New Zip-line & Rope course has been settled at Hoi Khua Waterfall, Luang Prabang, provides multi-options for adventure activities around the World Heritage Town.
The place, located at Ban Pak Lueang Village, Chomphet District, takes 40-45 mins transfer by minivan, is considered as the 3th natural beautiful waterfalls in Luang Prabang, beside Khoang Si and Tad Sae. However, this waterfall is more rural and less touristic.
The project is lead by Lao Green Group.
The Zip-line course provide a soft hiking to the top of waterfall then climb up to the higher trees then enjoy the fresh air with 12 stations and 900 meters of Zip Line down to the Valley between the trees across the Green Jungle Canopy to the Green Garden Flower before abseil down of the tree and then back to the coffee shop by the Green Organic Trail. Services ends and clients come back Luang Prabang town by minivan.
Beside Zip-line, Rope course, combines with trekking and other adventure activities, are good choices for clients, such as:
1. Trekking Adventure
2. Rope Course Adventure
3. Zip Line Adventure
4. Trekking & Rope Course Adventure
5. Trekking & Zip Line Adventure
6. Zip Line & Rope Course Adventure
7. Full Day Trekking, Rope Course and Zip Line Adventure

Lao Airlines’ outlook will brighten as the airline extends its network to North Asia and spins off unprofitable domestic routes to a subsidiary, according to Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s recent analysis.
The airline is currently focusing its attention on North Asia. Six international destinations have been launched since late 2012, including four routes in China and two in South Korea.
The airline currently serves six destinations in mainland China – Changsha, Changzhou, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Jinghong and Kunming – along with Busan and Seoul Incheon in South Korea.In addition, several unprofitable domestic routes have been handed over to a smaller government owned airline, Lao Skyway, enabling Lao Airlines to phase out smaller turboprops. Lao Airlines has expanded its ATR 72 fleet by three aircraft since 2011 while adding four two class A320s.
The new focus on North Asia along with a reduced focus on the domestic market has improved Lao Airlines’ profitability and outlook. However it faces increased competition on international routes within Southeast Asia especially from Thai AirAsia which will become the first LCC to serve Luang Prabang.
Currently, the airline operates a fleet of four A320s and seven ATR 72 turboprops. It serves 14 international and seven domestic destinations.

The construction of the 5th Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge, which will connect Bolikhamsai province in Lao PDR to Thailand’s Bung Kan province, should begin in 2019.
Lao News Agency quoted Department of Public Works and Transport’s Road Management Division head, Vixay Phoumy, saying the survey and design of the bridge is now 90% complete and the location for its construction has been finalised.
The final design of 5th Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge Construction Project has already been submitted to the governments of Laos and Thailand.

“Currently, we are only waiting for the construction budget to be approved and the construction companies to make their final bids. Construction could begin in 2019 at an estimated cost of USD85 million,” the director said.
The two governments will share the cost of the bridge 50%-50%, he added.
The bridge will span the Mekong River approximately 1,350 metres long and 17 metres wide.
Once completed, the bridge will improve transport between two countries and should help to improve the local economies on both sides of the river. This bridge will link highway 13 in central Laos to northeast Thailand.
Currently, there are four Thai-Lao Friendship Bridges: Vientiane-Nong Khai; Savannakhet-Mukdahan; Khammouan-Nakhon Phanom; and Chaing Rai’s Chiang Khong-Bokeo’s Huay Xai.

First phase renovations at Laos’ national museum, known as Ho Phra Keo, have been completed.
Lao News Agency quoted Vientiane Information, Culture and Tourism director, Khampadith Khemmanith, saying the renovation that included repairs to the upper structure of the museum and parts of its floor cost USD740,00 mainly raised from the public and private firms.
The museum is located in the capital Vientiane.
The second phase of the renovation project will commence next month, the report said.
Vientiane Capital administration will host a public briefing, 21 February, to explain details of the various phases.
A traditional alms giving ceremony will also be held 22 February.
Ho Phra Keo was built in 1565 by King Sayasetthathirath to house the Emerald Buddha 1565 to 1779. It was the King’s personal place of worship.

During the 1970s, it was converted from a place of worship into a museum. It now houses a national collection of Buddhist sculptures and artefacts.
The renovation is the third of its kind since the museum was built with the first renovation taking place during King Anouvong’s reign in 1816, and the second one during King Souvana Phoumma’s time in power between 1936 and 1942.
Since 1942 Ho Phra Keo has been the home of the National Museum.
The jade Emerald Buddha image was seized by an invading Siamese army in 1778 and now resides in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. The temple in Vientiane was transformed into a museum.
The revered image was first discovered in a chedi in Chiang Rai in far north Thailand when it was part of the Lanna kingdom that covered North Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

Japan allocates a USD77 million loan to Laos to fund Wattay International Airport’s expansion.
Lao News Agency reported the project was inaugurated, last week, with a groundbreaking ceremony. Overall the project will cost USD77 million and be completed in May 2018.
This project will use concessional loans of approximately USD77 million (9.2 billion Japan yen) based on a contract agreed upon in December 2013. The project is expected to be completed before May 2018, the report said.
The number of passengers for international and domestic flights almost doubled between 2000 and 2012 with 570,000 passengers using the airport for international flights and 250,000 using it for domestic flights. With this increase, the current space available for check-in counters and boarding gates is insufficient to accommodate passengers.

In addition, the domestic terminal was constructed about 50 years ago. It is outdated and needs to be demolished to make way for a new facility.
Passenger traffic will reach 1.51 million for international flights and 460,000 for domestic flights by 2023.
The project calls for an expansion of the international terminal and construction of a new domestic terminal in order to meet the future demand for air transportation and to improve the efficiency of the airport.
The airport plays a significant role as a gateway to the Lao PDR and a major generator of economic activity including tourism.
Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism estimated 4.3 million international tourists travelled to the country last year increasing 4.88% from 4.1 million visits in 2014.
Luang Prabang is the main the tourist destination due to its World Heritage status while Vientiane is used as a gateway for travellers joining overland tours.

Vientiane Planning and Investment Department signed an agreement, this January 2016, with two private companies to develop the Nong-Or zone in Sikhottabong district, Vientiane, into a tourist site.
Vientiane Times reported that the Vientiane Planning and Investment Department concluded a Memorandum of Understanding for the project.
The MoU was inked between the department director, Phoukhong Bannavong, Leading Real Estate Development Company president, Qing Jikang and Automart Import-Export Sole Company president, Thongsavanh Onkorlabout.
Covering 24 hectares, Nong-Or zone will feature a nature-themed tourism park, a shopping mall, apartments, school and entertainment venues.

The projects will cost USD50 million in two phases with the first due to be completed in 2018. It will include the park, followed by the second phase focusing on a hotel and shopping mall.
Leading Real Estate Development Company owns 95% of the project with the remaining 5% held by Automart Import-Export Sole Company. The land concession is for 70 years.
Last year, 4.3 million international tourists visited Laos increasing 4.88% from 4.1 million in 2014. Visits generated USD670 million in revenue, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. The major source markets are Thailand Vietnam and China, On average, each visitor generates revenue of USD30 per day.
The most popular destinations are Luang Prabang, Champasak, and Vang Vieng, a district in Vientiane province.