Ms Vienphone Keokhounsy (centre) addresses a press conference.

Bumper crowd expected at That Luang festival
 
City authorities are expecting a large number of tourists at this year’s That Luang festival, which takes place from November 11-15, and predict that at least 1,500 foreign visitors will attend events each day.
The figure is based on the 2,300 foreign tourists who took part in events each day last year, with the numbers obtained from Vientiane hotel operators.
The That Luang festival is the most important religious festival in Laos and is attended by people from all over the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Director of the Vientiane Information, Culture and Tourism Department, Ms Vienphone Keokhounsy, announced the programme for this year’s festival, which will be centred around the That Luang esplanade.
As well as the daily homage paid to the stupa itself, there will be the traditional street fair selling handicrafts and general consumer goods, which is always popular with bargain hunters.
The press conference was attended by event organisers, including public security officials, who will be responsible for ensuring smooth traffic flow and organising parking.
The festival features some of Laos’ most iconic and longstanding traditions and is hugely popular with visitors because of the colourful pageantry on display.
“Apart from being a tourist draw, the festival serves to preserve some of the country’s finest traditions and is an annual reinforcement of long-held customs that are dear to us,” Ms Vienphone said.
The highlights of the festival are the wax castle procession and almsgiving to monks. There are also concerts and a singing contest, while goods from countries such as Vietnam, China and Thailand will be on sale at the street fair.
In addition to the main activities at the That Luang esplanade, there will be stalls selling goods at the Lao-ITECC shopping centre throughout the five-day festival.
The festival grounds will be open to the public from 9am to 11pm each day. The inner courtyard of the That Luang stupa is the centre of worship and the place where the most reverent ceremonies take place.
The outer area of the courtyard will not be used for the sale of goods, except for flowers, incense and candles used by worshippers.
Zone A on the north side of the stupa from the corner of Kaysone Phomvihane Road to the entrance to the National Assembly will be reserved for stalls set up by export and import companies and the sale of general consumer goods, and will also be used for official parking.
Zone B, in front of the new National Assembly, will have a movie screen, a stage for youth activities, a drinks cart, and snacks on sale for young people, although no alcoholic beverages will be sold at this location.
Zone C runs from the corner of the National Assembly on the south side to the entrance to the King Xaysettha Memorial Park. Footpaths in this area will be used for stalls exhibiting locally made goods.
The area in the middle of the courtyard will be dedicated to tourism products, where tourist-related business will advertise their services, hoping to attract extra custom.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update November 7, 2024)