VIENTIANE: Vangvieng proving popular choice for National Day long weekend
Many popular riverside hotels and other accommodation in Vientiane province’s Vangvieng district are now fully booked by domestic travellers for the coming long weekend to celebrate National Day following the government announcement of an additional substitute holiday.
The announcement of the extra holiday on Monday comes as National Day (December 2) falls on a Saturday this year.
This means many people find themselves with a three-day weekend, providing an opening for residents of the capital to travel to the tourist hotspot of Vangvieng, just a few hours drive away.
In Vangvieng, the Xong River and its banks provide a popular site for on-water activities and recreation.
Many of the hotels on the riverfront are fully booked from Friday to Monday (December 1 to 4), Vientiane Times has been told.
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“Normally during this time of the year until February our hotel is around 70 to 80 percent booked and occasionally it is also at or close to full capacity,” owner of the Inthira Hotel in Vangvieng district, Mr Inthy Deuansavanh, said.
“As we have this long weekend because of National Day, many people, especially from Vientiane, have booked hotel rooms, mostly on Saturday night.”
“But we still have a few rooms available on Sunday and Monday nights.”
Thavisouk Hotel and Resort is also located by the river and staff said it’s more than 100 rooms are fully booked over the long weekend, with most going to locals.
The Riverside Boutique is also full to the brim for the weekend.
“This time of the year it’s our high season, when many Lao people come here for a break and to explore nature, while foreign tourist arrivals are also increasing day by day,” head of the Tourism Management Unit of the Information, Culture and Tourism Office in Vangvieng district, Mr Duangmala Phuangchanla, said.
“Over this long weekend, many hotels, especially by the Xong River are booked out. But visitors should not worry about finding accommodation because there are still many rooms in resorts and guesthouses,” he noted.
Many tourist groups from the Republic of Korea are to be found enjoying the scenic wonders of the district, while travellers from western countries also like to visit the area.
“We will have a music festival in mid-December,” Mr Duangmala said.“The Nang Sao Makkiengvan (Miss Sweet Orange) contest, which takes place from the end of this month to early January will also feature stalls providing information about tourism, agriculture and other trades,” he added.
Activities for Visit Laos Year 2018 are also set to begin soon.
According to a 2016 statistical report from the Tourism Development Department, Vientiane province has 20 hotels and 249 guesthouses, mostly in Vangvieng district.
Vangvieng is located about 150km north of Vientiane and can be reached in two or three hours by road depending on traffic, road and weather conditions.
Vientiane Times | By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 2, 2017)
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