Tourism takes off in Huaphan with opening of new airport

More​ than​ 18,800 tourists visited Huaphan​ province​ in the first four months of this year, equalling 71 percent of the number targeted for January to June.
Visitor numbers have soared since Nongkhang airport, located in the provincial capital, Xamneua​ district, opened last month.
Of these visitors, at least 7,200 were Lao nationals and more than 11,600 came from other countries. Their spending generated more than 12 billion kip in revenue, constituting a 300 percent increase compared to the first four months of 2022.

Visitors arrive an airport in Huaphan.

Head of the Huaphan​ provincial​ Information, Culture and​ Tourism​ sector of Department, Ms Malaythong Bounyaxay, said most people visited Huaphan immediately after the airport opened.
Provincial authorities are in the process of improving the standard of Huaphan’s tourist attractions and plan to build visitor facilities at popular sites such as Pha Thee Mountain.
Authorities are also planting 10,000 peach trees along the road between Nong​khang​ airport​ and Xamneua district, which produce colourful blossoms each year.
Two airlines fly from Vientiane to Nongkhang airport, with each bringing a lot of visitors, so tourism in Huaphan is booming compared to past years, Ms Malaythong​ said.​
Before the airport opened, most people travelled by road, which is a long and tedious journey because of the mountainous terrain, but the new airport has put the province within easy reach of people wanting to travel from Vientiane.
Director of Lao Airlines’ Commercial Department, Mr Noudeng Chanthaphasouk, said Lao Airlines​ is operating four flights a week between Vientiane and Huaphan on a trial basis.
The first flight to Huaphan took place on May 12 when Nongkhang airport first came into service,​ he added.
Hour-long flights depart Vientiane on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 12 noon, and return from Xamneua to Vientiane at 1:40pm.
Another flight departs Vientiane on Thursdays at 10:30am and returns from Xamneua at 12:10pm.​
All of the flights so far have been full, Mr Noudeng said, with the first flight being especially popular.
Meanwhile, Lao Skyway carried out its first test flight from Vientiane to Xamneua on June 6.
Lao Skyway currently operates two flights a week from Vientiane to Xamneua, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 9:30am-10:30am.
The return flight from Xamneua​ on Tuesdays and Saturdays has a scheduled departure time of 11am, arriving in Vientiane at 12 noon.​
Huaphan province is located in the far north of Laos, about 600km from Vientiane, and has many visitor attractions.
It is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, including Saleuy, Tadloun and Phavang, as well as Tham Hang cave and 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.

By Times​ Reporters​
 (Latest Update June 22, 2023)