Events and Festivals in Laos around the Year

Febuary
Bounkaochi
A ceremony held at the Wat in the morning when a special “Bread made of sticky rice” is offered. This festival is held during the third full moon of the lacuna calendar on the same time:
Sikottabong festival in Khammoune
The festival is held around of the Sikottabong stupa, which is located about 8 km south of Thakek city ; build in 9th and 10th century by king Nunthasena, the stupa is restore to its organize grandeur in the 1950’s

Wat phou festival in Champasak province
This festival is held on the grounds of the enchanting pre- Angkor Wat Phu ruin a world heritage site
: Festivities include donation and offerings, elephant race, buffalo fight and performance of Lao traditional music and dance; a trade fair show casing products of southern Laos.

March – April
Boun Pha Vet (Vesantra festival)
A ceremony offering donation to have one’s future read from a piece of paper draw, during three day – three night festival. The festival is held around the temples.
14-15-16 April
Boun Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year)
The Lao New Year is celebrated at the same time each year (April 13 - 16) on the first day Buddha image are taken out of the temples to be cleaned with scented water by devotee and placed on special temporary altars within the compound of “Wat” (temple). Devotees garter the scented water falling off the images, to take home and use it to poor on friends and relative, as an act of cleansing and purification before entering the New Year. On the evening of third day the image are returned to their proper shiners within the temple.
Boun Pi Mai is a time for much joyous celebration, with good deeds and prayers in anticipation of the New Year.

How to go to Laos

At present Laos has no railways, although in October 2000 the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved plans for the Trans-Asia Railway Project, a 5,513-km (3,420-mi) rail link, costing US$2.5 billion. The link, which is scheduled for completion in 2006, will connect Laos and six other ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) with Kunming, in Yunnan Province, China. According to 1999 figures the country has a road system totalling about 21,716 km (13,494 mi). Internal air transport is important. The Mekong River is the chief means of transport.

History of Laos

5th cent. Kha people were first known inhabitants of modern-day Laos.
12th cent. Lao and Tai people inhabited the area and established own principalities.
14th cent. Kingdom of the Million Elephants (Lang Xang) established with its capital at Muong Swa (Luang Prabang). Lao principalities united under Jayavarman Paramesvara, and Theravada Buddhism adopted.
16th cent. Maximum extent of the Lang Xang kingdom. 1637-1694 Reign of Souligna-Vongsa.
1707 End of Lang Xang period, and Laos split into three states: Luang Prabang, Vientiane, and Champasak.
18th-19th cent. Three states ruled by Siam.
1893 Major towns occupied by French forces; French protectorate established over most Laotian territory.
1904 French rule extended over all of Laos.
WWII Indochina occupied by Japan.
1946 Region reoccupied by French. King of Luang Prabang established as king of unified Laos under French dominion.
1949 Laos declared an independent state within the French Union.
1953 Laos invaded by Vietminh forces and Laotian dissidents (Pathet Lao) from bases in Vietnam.
1954 Indochinese war ended by the Geneva armistice agreement. Pathet Lao forced to withdraw to northern provinces of Laos.
1955 Laos admitted to the UN.
1957 Pathet Lao brought into coalition government. Guerrilla warfare resumed by Pathet Lao on formation of new conservative government in 1958, backed by USSR.
1961 Half of Laos controlled by Pathet Lao. Ceasefire in Laotian civil war brokered by United States, USSR, and other nations.
1962 Provisional government of national union formed from three main Laotian factions, led by Prince Souvanna Phouma.
1965 Breakdown of national government and resumed fighting between the government and Pathet Lao.
1973 Ceasefire announced between Souvanna and Pathet Lao forces; new coalition government established between the two in 1974, dominated by the latter grouping.
1975 Abolition of the Laotian monarchy and proclamation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
1981 Communist rule signalled by introduction of first five-year economic plan; greater free-market economic activity established during the course of the decade.
1991 Office of presidency assumed by Kaysone Phomvihan, previously prime minister.
1992 Death of Kaysone.
1995 American trade embargo, in force for 20 years, lifted.
1997 Laos admitted to ASEAN.
1998 Khamtai Siphandon elected as president; Sisavat Keobounphan appointed as prime minister.

2001 Khamtai Siphandon re-elected for third term as president. Boungnang Volachit replaced Keobounphan as prime minister.

Laos: Jewel of the Mekong

Full name: Lao People Democratic Republic ( Lao PDR )
Member of : ASIAN, ADB, ESCAPE, FAO, IBRD, WHO, IDA, WIPO, IFC, ILO, IMF, UN, NCTAD, UNESCO, UNICEF, WHO, EALAF

Land Area: 236800 sq.km
Located: In the heart of mainland Southeast Asia between
Latitudes 14 - 23 degrees North
Longgitudes 100 - 108 degree East
Climate: tropical moons­­­­­oon with two main season:
Dry season (October-April)
Rainy season (May-september)

National Day: December 2 nd
Flag:
A red band at top and bottom with a large blue band on which is centered a large White cercle
President : H.E Choummaly sayasone
Goverment:
A cabinet composed with 13 Ministries, and 3 Ministries equivalent committees
Administration: 16 province, 1 capital, and 141 district
Capital: Vientiane
Population: 5.6 Million; 49 Ethnic groups
Density: 21.5 inhabitants/sq km
Language: Lao
Religion:
About 80% of the people of Laos are Hinayana(a.k.a Theravada)
Buddists.
World Heritage: LuangPrabang, Wat Phou Champasak
Natural Resourse:
Tin, Timber, Corn, coal, Zinc, Coper, Gold, Silver, Suffer, sapphire,
preciouse stone, potassium, phosphorite, gypsum, antimony
Mekong river:
Lengt 4,880 km, flowin by Laos 1,898 km and 14 branche
Forest: Cover 47% of area, 20 national biodiversity onservation area
3.009,800 ha

Acgricuture:
Rice, corn, tobacco, coffee, cotton,beans,cadamon,benzoi, stick lac, fruit
Industry: Tin, gypsum, mining, lumber,textiles, beverage, blicks, tiles,
pottery, ciggaret, cement.
Handicraft:
carving, silk, ctton, silver, pottery, jewelry,
traditionalmusic instrument, wickerware

Export:
Chiefly, hyfroelectriciy, timber,coffee,tin, gypsum, cardamom,
benzoin,rattan, prywood, garment and handicrafts
Import:
foodstuff, machinery, fuel, manufactured goods.
Currency: Kip
GMT: +7
Voltage: 220 V
International Airport:
Wattay international Airport in Vientiane
LuangPrabang international Airport in LuanPrabang Province
Champask international Airport in Champask