LAOS: Celebrate New Year In Luang Prabang

With a stay at the Grand Luang Prabang, you can step back in time and discover all the cultural and historical gems of the ancient Lao capital, and two nights cost just US$145 (Bt5,000) anytime through June.

The Weekend Getaway Lao New Year includes daily breakfast for two, airport transfers, late checkout, an alms-giving ceremony and a class in Laotian cooking class.

The two-night Romantic Mekong Escape is $195 per night and includes breakfast, transfers, the alms ceremony a welcoming kit of wine and strawberries, a romantic turn-down service and a special gift.

A 15-minute drive from Luang Prabang International Airport, the hotel has 75 rooms and suites with views of the Mekong River, mountains and lush gardens. As well as a restaurant, bar and swimming pool, the hotel is home to the Xiengkeo Museum.

The cooking class with the hotel chef sounds like fun, a chance to make authentic local dishes that vary according to what’s available each day at the market.

Guests can rise at dawn and receive the blessings of monks at Prince Petcharath Palace in return for donations of sticky rice, a wonderful way to begin the New Year.

There are 30 spectacular Buddhist temples around the town, best visited on foot or by bicycle. One of the most significant is Wat Xieng Thong, with its ornate mosaic tiling and sweeping tiered roof.

A sunset cruise along the Mekong features a stop at the famed Pak Ou Caves – twin caves cut into a limestone cliff that hold hundreds of perfectly posed Buddha images in various styles and sizes.

The Grand Laung Prabang Hotel is located on the banks of the grand Mekong River with a spectacular panoramic view of the picturesque mountains surrounding Luang Prabang, approximately 4 kms southwest of Luang Prabang town centre.

The resort is situated on the 59 thousand square meters’ estate of Xiengkeo Palace which belonged to the nationalist hero Prince Phetsarath. The 75 guest rooms were built while preserving the French colonial design with Laotian touch, all accommodations are furnished tastefully with wooden furniture to reminisce the heritage of the building.

Breakfast as well as functions are held at Xiengkeo Restaurant, located beside the elevated banks of the Mekong River. Our restaurant provides guests with the best of international cuisine featuring Western, Thai, and Lao recipes.

The combination of its high ceilings, polished marble floors, stylish colonial architecture and a panoramic view of the Mekong River gives this is one restaurant that will provide guest with a unique dining experience.

Restaurant Xiengkeo
The restaurant provides guests with the best of international cuisine featuring Western, Thai, and Lao recipes.

The combination of its high ceilings, polished marble floors, stylish colonial architecture and a panoramic view of the Mekong River gives this is one restaurant that will provide guest with a unique dining experience.

The breakfast buffet is served daily in the morning on the terrace and the restaurant open daily from 6.00 am until 10.30 pm

Seating Capacity: 55 persons indoors and 55 persons outdoors.

Le Bistrot Restaurant
Panoramic views of the river as it flow past Luang Prabang and winds past the hotel between two mountain ranges.
Le Bistrot Lounge serves light meals and a boasts a full bar.

The lounge and bar is fully air-conditioned and uses its fire place during the cool winter months. Karaoke and live music are available on request.

Le Bistrot Lounge is open daily between: 5.00 pm – 11.30 pm.
Seating Capacity: 60 persons

Executive Private Dining
The Executive private dining areas bring new dimensions to the art of entertaining; there are choices of utilizing the meeting room next to Xiengkeo Restaurant, or outdoor garden area, both with spectacular view view of the Mekong River and surrounding mountain ranges.

Ideal for business conference and meetings or private parties, we offer choices of customized the menu and cuisine to suite their occasion.

Arranged for periods between: 5.00 pm – 11.00 pm.
Seating Capacity: 2-55 persons

Rooms and Suites
The 75 guest rooms were built while preserving the French colonial design with Laotian touch, all accommodations are furnished tastefully with wooden furniture to reminisce the heritage of the building.

Prince Petcharath Ratanavongsa
Prince Petcharath Ratanavongsa (1890-1959) holds a special place in Lao History as the only viceroy of the Kingdom of Laos and had a tenure as prime minister from 1942 to 1945.

His tenure as Prime Minister of Laos was during World War 2 both under French protectorate & Japanese occupation.

During the wartime years he was prime minister and Viceroy of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang, which was first loosely under Vichy French control and them briefly “independent” under the Japanese.

Post the Japanese occupation, Prince Petcharath was in favor of an independent Laos which was to the contrary to the King’s sentiments which was in favor of the French Protectorate.

In 1946, he became the leader of the Lao resistance movement that sought to suppress the country’s return under the tutelage of French colonials in favor of a free Laos.

The difference in opinion led Prince Petcharath to leave the country for Thailand and spend eleven years in exile. During his absence, saw both his younger brothers Prince Souvanna Phouma and Souphananoubvong enter politics, Prince Petcharath returned to Laos in 1956 to resolve tensions between his two brothers as a mediator.

He later passed away at his birthplace of Luang Prabang in 1959.

To Lao people, Prince Phethsarath represented both continuity with the pre-colonial past and the hope of a new, p0st colonial future, he was both a traditionalist, by culture and by his affinity with the Lao people among whom he was so popular), and a modernist, determined to forge a new Lao unity where a history of kingdoms and principalities had existed before.

He was both an aristocrat, a member of a powerful vice regal family, and a democrat. His life is indelibly imprinted into the modern history of Laos. Many Lao hang his picture in their homes

Prince Pethsarath’s popularity to the Lao people is in regards to its countries pre-colonial culture and independence; he was both a traditionalist with an affinity for Lao culture and its people but also a visionary; his life and legacy is indelibly imprinted into modern history of Laos.

To this day, many Lao hang his picture in their home

CHINA: Jiuzhaigou Valley Paradise Of China

Jiuzhaigou Valley is located in northern Sichuan province of China, which was included in Unesco dating wonders that nature delights the eye. Valley Chinese name comes from the nine villages that are found in the area, the total population of around 1,000 people. Jiuzhaigou is a royal color. Therefore Valley nine villages is considered a paradise for photographers and painters for a hell beyond human creativity landscapes. Number of tourists, although growing, is relatively small due to hard to reach areas.

The greatest good is the heritage of the area of the 114 lakes of crystal. Because algae grow on the bottom of lakes, the water gets different colors, from blue to green. Perfect clarity of the water makes the surrounding landscape to be reflected in a mirror, creating a fall pastel colors unimaginable by reflecting yellow and red leaves in the water green.

Locals and authorities place great value on water quality, they are trying to keep unpolluted. Therefore, even washing hands is not allowed in lakes and rivers in the region, the same rules as apply to locals. Jiuzhaigou is covered in two thirds of virgin forests. In addition, other area attractions are the impressive waterfalls or an extensive list of dozens of protected plant and animal species, including panda bears.

Last but not least, in the valley are found many Buddhist temples, some with over a thousand years old. Elders of the Valley of the nine villages say the wise love water and love shown by mountains. And those who have already gone through Jiuzhaigou declared themselves lovers of peace and paradise of color painting impossible.

THAILAND: Thailand Expects Record 30.3 Million Visitors Despite Bomb

A record 30.3 million tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year, with more than a quarter coming from China, the tourism council said on Tuesday, as the country rebounds from political unrest in 2014 and a bomb attack in August.

Thailand’s vital tourism industry, which accounts for about 10 percent of GDP, has grappled with trying to overcome bad publicity following a 2014 coup and a bomb attack in Bangkok in August that briefly caused visitor arrivals to fall.

But overall, the sector has been doing well in spite of an economy that has been stubbornly underperforming, proving that Thailand’s beaches, bars and Buddhist temples continue to draw visitors.

If the tourist council’s forecast proves right this year’s total number of visitors will be 22.3 percent more than last year.

The previous record year was 2013, when 26.5 million visited. The number fell to 24.8 million in 2014, partly because some tourists were put off by political unrest including street protests in Bangkok that year.

Ittirit Kinglek, president of the Tourism Council of Thailand, said the bomb attack at a major tourist spot in the Thai capital did not have much impact on the sector and the country can expect a record number this year driven by Chinese tourists.

“The bombing did not have much impact on the general outlook for tourism,” Ittirit said in a statement. “The aim is to get the last quarter of this year to return to normal.”

Fourteen foreigners – seven from mainland China and Hong Kong – were among the 20 people killed in the attack at a famous religious shrine in Bangkok’s commercial heart.

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the attack which authorities believe stemmed from a crackdown on people-smuggling.

Visitors from China are expected to be a record 8.12 million this year, up 76.31 percent from 2014, Ittirit said.

The government has said it expects 7 million visitors from China in 2015, compared with 4.63 million in 2014, which would still be an all-time record.

It is aiming for 2.2 trillion baht (£40.09 billion) in revenue this year from tourism.