Huaphan prepares for peach bossom festival and launch of Visit Laos Year 2024

Authorities in Huaphan​ province will organise the peach bossom festival along with the official opening of the Visit Laos Year 2024 campaign during January 10-12.

People​ enjoy the blooming of peach bossoms in Huaphan province. (​File​ Photo​ Huaphan​ Provincial​ Official)

The festival is an annual highlight for Huaphan province, and is held to celebrate the blooming of peach and sakura cherry trees in Xamneua and Viengxay districts.
The Head of​ Huaphan​ province’s​ Information, Culture​ and​ Tourism Department​, Ms Manh Phengkhatiya, said, “The provincial authorities are preparing several activities to welcome tourists during the festival and the official opening of Visit Laos Year 2024.”
These activities include the Miss Peach Blossom contest, an arts show, a marathon, events focused on food items from local ethnic groups and ODOP products, and a market fair.
Visitors will be able to take photos of peach and sakura blossom at the Laos-Japan Friendship Sakura Park, where trees are now in full bloom.
Each year, around 20,000 people visit the Laos-Japan Friendship Sakura Park, according to the provincial Information, Culture​ and​ Tourism​ Department.
The park was officially opened in February 2015 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Japan.
About 300 sakura saplings were donated by Japanese friendship associations and NGOs, including the Asian Development with Disabled Persons (ADDP) and the Saitama-Laos Friendship Association, as a token of friendship between the two countries.
Authorities are planting 10,000 peach trees along the road between Nongkhang​ airport​ and Xamneua district. These trees produce colourful blossoms each year.
Huaphan province is located in the far north of Laos, 600 km from Vientiane, and has many tourist attractions.
It is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, including Sa Lery, Tadloun and Phavang, the Tham Hang cave, the Hiem and Nam Meuang hot springs, the Hintang archaeological site, and the Nam Et-Phouleuy National Protected Area.
Huaphan is also home to Pha Thee mountain and has a striking city pillar in the provincial capital.
Travelling to Huaphan has become easier with the opening of Nongkhang airport, which is located in the provincial capital in Xamneua​ district.
Before the airport began operations in 2023, most people travelled to Huaphan by road, and this was a long and tedious journey because of the mountainous terrain. The new airport has put the province within easy reach of people wishing to travel there from Vientiane.
In addition, Nongkhang airport is set to become an international airport so that more foreign tourists can fly to the province directly, as well as business owners considering setting up operations in Huaphan.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update January 3, 2024)