After Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam in Laos collapsed: More than thousand People missing

See Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam Google Map

How to donate for dam flood victims in Laos - suggestions by Laotian Times



Read the latest situation update by United Nations in Laos

PRAY FOR LAO PEOPLE!

4.8.2018

Search for missing people still onging. The deputy secretary of Attapeu’s provincial committee, Meenaporn Chaichompoo, has admitted that “we can’t find 1,126 people”, notes The Diplomat. Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith admitted it was the worst disaster faced by the small Southeast Asian country in decades. The latest report about the situation in Sanamxay district by UNO.

The eight villages most affected by the flood are all contaminated by Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). At least 94% of the villages in Attapeu province are contaminated by UXO, says Unicef.

#Flood analysis of #Sanamxay District, #Laos shows number of affected villages went from 28 to 34 after #dam collapsed, then decreased by ~ half in following days. Flood extent area reached 55,247 Ha on 25 July. Details: https://t.co/GxBz7Ime9D pic.twitter.com/u8av4Vxt1t

— UNOSAT (@UNOSAT) August 1, 2018

31.7.2018

European commission has published a remodelling of the flood wave here


28.7.2018

Lao Government has issued a warning for people living along Nam Ou river near Luang Prabang, reports @PichayadaCNA. It says the water level of Nam Ou 2 dam has reached crisis point and urges local residents to prepare for evacuation. The dam is part of a seven-dam cascade developed by China’s Sinohydro Corp. Warning notice has been issued on Friday (Jul 27) by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment as well as the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology. See Nam Ou Hydropower Google Map

WARNING: Lao government issues warning about Nam Ou 2 dam near touristy Luang Prabang. It says water level has reached crisis point and urges local residents to prepare for evacuation. The dam is part of a seven-dam cascade developed by China’s Sinohydro Corp pic.twitter.com/VCoTuzyq2R

— Pichayada P. (@PichayadaCNA) July 28, 2018

Here information by Nam Ou River Basin Hydropower Co LTD.


'It sounded like the sea': Lao villagers, now in a shelter in Sanamxai secondary school recount frightening moment of dam collapse on channelnewsasia.

VIDEO: The bleak aftermath of the Laos dam disaster as captured by @PichayadaCNA. Read about the devastation in the hardest-hit district: https://t.co/mohATNZscV pic.twitter.com/t8ylRM6Cc7

— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) August 1, 2018

Latest situation in Sanamxai, Attapeu province:
-11,034 people affected
-3,060 registered in shelters
-at least 131 missing
-at least 19 killed
-6,400 displaced
-Immediate food needs of 96 tonnes a month
According to UN report, read Laos dam collapse affects more than 10,000 people: UN report


27.7.2018

The Laotian prime minister Thonglun Sisoulit said on Wednesday (Jul 25) 131 people are still missing, as channelnewsasia reports. He attributed the collapse of the dam to “heavy rainfall” and “possibly faulty construction” according to rfa.org. Ian Baird, a professor of geography at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on Laos, told RFA’s Lao Service Wednesday that the project partners should be held responsible for the collapse of the dam, noting that heavy rains should not have been enough to cause the tragedy. “It was caused due to poor management of the reservoir water of the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Dam. It is the middle of the monsoon rainy season, so heavy rains should be expected during this time of year.” Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Khammany Inthirath, told the media that the collapse of the Saddle Dam was likely due to substandard construction, as Laotian Times reports.

Dam operator Korea Western Power Co. said one of the auxiliary dams - "Saddle D" - broke under heavy rain. But according to a timeline the firm provided in a report to a South Korean lawmaker and obtained by AFP, it said "11 centimetres of subsidence was found at the centre of the dam" as early as Friday.

At least three thousand people in Laos are still in need of rescue, clinging to trees and sitting on rooftops, after Xe Pian Xe Namnoy dam burst, flooding villages and killing at least 19, reports theguardian.com.

26.7.2018
Situation overview bei Unitar

25.7.2018
Situation overview by Unitar.

24.7.2018
Hundreds of people are missing and an unknown number dead after the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam collapsed in south-east Laos, media are reporting. The collapse at the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province late on Monday sent flash floods through six villages. Lives have been lost, thousands of homes are destroyed and several hundres of people are missing, as jclao.com reports. Sanamxay district governor Bounhome Phommasone told RFA’s Lao Service on July 24 that around 4,000 residents of seven villages in Sanamxay have now been moved to higher ground, with approximately 2,000 taken to the area of district offices and the rest moved to safety in other places.

According to Pichayada P. the following villages were hit by the flashflood: Yai Thae, Hinlad, Mai, Thasengchan, Tha Hin and Samong.

See this video on Facebook of people living along Xe Pian River

The US$1.2 billion dam is part of a project by Vientiane-based Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Power Company, or PNPC, a joint venture formed in 2012 between a Laotian, a Thai and two South Korean companies, according to the project's website.

The main Thai stakeholder in the project, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, said it had received a report from the dam's operator that a "saddle dam", measuring 770m long and 16m high, had collapsed, reports BBC. A spokesman for SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, told the BBC a small supply dam - not the main dam - had been partly lost due to "unexpected heavy rainfall".

The dam is a key component of the country’s controversial ambition to become the “battery of Asia” by selling power to its neighbours, reports theguardian.com. Eleven large hydropower dams on the main Mekong River, and 120 tributary dams, are planned over the next 20 years.

According to jclao.com a signed letter from Mr Lee Kang Yeol, Head of the Resettlement Office of Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company, has been spread around social media in Laos, warning that part of its dam is likely to break. Reuters reports that an official of SK Engineering & Construction said the company ordered the evacuation of 12 villages as soon as it became clear that the dam would collapse.


Warning dated from Sunday 23th of July

See Instagram pictures of Attapue Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Hydroelectric Power
See Instagram Pictures about Power Intake Xepian Xenamnoy Hydropower Project

Read background about Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam project: Lao Power for Thailand: New dams on Bolaven Plateau affect the Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area.
Read about other dam projects: Xayaburi Dam and Don Sahong Dam in Mekong River divide Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam


Maps of Xepian-Xe Nam Noy dam project, published by Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Co., Ltd.:






Xe Pian Xe Namnoy dam illustration on conpaper.tistory.com


Analysis of XePian-XeNamnoy dam break - what we know so far
The following analysis has been published in Chinese here by author 徐泽平 郑璀莹, translated an rewrited:

Around 20 o'clock on July 23, 2018, the dam break occurred. The Xe-Namnoy reservoir (total storage capacity of 1.043 billion m3) was broken by the D dam with a height of 16 m. The dam flood flooded the Sanamxay area of Attapeu province in southern Laos. Villages. According to the emergency letter issued by the owner PNPC, the media reported that the flood discharge reached 5 billion m3.
The project consists of three dams, Xe-Namnoy (see Youtube), Xe-Pian and Houay Makchanh, five auxiliary dams, water delivery systems and powerhouses with a total installed capacity of 410 MW. The Houay Makchanh reservoir has a controlled drainage area of 81km2. The dam is a concrete overflow dam with a maximum dam height of 8.5m, a dam axis length of 1789.0m and a dam crest elevation of 814.5m. The water is led to the Xe-Pian reservoir through the diversion channel. The Xe-Pian reservoir has a controlled drainage area of 271km2. The dam is a composite dam of concrete gravity dam and clay core wall rockfill dam. The maximum dam height is 48m, the dam axis is 1307.0m long, the dam crest elevation is 799.5m, and the total reservoir capacity is 2000. The Xe-Pian Reservoir is connected to the Xe-Namnoy Reservoir through a 7.96km diversion canal. Xe-Namnoy is a large reservoir with a controlled drainage area of 522km2. The dam is a clay core wall rockfill dam (Fig. 5). The maximum dam height is 73.7m, the dam axis is 1600m long, the dam crest elevation is 792.5m, and the total reservoir capacity is 1.043 billion m3.

The dam that breaked was the D dam (Saddle Dam D) on the southwest side of the Xe-Namnoy Reservoir. The D dam is an earth dam with a dam height of 16m, a dam axis of 770m and a dam roof width of 8m. According to a report received by AFP on the 25th, a South Korean congressman reported that on July 20th, the D dam had "11 cm subsidence in the middle" A spokesperson for the Western Electric Power Company said: "It is unclear why some of the dams have sunken and cracked. But all of this happened in heavy rain." On July 23, the PNPC issued an emergency letter to the government authorities, pointing out that due to the severe heavy rain in the area, the reservoir water overflowed the dam crest of D dam. At 12 noon, the local government ordered the downstream villagers to evacuate. At about 8 o'clock that night, the D dam collapsed, and the reservoir water poured down and flowed westward into the Xe Pian River. Due to the limited capacity of the Xe Pian channel, the floods flow out of the river. Many villages in the Sanamxay area are flooded, including Mai Village, HinLath Village, ThaSengchan Village, Thahintai Village, Sanong Village, Thae Village, Phonsa-ath Village and Nongkhae Village. Among them, Hinlath Village and Mai Village are the most seriously affected.br>
In general, the continuous heavy rainfall caused by the monsoon season and the tropical storm Son-Tinh is the direct cause of flooding and dam failure. The Global Disaster Alerting Coordination System (GDACS) issued the Orange Warning for the Tropical Storm in Son-Tinh on July 15, 2018. The affected areas include the Philippines, China, Vietnam and Laos. The Ban Veunkhen hydrological site data, which is not far from the disaster area, shows strong rainfall due to the transit of the Son-Tinh tropical storm on July 20-21. The water level in the rivers increased rapidly and reached its peak on July 24.

As early as July 20, PNPC discovered the structural defects of the D dam dam crest. According to the description in this report, the defects of the dam crest structure are mainly cracks and subsidence. The cracks are mainly longitudinal cracks along the axis of the dam and transverse cracks partially perpendicular to the dam axis. The causes of the crack at the top of the dam may include:

1) The dam body is not densely packed, and the wet deformation of the dam body after the reservoir is stored causes uneven subsidence in the upstream and downstream directions of the dam body, thus showing cracks in the direction of the dam line at the dam crest.
2) Due to the problem of the material or construction quality of the dam, the central part of the dam (the bottom of the saddle mouth) and the bank slope are unevenly deformed, so that the crack perpendicular to the axis of the dam is formed. Usually, the crack is mainly distributed in the abutment part.
3) There are defects in the seepage control measures of the dam body. Under the condition of high water level, there is osmotic damage inside the dam body, and the dam top collapses after the fine particles in the dam body are lost.

From the management perspective, Laos has a tropical and subtropical monsoon climate, and the rainy season is from May to October. A clear flood control plan should be formulated to timely dispatch operations according to changes in water and rain conditions to avoid flooding and dams. These specific operational schedules are still unknown. However, according to the emergency letter and the scene photos issued by the PNPC on July 23, the reservoir was full and the water flow over the D dam, eventually this was leading to the collapse of the D dam.

For earth-rock dam projects, one of the most important causes of collapse is external erosion damage caused by the diffuse roof, and the other is the internal erosion damage caused by seepage. For earth-rock dam projects, in addition to ensuring the reliability of the dam structure design and construction quality, the capacity and reliability of the flood discharge facilities should be highly valued.

The project investor was PNPC (Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Company) and construction began in February 2013. It was planned to start production in 2019. PNPCs shareholders are Korea SK Construction Co., Ltd. (SKEC, holding 26%), Thailand Ratchaburi Power Generation Company (RATCH, holding 25%), Korea West Power (KOWEPO, holding 25%) and Laos Holding State-owned Enterprise (LHSE, 24%).This joint venture has been formed in March 2012. PNPC invested about US$1.02 billion. PNPC has signed a franchise agreement with the Lao government. After the beginning of the commercial operation of the power station, it will be franchised for 27 years. 370MW of electricity will be sold to the Thai Electric Power Company (EGAT), and 40MW of electricity will be sold to Laos Power Company (EDL).


Background about Hydropower dams in Laos:

Laos - the Battery of Asia: Hydropower Dams and Consequences


See also Google Map Mekong River Hydropower and Dams

Laos - the Battery of Asia: Hydropower Dams and Consequences

See the locations on Mekong Hydropower Google Map

The government of Laos has already completed 51 hydro-electric dams, another 46 are under construction. Most of these projects began in the last 10 years, with the government arguing hydropower could lift landlocked Laos out of poverty, notes The Diplomat .

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Joe Trivisvavet (@joetrivis) am Jan 25, 2015 um 2:00 PST

Chinas and Laos' flags at Xayaburi construction site, 25.1.2015

China is involved in roughly half of Laos’ hydropower projects, whether on the main channel of the Mekong River or its tributaries. According to data from International Rivers, Chinese dam projects in Laos include the $2.4 billion Pak Beng dam (to be constructed by China Datang Overseas Investment), a $2 billion seven-dam cascade on the Nam Ou River (under development by Sinohydro Corporation), the Nam Khan 3 hydropower project (also by Sinohydro), and the Nam Beng dam (China Electrical Equipment Corporation).(Source: The Diplomat)

In pictures: Damming Laos' Mekong River (25.4.2013)

After the collapse of XePian-XeNamnoy dam the government of Laos has decided to inspect all Hydropower dams in the country and to suspend any new investment in its hydroelectricity projects so it has time to review a longer-term development strategy and plans. This could be an opportunity to push for other forms of renewable energy – solar and wind – that Laos is well-placed to use, argues Brian Eyler, Director of the Southeast Asia program at the Stimson Center in Washington, DC. Read here.


XePian-XeNamnoy dam break: After saddle dam D broke in July 2018 the flood devastated Sanamxay district in Attapeu province. More than 11 000 people affected, more than 1000 were missing. Laos was confronted with the worst disaster in decades. Analysis, why the dam broke http://treasuresoflaos.blogspot.com/2018/07/xepian-xe-nam-noy-dam-in-laos-collapsed.html.

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Mone Saysamone Msh (@mone_saysamone_msh) am Jul 30, 2018 um 6:50 PDT

Lao Power for Thailand: New dams on Bolaven Plateau affect the Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area. (15.2.2013)



The Pak Beng Hydropower Project: The Pak Beng hydropower project is proposed on the Mekong mainstream in the northern territory of Lao PDR. The run-of-river project with capacity of 912 MW and the average annual generation of 4,775 GWh is expected to produce power for domestic supply and export. The dam is located between the Jinghong hydropower project in China and the Xayaburi hydropower project in Laos. See theesse videos by Mekong River Commission (MRC):





Environmental Impact Assessement, Sep 2015, Download

See presentation of Lancang-Mekong Development Plan - Environmental Study by Jeremy Carew-Reid at MRC International Conference in Siem Reap (2-3 April 2018)

In 2018 Thailand’s EGAT (The Thai Electricity Commission) deferred a decision on signing the power purchase agreement for the Pak Beng dam until the country’s energy development plan was completed. EGAT had originally agreed to buy 90 percent of the electricity from the dam. The Chinese dam-builder Datang Overseas Investment "appears likely to lose its Thai partner EGAT", writes thethirdpole.net (14.6.2018).



The Pak Lay Dam Project: On 13 June, the Government of Laos formally notified the Mekong River Commission (MRC) of its intention to construct the Pak Lay dam on the mainstream of the Mekong River. The notification triggers the Prior Consultation procedure under the Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) of the 1995 Mekong Agreement. Pak Lay is the fourth Mekong mainstream dam to be submitted for the procedure.
At least 1,000 families from 20-some villages in northwestern Laos’ Xayaburi province will be forced to relocate if the Pak Lay Dam project will be realized, reports rfa.org. The villages that will be affected the most by the dam building are Bane Tha Liev, Bane Pak Tung, Bane Nong Kay, and Bane Hune Ngam.
Sinohydro and CEIEC agreed to construct the Pak Lay hydropower project at Xayaboury and signed a memorandum of understanding in 2007. The project is to be funded by China's Export-Import Bank, through a $1.7 billion loan, this according to china.aiddata.org.



Nam Theun 2 dam: U.S. $1.3 billion Nam Theun 2 (NT2) hydropower dam, constructed in central Laos’ Khammouane province to generate foreign currency through electricity exports to Thailand. The dam is a trans-basin diversion power plant that uses water from the Nam Theun River, a tributary of the Mekong, and releases it into the Xe Bang Fai River, wrires rfa.org. Roughly 6,200 people, mostly ethnic minorities and indigenous people, have been forced to relocate to make way for the project’s reservoir.


The Xayaburi dam: The $3.8 billlion Xayaburi dam with 1,285 MW generation, is scheduled to be completed in 2019. According to geologist Dr. Punya Charusiri of Chulalungkorn University in Bangkok, “The Xayaburi dam poses a potential danger because there are active faults close to the dam site.” He added that construction “should never have started at such a site without further research into its seismic risk.” (Source: The Diplomat)

Ein Beitrag geteilt von KAM_ (@cheekkam_) am Jan 5, 2018 um 12:27 PST

See more pictures of Xayaburi dam.
Xayaburi Dam and Don Sahong Dam in Mekong River divide Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam
Aerial view of Xayaburi Hydropower Project, 15.7.2017



Nam Ou Hydropower Project: The Nam Ou 7 dam is 10% complete and expected to be fully completed by 2020.(19.4.2017)
Rich past, uncertain futures: Khmu community’s memories of living with the Ou River. The Nam Ou 2 Dam is now complete, and nearby communities have been relocated. (19.4.17)
Second phase of 1,156-MW Nam Ou hydro project kicks off in Laos (5.4.2016)

The Impacts of Hydropower Development on Livelihoods of Downstream Communities: Case Studies in Laos. Amphone Sivongxay, Charles Darwin University Darwin, NT Australia. About Nam Ngum dam (June 2015)

Cumulative Impact Assessment of the Nam Ou hydropower cascade (2.3.2016)
Nam Ou 2 launches first energy generator. Nam Ou 2 hydropower plant will have three generators (3.12.2015)
An Eyewitness Report on Involuntary Resettlement Associated with Nam Ou 2 (Hat Kip) (April 2012)



The Nam Ao Dam Collapse: A Preview Of Things To Come? Flash floods after Nam Ao Dam burst in Phasai District. (11.9.2017)

Lao Power for Thailand: New dams on Bolaven Plateau affect the Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area

First publicated on 15.02.13

See the locations on Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Hydroelectric Project Google Map

Picture by Piboon Boonsong
Houay Makchan River: Plans for a dam

Laos has signed a 32-year land lease with investors to develop the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric project according to emergingfrontiersblog.com. Lao Deputy Natural Resources and the Environment Minister Akhom Tounalom signed the agreement with the chief executive officer of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy Power Co, Young-Ju Choi, in Vientiane. Construction of the project in Attapeu and Champasak provinces is expected to start in July, with commercial operation planned for February 2019, project officials told The Vientiane Times. The initial investment cost of the project was about 2,100 billion kip (7.8 billion baht). The firm is a joint venture between the Lao government, which has a 24% stake, SK Engineering and Construction Co (26%), and the Korea Western Power Co and Thailand-based Ratchaburi Electric Generating Holding Plc with 25% each. The hydro dam is designed to produce 390 megawatts. Around 90% of the energy will be sold to Thailand with the rest for domestic consumption.

Picture by Piboon Boonsong
Xe Pian River: Plans for a dam

In this project, 1,000 MCM of water, which is received from Houay Makchan Dike and Xe Pian Dam, will be stored in Xe Namnoy Dam. The dams are located on the Bolaven Plateau while the power plants are installed at the base. The flow of water from the height of 630 meters by a 13.5-kilometer headrace tunnel to the powerhouse at the bottom of the Xe Kong Valley enables the generating of electricity. The water will then be discharged into Xe Kong River, notes teamgroup.co.th. Xe Kong River flows into Mekong River.

Picture by Piboon Boonsong
Xe Namnoy River: Plans for a dam

Thousands of people have been forcefully moved from their old villages between 1996 and 2001 along the Xe Pian and Xe Namnoy rivers to make way for two dams that were being planned at that time, the Houay Ho and Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower projects, as International Rivers reports. The dams then were not built because the Korean developer’s original plans ran aground during the Asian financial crisis. Two villages, Ban Houay Chot and Ban Nong Pha Nouan rejected the resettlement packages and stayed behind. Now this villagers are confronted with the beginning work. Unclear is, which consequences the project has for ethnic minority people in Cambodia living downstream along the Xe Kong River.

The dam projects are situated in Dong Hua Sao National Biodiversity Conservation Area, Read more about this Area on visitlaos.org and see photostream and comments by Ben. 1996 there was conducted a wildlife and habitat survey.

Picture by 杨德寿/Yang Deshou
Xe Namnoy River


Nearby is Xe Pian National Biodiversity Conservation Area. The Xe Pian National Protected Area (NPA) stretches out over 240,000 hectares in the Provinces of Champasak and Attapeu and touches the National border of Cambodia. It is one of the most important nature reserves in Laos. It has extensive wetlands and is home to rare wildlife such as elephants, gaur, sun bear, Asiatic black bear and the yellow-cheeked gibbon.

Read more:
Trekking around Kiet Ngong and Phapho wetlands - in Xe Pian National Protected Area

Where to eat, when you are in Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Restaurants Google Map


Picture by Backpack Foodie
At the night market


Night Market Ban Anou: Near crossing of Chao Anou and Khoun Bourom Road.


Night Market along the Mekong: Many stalls in the west of the street along the Mekong


Food stalls: Along Lane Xang Road, north of Talat Sao and between Hathsadi and Khou Vieng Road.


Picture by Many Moon Honeymoon
Everything ready for a delicious streetfood-meal


Cafés:

Joma Bakery: 14/4 Setthathirat Road. Very nice sandwichs and great coffee, say reviews on tripadvisor.com. "Delicious pastries, sandwiches, quiche, muesli, fruit, shakes", adds Lonely Planet. Daily papers from Laos and Thailand and Wi Fi, mentions chiengfa.com

Picture by larique


Scandinavian Bakery: 74/1 Pangkham Road. "The cinnamon rolls and chocolate croissants are to die for", comments Muggles1 on tripadvisor.com. See picture on travelblog.org.


Maison du Café: 70 Pangkham Road. Coffee from Laos, Brazil, Kenya and Colombia. And also tea! And also a travel agent, discovered the tranquilo traveler


Chinese:

Heng Boun and Chao Anou Road are the heart of Vientianes chinatown.


Ban Haysok: 34-36 Heng Boun road.


Guang Dong: 91-93 Chao Anou Road. Cantonese dishes. "Good food", says one review on tripadvisor.com


Peking Duck: Good review with pictures by thenhbushman.com


French:

Le Silapa: 17/1 Th Sihom. Excellent, according to reviews on tripadvisor.com


La Cave des Châteaux: Big wine choice, romantic terrace. The wine is wunderful and the kitchen excellent according to reviews on tripadvisor.com. See picture by talesfrom30b


Le Provencal: Nam Phou. "Pizza margheritas freshly baked in a wood fired oven. Yummy.", comments edfaigman on tripadvisor.com. Don't await too much, it's a French bistro, not more.


La Terrasse: 55/4 Nokeokoummane Road. "French-European food, great desserts, good family restaurant, very popular with expats, excellent bread", notes the blog Apocalypse Lao.


Italian:

Aria Italian Culinary Arts: Excellent, according to reviews on tripadvisor.com


L'Opera: Homemade pasta.


International:

Douang Deune: Francois Ngin Road. "Excellent Lao, Vietnamese, and Thai food" with Western classical music, notes frommers.com


Khop Chai Deu: 54 Setthathirad Road. In an old French colonial villa, Lao and European dishes. "Khop Chai Deu is the crossroads for expats, backpackers, and tourists", describes frommers.com and notes tasty barbecue and good Lao sections - also "an extensive range of fried insect dishes including crickets and larvae". See their Facebook page. See a video about their lunch buffet


That Dam Wine House:

The Spirit House: Good cocktails with Mekong View, say reviews on tripadvisor.com


Japanese:

Yulala Café: Heng Boun Road. "Cute japanese restaurant and best chocolate desserts", say reviews on tripadvisor.com


Fujiwara: 2/2 Luang Ptabang Road. An epic Sushi menu, notes lonelyplanet.com


Lao:

Just for fun: 51/2 Pamkham Road. Vegetarian dishes. "A good option for committed veggies", comments frommers.com and also a Lao handicraft store.


Kong View Restaurant: On the riverside, west of Vientiane - take a Taxi.


Nang Kham Bang: Khoun Boulum Road. Very godd review by mmm-yoso!!!


Nok Noy: Fa Ngum Road (corner of Nokeokoummane Road). Noodle shop.


Kualao: 141 Samsenthai Road. In an old colonial villa.


Lotus Restaurant: Nokeokoummane Road. In a house in colonial style.

Makphet: Setthathirat road. This restaurant trains homeless youth and is run by Friends International. It sells also a cookbook "From Honeybees to Pepperwood". "A foodies heaven", say reviews on tripadvisor.com.

Picture by Backpack Foodie
A vegetable dish by Makphet

Picture by Backpack Foodie
Laap - a meat based salad with mint


Mekong Sunbar Restaurant: 1/13 Fa Ngum Road.


Nok Noy Noodle:


Pho Zaab: Lao noodle soup - beef and pork noodles with herbs, lime juice and chili


Vilaylac:


Thai:

Full Moon Café: "Boasting Lao, Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indian daily specials, this is the place to go if you're not sure which Asian country's cuisine you want to sample", recommends Frommers
.


Linda Sathaphorn: 306/18 Saphanthong Road. Very popular by Thais. with a shaded courtyard, notes lonelyplanet.com


Phikun: Good and quick according to one review on tripadvisor.com


Vietnamese:

Lucky's: Samsenthai Road.

Nam Neong: Next to hotel Lao. Here you wrap meat and vegetables or fish into Vietnamese rice paper.

PVO Café: 344 Samsenthai Road. "Tasty do-it-yourself spring rolls" comments nileguide.com

Picture by mikecogh


Read also the restaurant guide by the Blog "Apocalypse Lao".

Not to miss, when your are in Vientiane

See the locations on Vientiane Google Map


Picture by mypuffin
Gate to That Luang


Nam Phou: A square with e fountain and lots of restaurants around in the middle of Vientiane.


Anousavari Monument: Also: Patuxai, meaning: Victory Gate. Climb up and have a good view accross Vientiane. The monument, built between 1957 and 1968, is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It looks like Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but its design is Laotian. You discover many Buddhist mythological figures like kinnari (half-female, half-bird).

Picture by Hugo Martins


That Luang: A stupa, the most important religious monument of Laos, with 30 small stupas around and Vat That Luang Neue in the north and Vat That Luang Tai in the south. That Luang has been built by King Settathirat in 1566. During That Luang Festival (2011 from 10-12 November) hundreds of monks representing all Lao temples gather to accept alms from the people and fireworks are displayed at night.

Picture by David Whitmore

Picture by mypuffin

Picture by Bruno [BRA]

Picture by Philip Roeland
Vat That Luang Neua

Philip Roeland
Vat That Luang Neua


Vat Sisaket: The oldest temple in Vientiane, built by King Anou in 1818. You find here more than 2,000 small Buddha statues in the niches, made of wood, stone, silver and bronze. The ordination hall in the centre is decorated with mural paintings of the past lives of Buddha.

Picture by Peter Broer

Picture by Many Moon Honeymoon

Picture by daibera


Vat Si Muang: Also: Si Mueang. The sim (ordination hall) is divided into two rooms. In the front room you find usually a monk giving blessings. The back room houses the main altar. On the top of the alter you see a gilded stone - the city pillar (lak muang). The temple was built on the ruins of a Khmer Hindu shrine, remains can be seen behind the sim. In front of the temple you see a statue of King Sisavang Vong (he ruled from 1904 to 1959). He holds a palm leaf manuscript, the first legal code of Laos. See a video by nfsutton.

Picture by Philip Roeland

Picture by Peter Broer


Vat Ong Teu: The large bronze Phra Ong Teu Buddha image gives the temple its name. It has been constructed by King Settathirat in the 16th century. The complex consists of a sim (ordination hall), a ho rackhang (bell tower), a ho kong (drum tower), a that (stupa), and a kuti (monks’ living quarters). When Siam sacked Laos in 1827-28 Wat Ong Teu was destroyed. After 1843 the French reconstructed the monastery and added a school. Until today the vat is a school for Theravada Buddhism. Read more about the architecture of Wat Ong Teu. See a video and listen to the drums

Picture by dalbera



Vat Inpeng:

Picture by GothPhil

Picture by whl.travel


Ho Phra Keo - the temple of the Emerald Buddha: Setthathirat Road. Open: From 8 till 12 am and 1 till 4 pm. A temple has been built here in the 16th century. The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, about 66 centimetres tall, carved from a single jade stone, was kept here during 215 years. King Setthathirat brought it to Vientiane, when he moved the capital from Lanna (today Chiang Mai) zu Vientiane. 1788 it was taken to Thailand by King Taksin. Today the Emerald Buddha is kept in Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok (read more). The temple building was destroyed in 1828 and rebuilt between 1936 and 1942. But the doors are from the original building. The verandah houses Buddha statues from all over South-East Asia. Ho Phra Keo now houses a museum which contains a copy of Pha Bang, the gilded throne, Khmer Buddhist stelae, bronze frog drums, wooden carvings and palm-leaf manuscripts. See the gallery by laostravelguide

Picture by mypuffin
Bronze Buddha in the subduing Mara position. See another picture by Adam Carr

Picture by dalbera


Vat Mixai:

Picture by Backpack Foodie

Picture by GothPhil


Vat Hai Sok: It has an impressive five-tiered roof, topped with elegant golden spires. The windows and facade are beautifully carved in wood. Gilded multi-headed nagas flank the steps. See pictures on orientalarchitecture.com. See also the video by inranfle.

Picture by iambents

Picture by iambents

Drum tower


Lao National Museum: On the first floor the museum presents one of the original Jars from the Plain of Jars and various stone and bronze age implements. The second floor explains the 18th Century Laotian Kingdom.


Talat Sao Mall and Market: In the corner of Thanon Lane Xang and Thanon Khu Vieng. The morning market has two floors two floors: textiles, electronics and watches on the first, clothing, gold, and jewelery on the second floor. Talat Sao Mall has three floors, escalators, some cafés and a food court.


Talat Khua Din Market:

Picture by Hanoi Mark
See more pictures by mmm-yoso!!!


Sunset over the Mekong River:

Picture by fredalix


Chou Anou Road:

Picture GothPhil


Xieng Khouan (Buddha Park): 24 km south of the town centre, off Thanon Tha Deua. Open from 8 am to 4.30 pm.

Picture by thich8

Buddha Park, a collection of Buddhist and Hindu sculptures, has been built in 1958 by
Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, who - as priest - merged Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and had many followers. He moved to Thailand at the time of the 1975 Lao revolution. In 1978 he realized the same kind of park at Wat Khaek in Nong Khai. A concrete monument in the grounds of Buddha Park has three levels with interior spiral stairs. The three levels represent hell, earth and heaven. Buses with the direction Xieng Khuang depart every half and hour from Talat Sao terminal.

Picture by LightOnDude

Picture by chericbaker


Herbal sauna at Vat Sok Pa Luang: Also: Luong. This forest temple is in Muang Sisauanak and well known for its herbal sauna and massage. For the sauna you get a sarong-like loin cloth. When you come out you are supposed to drink herbal tea and not to wash off the perspiration for at least several hours - some say six- to allow the herbal steam to soak into you pores. The sauna is open from 1 to 8 pm. Read also the experience of bohemiantraveler.com. The nearby Wat 51 Amphon (Thanon Si Amphon) also does herbal saunas. Wat Sok Pa Luang is also known for its course of instruction in vipassana (Buddhist meditation). The abbot and teacher is Ajahn Sali Kantasilo, a Thai who came to Laos.

Picture by Scorchamac From the street you only see this door to Vat Sok Pa Luang

Picture Ben Beiske
The steam for the sauna is produced by a wood-fire.

Trekking around Kiet Ngong and Phapho wetlands - in Xe Pian National Protected Area

See the locations on Xe Pian National Protected Area and Kiet Ngong Wetlands Google Map by #treasuresoflaos

Picture by Pretre
Xe Pian Wetlands, seen from Wat Phu Asa

Picture by intothegreen

Picture by Pretre
Lizard outside Kingfisher Lodge

Picture by gardnergp
Near Khiet Ngong

One of the largest and least altered wetland in the region with swamps, lakes and marshes at the foot of Phou Asa, a large rock outcrop renown for its intriguing ruins and superb views of the dense semi-evergreen forests below: This is the area between Kiet Ngong Village and Pha Pho village, in the the 2,400 km2 Xe Pian National Protected Area (also: Se Pian). See Map of Beung Kiat Ngong Wetlands. These wetlands are connected to several small streams: Houay Ta-kuan, Houay Ta-euang, Xe Khampho, Xe Pian and Xekong River. During the wet season these areas are all connected and they are a passing way for varieties of fish to move upstream. About 43 species have been reported, for example Walking catfish (Clarias spp.), Snakeheads (Channa striata) and Swamp eel (Monopterus albus). Read more on Ramsar Wetlands. See on Facebook.


Xe Pian NPA is considered to be one of the most important areas in Indochina for waterbirds. Here you find the vanishingly rare Giant Ibis, the White-winged Wood-Duck, the Sarus Crane, the Lesser Adjutant and the White-shouldered Ibisother. It's also known for large mammals. Although Rhinoceros, Kouprey, Eld’s Deer, and Hog Deer have already disappeared from the area, Asian Elephant, Tiger, Gaur, Banteng, Leopard, Sun Bear, Black Bear and Dhole (Wild Dog) are still found here. These species are very difficult to see, more visible are Yellow-cheeked Gibbons and hornbills.

Almost 10'000 people live within Xe Pian NPA, many practicing traditional agriculture and collecting forest plants. Kiet Ngong’s traditional houses, wooden temple and working elephants offer a window into Lao rural life.

Activities: Elephant rides from Kiet Ngong Village to the top of Phou Asa and back are popular. They can be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Pakse or Champassak District or with a tour company. Phou Asa can also be reached by a walk along a 7 km long forest trail. The summit provides a view over large areas of southern Laos. The forests of Xe Pian and Dong Hua Sao (another National Protected Area) appear to stretch out endlessly from the Kiet Ngong wetland. To the north you see the Bolaven Plateau with its waterfalls. Ahead to the east is the Xe Khong floodplain in Attapeu, and lining the horizon are the Annamite Mountains on the Vietnamese border. At the top of the mountain is a ring of stone pillars. You can take elephant-back treks as well from the village Pha Pho (read here) and here.

According to ecotourismlaos.com village guides are available to take visitors on half- or full-day walks to Phou Asa and its surroundings, interpreting its many medicinal plants and non-timber forest products. The eco-trail begins at the foot of Phou Asa and offers 3-4 hours of steady walking through tall semi-evergreen forest. Some trees along the trail are labeled, and there are good places to rest or observe birds. An important natural resource, which can be seen on the walk, is the Mak Chong (Malva Nut) tree. It only grows in original forest and reaches its greatest abundance in southern Lao. "In some years, the Mak Chong harvest from Xe Pian alone may be sold for more than US$ 1,000,000 in China. Local harvesters only receive a tiny fraction of that revenue, but it is a significant source of income nonetheless", writes ecotourismlaos.com.

During the dry season (November-April) there is a trail around the wetland to Donlay Island, which takes about two hours if walked slowly. On the way you will pass the Giant Rock (Hin Huoa Yak in Lao), a sacred place with a superb view. The trail continues to Phapho Village. Donlay Island can also be reached by canoe.

Mountain Biking to Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area is another possibility. From Kingfisher Ecolodge at Kiet Ngong you cycle 20 km to Lao Gna village, do a forest walk and have a picnic lunch with villagers.

On offer is also Ta Ong Trail, a 2 days Journey by canoe along the Ta Euang river from Palay Bok village, whose guides will teach you about medicinal plants and wildlife spotting. You stay overnight withfamilies in Ban Ta Ong, a Brow village known for its traditional giant crossbow. At dawn you walk through thick forests for birdwatching and, if you are lucky, to listen to the song-like calls of the endangered yellow-cheeked crested gibbon. Read about a trekking tour from Pha Pho to Ta Ong.



Where To Sleep:
In Kiet Ngong village there are five small, local-style huts about 250 m south of the last house in the village (1 km from the temple). And a home-stay offers the contact with a local family.

Kingfisher Ecolodge: A bit outside the village. Bungalows with beautiful view of the wetlands. During winter time bring some additional covers with you. In the ecohouses two rooms share a bath. Very good reviews von tripadvisor.com.

Boun Hom Guesthouse in Pha Pho village: Phone: 030 5346293. Read here.


How to get here:
It takes 1 hour from Pakse to Kiet Ngong. In Ban Thang Beng you turn east. You can travel by taxi or a songthaew bus from the southern bus station in Pakse (8 km east of town). Get off the public bus at Km 48 junction with Route 18 in Thang Beng village. Here you can visit the Xe Pian NPA Office. From here you follow Route 18 for 7 km eastwards then you turn right for the last 1,5 km toBan Kiet Ngong. To get to Ban Pha Pho, continue along Route 18. After 5 km turn right at Ban Kele and take a dirt road for 15 km to Pha Pho. There is also a bus from Atapeu on Route 18.
Another possibility is to travel on the Xekong River along the border of Cambodia and then up in the Xe Pian River. Three waterfalls along the Xe Pian River - Tad Saepha, Tad Samongphak and Tad Saeponglaican - can be reached by foot or by boat with a local guide. Tad Phapong, a waterfall on the Xe Xou River, is accessible by trekking or boating and is noted for its many colorful rocks that line the riverside.