.
He urged all Lao people to exhibit hospitality and offer a sincere and friendly welcome to all guests, as was the case during previous international events such as the 10th Asean Summit in 2004 and last year's SEA Games.
“I think the special Lao culture and hospitality of the Lao people are selling points that will attract more foreign visitors to Laos,” said Mr Soukaseum, adding that Laos has a wonderful choice of natural, historical and cultural attractions that gives tourists a range of options for holiday destinations and helps them to learn more about the country.
Laos remains relatively unexplored by international tourism despite its cultural and natural wealth, and the 450th anniversary is a great opportunity to promote the country to the rest of the world. Last year's monthly tourist arrivals to Laos stood at 190,000 people in November and 250,000 people in December, but this year Mr Soukaseum estimates figures may increase to 250,000 and 300,000 people for November and December respectively.
The 450th anniversary celebrations will take place from November 15-21, at the same time as the That Luang festival, when many families make the journey to Vientiane to be reunited with their relatives.
By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 18 , 2010)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Govt.htm
Around 1,000 official guests from Laos and throughout the world have been invited attend next month's celebrations of the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the Lao capital.
Deputy Head of the Protocol and Tourism Promotion Sub-Committee, Mr Soukaseum Bodhisane, said his staff had sent invitations to guests in all Lao provinces and delegations from over 30 nations.
Mr Soukaseum, who is also Deputy Chairman of the Lao National Tourism Administration, spoke with Vientiane Times after a meeting in the capital on Friday to review the progress of the sub-committee's preparations for the 450th anniversary.
He said the invitations could be categorised in three ways. Some invitations have been sent to Lao people living overseas, of whom about 180 people from nine countries had been invited.
Also invited are delegations from Asean member countries, Asean dialogue partners and other friendly nations, while the third group comprises Lao provincial officials, retired officials and other honoured guests from around the country.
The 450th anniversary is not only being hosted by the Vientiane authorities but all the people of Laos, Mr Soukaseum said.
To commemorate the historic event the government has allocated more than 33.4 billion kip for celebratory activities. This is in addition to financing 21 priority projects in the run-up to the occasion, including building new roads in the capital, landscaping new parks and renovating old buildings.
The capital is set to greet visitors coming here on organised tours or travelling individually. As yet Mr Soukaseum said the department was unable to evaluate the number of foreign visitors who will attend the event.
He urged all Lao people to exhibit hospitality and offer a sincere and friendly welcome to all guests, as was the case during previous international events such as the 10th Asean Summit in 2004 and last year's SEA Games.
“I think the special Lao culture and hospitality of the Lao people are selling points that will attract more foreign visitors to Laos,” said Mr Soukaseum, adding that Laos has a wonderful choice of natural, historical and cultural attractions that gives tourists a range of options for holiday destinations and helps them to learn more about the country.
Laos remains relatively unexplored by international tourism despite its cultural and natural wealth, and the 450th anniversary is a great opportunity to promote the country to the rest of the world. Last year's monthly tourist arrivals to Laos stood at 190,000 people in November and 250,000 people in December, but this year Mr Soukaseum estimates figures may increase to 250,000 and 300,000 people for November and December respectively.
The 450th anniversary celebrations will take place from November 15-21, at the same time as the That Luang festival, when many families make the journey to Vientiane to be reunited with their relatives.
By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 18 , 2010)
http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/Free_Govt.htm
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