May travel in Laos

May 4, 2010 18:42

(Baonghean) -Laos is a neighboring country with special friendship relations with Vietnam. During the important holidays in early May, we took a trip to Laos.


Cruise ships travel upstream on the Nam Ngum River, a large river in Vientiane that feeds into the Mekong River. Photo: Quoc Khanh


These days in Laos, the rainy season has begun. Passing through the Cau Treo International Border Gate, we can see the cold weather, sudden showers. Lao people love the rain because during the 6 months of the dry season, the trees and leaves along the forest edges are scorched and bare, so whether it is light or heavy rain, many people still leave their heads bare as a way to “relieve” their thirst. Many typical Lao forests along both sides of the road have not yet turned green.


Tha Ngon - Nam Ngum river wharf. Photo: QK


Lao people celebrate International Labor Day on May 1st as one of the holidays of the year. Every year, Laos has 5 major holidays, which are New Year on January 1st, Water Festival (Bun Hot Nam is the traditional Lao New Year) in mid-April, International Labor Day on May 1st, National Liberation Day (December 2nd) and Lunar New Year of overseas Vietnamese and Chinese people. Mr. Kham Hung, director of the largest steel factory in Vientiane, said that this year, many Lao government agencies also celebrate Vietnam's April 30th, so they extended the holiday from April 30th to May 3rd. His factory also gives workers the same holiday, and accordingly, they give gifts to workers to celebrate the holiday.

Coming to Laos, I felt the real atmosphere of Tet. Groups of families went to pagodas, went shopping or went to famous tourist destinations in Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, Vientiane, Vang Vieng... Many groups went to Vietnam to enjoy the April 30th ceremony of the liberation of South Vietnam and attend the opening ceremony of the tourist season, mainly to the coastal areas.


Enchanted by the orchid forest on the Nam Ngum riverbank. Photo: QK


Even in the capital Vientiane, there are still pristine forests. On the flat fields in the suburbs are shady old trees. At tourist attractions along the Nam Ngum, Nam Song, and Mekong rivers, there are always bustling scenes of people enjoying the scenery, they interact, have fun, sing, enjoy traditional Lao dishes, and then let their souls drift along the water on boats going up and down. In the middle of the immense river, there is the sound of music, the sound of lam xap echoes. Mr. Kham Hung, a Lao of Vietnamese origin, enthusiastically introduced to our group the famous places in Vientiane. What we liked most was that the cultural identity of Laos is still preserved in the temples, the traditional products are still preserved, which are very rare in other places. Lao people are very conscious of preserving and promoting the cultural values ​​of their national identity through lam xap melodies, handicrafts or the symbols of Champa and Doc Khun flowers.


Bananas - a specialty of Laos. Photo: QK


Vientiane these days is not only lit up with billboards and banners of International Labor Day but also with images of Champa country looking towards the 450th anniversary of the name of Vientiane city.

Lang Quoc Khanh

Featured Nghe An Newspaper

Latest

x
May travel in Laos
POWERED BYONECMS- A PRODUCT OFNEKO