Vientiane turns tourism spotlight on contemporary arts museum, Thinxoy stupa

Vientiane Museum of Contemporary Arts and Thinxoy stupa are set to become targets for promotion by the capital authority as part of efforts to bolster domestic tourism in the city.
Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Buangeun Xaphovong led a delegation to visit and assess the development of the sites on the weekend.

Vientiane Museum of Contemporary Arts is located in Xaythany district’s Xangkhou village, on Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue.  The museum was established by Mr Phisith Xayathith who revealed he has collected more than 3,000 exhibits over the past 20 years. The collection features various carved wood pieces that reflect the culture of Laos and other Asean nations.
He said many domestic and international visitors, especially from China, the Republic of Korea, and Europe, had visited the museum since it opened in February 2019.
According to the museum owner, it has been closed since the outbreak of Covid-19, and he’s taken the opportunity to rearrange the exhibits aiming to reopen next year.
The delegation also visited the ancient Thinxoy stupa and associated temple in Pakngum district. The stupa, built in 1570, has a history intertwined with the fight against foreign colonialists by Lao ancestors and their protection and development of the nation.
The deteriorated stupa and temple are currently under restoration to return them to their original form. The 2 billion kip project is expected to take two years and also includes the renovation of the old shrine hall, building a stupa-related stone structure, and improving the temple grounds.
Speaking to local authorities at the site in Pakngum district, Mr Buangeun advised them to improve road access to the temple from National Road No.13 South by mobilising funding and the participation of every sector.
He also noted the importance of conserving large trees in the temple grounds to maintain the green environment and blending cultural and nature-based tourism.
The highlighting and development of new attractions in the country is an attempt to promote domestic tourism amid the Covid-19 pandemic with popular sites for international visitors such as That Luang stupa, Ho Phrakeo (Emerald Buddha Image Hall), and Sisaket Museum Temple witnessing significant downturns due to the border closure.
Tourism has been ranked the second-highest income generating sector for the nation behind mining.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 19, 2020)