Performers rehearse a show in preparation for the Vat Phou festival.       --Ter Kotamy

Colourful programme of events lined up for Vat Phou festival 

The annual Vat Phou festival in Champassak province will take place from February 10-12, with an exciting programme of events organised to entertain visitors.
The Deputy Governor of Champassak province, Mr Som Bouthtakoun, said this year’s festival will feature performances that recount the story of the world heritage site of Vat Phou temple, as well as parades, a market fair selling One District, One Product items, sports competitions, and songs performed by schoolchildren.
The opening ceremony on February 10 will include a fireworks display, with sports contests scheduled for February 11, followed by almsgiving and candlelight processions at the Vat Phou temple complex on the last day.
Provincial authorities have invited guests from across Laos and from Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia to attend the festival, to boost the temple’s appeal as a tourist attraction, Mr Som said.
The Vat Phou festival is a major event in the Lao calendar. The temple ruins are more than 1,000 years old and the festival is held to revere the temple complex, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Champassak province has 216 officially designated tourist sites, including 116 that are nature-based, 60 of cultural interest, and 40 that have historical links.
Among the area’s scenic wonders are the Khonphapheng, Tad Fan and Tad Yeuang waterfalls, while visitors can enjoy activities ranging from treks and ziplining to rest and recuperation in the lap of nature.  Visitors can also enjoy produce from the Bolaven Plateau, including its famed coffee.
The Tad Yeuang waterfall has gained regional recognition with the granting of an ASEAN Sustainable Tourism Award, which aims to inspire tourism authorities in ASEAN countries to improve their tourism products and services to meet ASEAN standards.
Southern Laos has numerous tourist attractions, both nature-based and historical. Champassak is one such place and no one should miss a visit to this scenic region during their stay in the country.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update February 5, 2025)