Laos, Vietnam plan joint effort to bolster tourism 

Laos and Vietnam plan to jointly promote tourism through various activities aimed at drawing more visitors to the two countries.
Senior officials from Laos’ four southern provinces and the central and southern provinces of Vietnam, as well as tourism-related business operators, recently discussed the initiative at a meeting held in Champassak province.

Deputy Director of the Attapeu Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Ms Bounthong Bouphasavanh, told Vientiane Times on Wednesday that Laos and Vietnam planned to promote tourism through several activities and had discussed the possibilities for tourism programmes.
They also considered ways to improve facilities and procedures at immigration posts and agreed to inspect visitor facilities at tourist sites to ensure they were adequate.
Meeting participants reported the challenges they had experienced, discussed their respective tourist hotspots, and shared ideas to bolster tourist numbers.
Also discussed were group tours journeying from Laos to Vietnam and vice versa, the creation of new tourism products, advertisements to promote tourism, and ways to attract investment to improve tourist sites, Ms Bounthong said.
Representatives from Attapeu, Champassak, Xekong and Saravan provinces listed their most popular tourist attractions and the adventure activities on offer.
Attapeu takes pride in its waterfalls, especially Tad Xepha, Tad Samongphak, Tad Xeponglay and Tad Phapong, and Nong Fa lake, which is famous for its deep blue water.
Saravan province boasts scenic wonders including Loc, Mayhia, Soung, Saen and Kaengkou waterfalls, as well as Phouphasouk Park with its waterfalls, nine caves and Pha Taem Phou Lahit hill.
Visitors to Champassak can make good use of adventure activities such as adventure trekking and zip-lining, as well as enjoy organic produce from the Bolaven Plateau, including coffee.
Xekong province is famed for the Nokkhao, Faek and Huakhon waterfalls, and for its local food including yam mak taeng (cucumber salad) and products made from Indian gooseberries.
More than 2.2 million tourists visited Laos in the first six months of this year, up about 5 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.

By Siladda Souliyong
(Latest Update October 10, 2019)