Night at That Luang Festival

That Luang Festival coincide with the full moon night of 12th lunar month on Wednesday,the 28th Novemebr 2012.
The next full moon will be on Sunday the 17th November 2013 and travelers to Chiangmai can witness the Yi Peng Festival while in Bangkok will be the Loy Krathong Festival.

That Luang Festival is a very grand Buddhist celebration in Vientiane,Laos PDR and the surrounding That Luang Park will also host the traditional trade fairs.food fairs as well as musical and cultural stage shows.

 The statue of King Setthathirat before the main entrance of the sixteenth century old Pha That Luang was quite an attraction with many visitors never missed having a photographic session here.
The late King Sai was the architect behind the construction of the grand stupa.










Main entrance arch into the  Pha That Luang.
On the eve of the festival,huge crowds of Buddhist devotees were already gathering to perform their annual pilgrimage.









Interestingly the securities personnel manning all entry and exit point to the sacred Pha That Luang Temple were Lao university students ensuring that the crowds behave orderly and do not carry any harmful belongings.This include body search as well.

That Luang Park is quite a huge compound and during the festival days,the place was specifically used as a Trade Fair ground.

 Scene similar to a night market but this is the biggest so far in Vientiane.









 Crowds near the garment section.
Garments in Laos is currently the single biggest manufactured export of the country supported by close to a hundred garment factories spread across the country.
Laos joined the World Trade Organization (W.T.O) in early 2013
sourcing:
1)PV Garment Co Ltd
2)Vision Manufacturing Co.
3)Shinawatra Garments Laos Co ltd
4) Hi-Tech Apparel Co Ltd
5) Midori Anzen

 Akhom Trading Company,an import and export business entity exhibiting some of the locally manufactured products.

The annual event trade fair  at That Luang is in collaboration with the Lao International Trade and Convention Center.








Lao Telecom ,the main mobile phone operator in Laos operated a classic  booth at the That Luang Festival Trade Fair giving out free gifts to visitors.
International access code to Laos is +856.
Area code for Vientiane is 021.
When calling to landlines,the first digit 0 is omitted whereas mobile lines code 020  is inclusive.

 

Shinawatra Garments Laos Co. Ltd.

Shinawatra Garments Laos Co. Ltd.

F

Buddhist artifacts at Pha That Luang.

 Historical relics of damaged Buddhist sculptures located at the northern end of inner cloister at Pha That Luang.

Pha That Luang has been attacked by Burmese invaders in the 16th century as well as by the Siamese during 18th century and the temple is always the main target of looting and indiscriminate destruction.

 Laos was once influenced by the Khmer civilization largely of Indian cultural origin.

 

 

King Jayavoraman VII was the ruler of ancient Cham Kingdom.

 

 

 

The Pha That Luang Stupa,the most important Buddhist Temple in Vientiane and national symbol of Laos.

The grand stupa is surrounded by thirty smaller stupas with ashes of Lord Buddha inside.

Beneath the grand stupa lies a smaller pyramid stupa believed to be part of a Hindu Temple which during the early centuries was partly  ruled by the Khmer Empire.

 

 

World Peace Gong at Patuxay Park.

Patuxay Monument Arch













World Peace Gong,presented to the Government of the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

By the World Peace Committee of the Republic of Indonesia on the 22nd November 2008.

World Peace Gong was first sounded in Bali on the 31 December 2002 by the President of the Republic of Indonesia ,H.E Mrs Megawati Soekarnoputri announcing Indonesia Peace Year 2003.




 World Peace Gong (Indonesian:Gong Perdamaian Dunia).

Specially crafted and made from teak wood in the small town of Jepara in Central Java Island ,Indonesia.
Kota Jepara is located north east of Semarang City.(capital of Central Java)
Jepara town is renowned for the teak wood furniture carving industry.

World Peace Gong, facilitating unification of mankind on planet earth through universal disarmament,sovereignty and independence and peace.





 

<sup>World Peace Gong is the fruit of Indonesian youth who were concerned with the irresponsible attitudes and behavior disregarding human values.They were inspired by the devastating Bali year 2002 bombs in the midst of tranquility. 

The 'Gong' is interpreted as the echo of explosion ending the rhythm and sounds of war.

The sound of Gong in times of peace should incite togetherness such that with fresh and refreshed heart we can solve common problems,as the sound of Gong at the beginning of joyous events could signify.
The sound of Gong signals the beginning of profound event with noble ideas.
The sound of the Gong accompanied by ovations signifies the happy beginning of long awaited effort.
Following the striking of the Gong,all deliberations and activities will be conducted in peace,with hopes of resultant happiness and prosperity for all.The reverberations of the Gong accompanied by ovations symbolizes  that all will proceed well and peacefully.</sup>

 <sup>Vientiane's new city bus liner (pastel green color bus) passing by Patuxay Monument Arch.








 


Evening will be the best time to visit Patuxay Park as the musical fountain surrounded by beautiful landscape attracts many locals</sup>

<sup>Sleeping Buddha facing Wat ThatLuang Neua.












That Luang Festival Night,</sup>

Vientiane Southern Bus Terminal

An overland bus  journey from Danang in Central Vietnam to Vientiane,the capital city of Laos PDR took about twenty-one hours after taking into account the lunch/dinner break and the border immigration control  formalities.

Buses from central and south Vietnam normally ends at the Vientiane Southern Bus Terminal(also known as Dong Dok) located about 8kilometre north of Vientiane City.

For connection to the city,the tuk-tuks will charge about 50,000kips.Private vans were also available.
Lately Vientiane has introduced a new intercity bus line fully airconditioned with a flat rate of 3,000kips.(no bus conductor,buses are light green in colour).
Vientiane's urban transport masterplan in future will the Bus rapid Transit(similar to metroplitan Jakarta City and around Indonesia) together with the planned Light Rail Transport.


There will be a bus destinations and timetable display board for the convenience of travelers to view.
VTE=Vientiane

01) OrikHamsay
(every 20 minutes to Paksun-35,000,40,000Express,50,000VIP )
Confusing name,ponder whether this title for Borikhamsay Province(capital Paksan) which is just beside Vientiane Province having a rugged terrain with the longest mountain range Phou Louang and picturesque karsts  limestone scenery.
No description on timetable presumbly local buses/minibuses easily avail.

02) VTE-Lak 20 (05:00,06:00,07:00,18:30 local bus only=85,000kips)
Strange town name,should be Lak Sao(Xao).The figure number 2 in Thai or Lao pronounce "song",piece the jigsaw will be "S0".
Well LaK Xao town,an overland international border crossing is about 34km towards the central Vietnamese border(Nam Phao) enroute to VINH city which is 100km away.
Available accommodation:-Souriya Hotel US$8.00 Tel:+856 54 34


03) VTE-Namthone ( 13:00, 14:30,=40,000/50,000kips)
About 150km from Vientiane.

04) VTE-Thakhak(Thakhek)(04:00,05:00,06:00,12:00,13:00 =60/70/80,000kips)
Main town of Khammouane province.
Main highlight is to visit the 7km long underground Konglor Cave.
International crossing to Thailand via Nakhon Phanom (Isaan)which is 734km north east from Bangkok.

05) VTE-Nakye(Nakay) (17:30=90,000kips)

06) VTE-Savannakhet
(05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00,07:30,08:00,08:30,09:00,20:30sleeper= 75local/90express/110seat/120,000kips)
Most popular southern Laos city near the second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River that connects Mukdahan Province in Thailand about 642km from Bangkok.
Savan-Vegas Casino is located inside the city.
Place to stay:
Souannavong Guesthouse Tel:(020)5637 3818
Nong Soda guesthouse Tel:(041)212 522
Savanbanhao hotel Tel: (041)212 202
Leena Guesthouse Tel:(041)212 404

07) VTE-Pakse (07:15, 10:00, 12:30, 13:00,13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00,15:30, 16:00,18:00,19:00,20:00, 20:30, 21:00)
=110/140/170,000 kips
The Province of Champasak,the third most populous city of southern Laos.
Once a French Administrative outpost and the present home of many ethnic Chinese and Vietnamese.
Pakse is the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau derived from the name of the Laven ethnic group in the area.
The Tad Lo Waterfalls  about 120km northeast Pakse is a popular destination.Wat Luang, the biggest and most beautiful temple of Pakse, and home of Buddhist Monk School.
Accomodation:
Nang Noi Guesthouse
Sabaidy2 Guesthouse
Thaluang Guesthouse
Paksong Area
Lankham Hotel
Sang Aroun Hotel
Kingfisher ecolodge

The Thai town of Ubon Ratchathani (575km from Bangkok) is 120 kilometers away from Pakse.Buses leave Ubon 07:00/15:30,travel time three hours,fares about 250Baht.
Songtheaws plying at Lao border to Pakse might cost 6,000-10,000kips.
Chong Mek - Vangtao (Ubon Rathchathani Prov. to Champassak Prov.)
08) Vte-Salavanh(19:30, 20:30=130/160/190,000 kips)
Home to 3 National Protected area rich in biodiversity:Xe Xap,Xe Ban Nouane,Phou Xien Thong
At Tad Lo,you can rent a bicycle,enjoy nature walk and venture into the surroundingvillages on the Bolaven Plateau.
 Natural sites in Salavanh

10) VTE-Attapeau
(09:30, 17:00,20:30 =140/180/200,000kips)
Bordering Cambodia in the south,main economy agriculture and trade of wildlife.
Map

11) VTE-Donetalath
(11:30hrs only)=130,000
Location map

12) VTE-Done khong
(10:30hr =150,000kips)
Map
Pon Arena Hotel

13) VTE-Vernkham(Veun kham)
(11:00 hr =150,000kips)
There were two entry points from Cambodia to Laos.
 Stung Treng to Veun Kham by boat crossing has closed since 2010 to international travelers.
Only road crossing checkpoint at Dong Kralor to Veun Kham open to foreigners located just a few hundred meters from boat crossing. VISA on arrival apply here.

Strangely Vientiane southern bus terminal looked a bit worn out with the unpaved buses parking bays.
It's very dusty and travelers have to bear with the surroundings.

The southern bus terminal is 8km from the Patuxay Monument Gate,straight ahead along Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue.
There will be three main road junction from the Patuxay,the vehicles in this photo were moving towards the Rue 23 Singha Road leading to the That Luang Stupa.
On the other side will be the middle main road that passes by the Thai and Indonesian Embassy which is the route to the bus terminal.