25th SEA Games, Laos

The SEA Games Transportation Committee on Tuesday announced transport arrangements for the event.

Committee representative Mr Chanxay Vinavong said traffic arrangements need to be implemented to facilitate transportation during the games, particularly on the days of the opening and closing ceremonies.

“Those days in particular will involve a lot of traffic as it is expected at least 20,000 people will attend so we hope to minimise disruptions and make transport more convenient for everyone.”

The committee reported that all delegations, officials and athletes participating in the opening and closing ceremonies on December 9 and 18 should use Lane Xang Avenue Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue, the Dongdok road and Road 13 South to get to the National Stadium before parking in a designated parking lot.

Spectators coming from the north should travel through Tanmixay village in Xaythany district, and take the newly constructed road to the Udomphon junction where they should turn right onto Road 10 before turning left at Dontiew water tank onto the new road.

This will take them to the Viengving parking area in front of the National Stadium.

People coming from the south should travel to the stadium via central Vientiane . They should turn left at Km21 and pass through Khoksa-ard, Nakhuay and Huakhua junctions or Khoksa-ard, Ban Xok, Xamkhe, and Vangxai junctions, and Nongnieng and Huakhua villages to enter Vientiane .

They can also turn right at Km19 through Dongbang and Ladkhuay to Udomphon junction, drive along the new road until Tanmixay junction and then carry on until they reach central Vientiane .

Mr Chanxay said that parking areas are available for all vehicles outside the stadium.

Vientiane Traffic Police and Fire Fighting Division Chief, Lieutenant Colonel Salong Seng-Athid, said the traffic arrangements will help to reduce traffic jams during the games.

“I'd like to ask people to follow these arrangements on the days of the ceremonies. Traffic will be the same as usual on days without big matches at the main stadium.”

The committee plans to install directions to assist motorists.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath

The Lao Association of Travel Agents has confirmed its readiness to provide bus and hospitality services during the SEA Games next month. The association held a meeting this week to publicise its progress in the provision of services to guests as well as the performers, students and volunteers who will be involved with the games. Association President Bouakhao Phomsouvanh said that after the preparation of staff and vehicles, the association was now confident it would be able to provide convenient and friendly services for guests.

Tourism officials have been trained in foreign language and service skills. Drivers also play an important role in providing a positive impression and have been trained to provide the best of local hospitality. Mr Bouakhao said the games were considered an important test for member businesses as well as the association as a whole, as it was the first time they would be providing services at such a large event. They needed to be prepared and ensure the efficiency of their vehicles and personnel, he said. He said Laos had an ideal location and could offer many tourist attractions in terms of culture, history and natural beauty.

“We will take this opportunity to attract visitors through our tourism promotions to get guests to understand more about Laos, especially focusing on peace and security in the country.” From October 3 until the opening of the games, the association is using between 50 and 75 buses with a capacity of between 35 and 45 passengers to ferry volunteers between the city and outlying venues. During the games from December 9 to 18, the association will use 159 buses to transport athletes and performers. More buses will be used to take athletes to and from the borders of Vietnam and Cambodia.

The association has arranged for staff to be stationed at six key locations to provide information about tourism and advise guests how to get to their intended destination. These will also act as hubs for tours of the capital which will be available every day in the morning and afternoon.

The association is also promoting tours to other places in the nation prior to and after the games. Thirteen tours will be offered for those wanting to travel around Laos.

(KPL) The Public Health Service of Yunnan Province, China, presented two ambulances and medical equipment, totally worth one billion yuans, to support the service of Lao medical staffs during the 25th SEA Games, to be held in Vientiane next month.

The handover ceremony for the package was held on Tuesday at the National Sports Committee Office in Vientiane and was witnessed by Standing Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad, and Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Pan Quangxue, among others.

The package was handed by Ms. Xu Heping, Deputy Head of Public Health Service of Yunnan province, and received by Dr. Eksavang Vongvichith, Deputy Minister of Public Health of the Lao PDR.

The SEA Games Organising Committee has prepared 47 hectares of parking space at the National Stadium, where the main events will take place.


About 10 hectares of land owned by the Ministry of Information and Culture, and an additional 14 and 13 hectare lots are being operated by Vietnamese companies, said the Vientiane Department of Public Works and Transport's Deputy Director, Mr Chanxay Vinavong.

The car parks should hold around 10,000 vehicles, enough for the number of expected spectators.

On the busiest days, such as the opening and closing ceremonies or the most popular sporting events, vehicles including buses, vans and pick-up trucks wanting to access the city centre from the north of Vientiane should take Sithong Road or Souphanouvong Avenue , Mr Chanxay advised.

He said another approach could be via the Nongbeuk-Dongdok Road , turning right at Tanmixay crossroads. Sports spectators should take the new road through Oudomphon, Lathkuay and Dongbang villages, ending in a turn right at the stadium.

Vehicles coming from Road No. 10 (Ban Keun) into the city centre should pass Thangone village and turn right at Phonsavanh to the Tanmixay crossroads, via Huayteuay, Nonsengchan, Viengkeo and Natom villages.

Spectators wishing to get to the stadium should turn left into Oudomphon, Latkhuay-Dongbang Road then turn right at Km 19 on Road No. 13 south and park in the new car park.

Vehicles coming from other countries should also use this route, Mr Chanxay said.

Vehicles coming from Sangthong district and Xayaboury province should take Road No. 11 into the city centre, and then turn right at the Sikhay junction onto Souphanouvong Avenue .

Another route into central Vientiane would be along Tadmoon Road turning right at Nongtaeng junction, or from Road No. 13, turning left on to Sithong Road through Dongnaxok village.

Mr Chanxay said people wanting to get to the stadium should proceed along Kaoliew Road and turn left at the Sikhay junction, or take the Tadmoon-Nongtaeng road and turn left on Road No. 13 and then take the next right along the Nongbeuk-Dongdok road then turn left at Tanmixay crossroads into new road and take Oudomphon through Latkhuay-Dongbang Road then turn right at Km 19 on Road No. 13 south and park in the new car park.

People arriving from the south or from neighbouring countries should follow Road No. 13 south to the National Stadium.

Vehicles wanting to access the city centre should turn left at Km 21 and take Khoksa-aat Road through Nakhuay village to Huakhua junction, or take the Khoksa-aat-Ban Xok-Samkhe Road to Vangsai junction into Nongnieng village to Huakhua junction.

They could also turn right at Km 19, take the Dongbang-Latkhuay Road via Oudomphon crossroads and then take the new road to Tanmixay crossroads.

Trucks weighing more than 21 tonnes wanting to access the city centre should use the same route. To go north, should use this route then turn right onto Nongbeuk Road or turn right at Oudomphon crossroads.

Spectators taking public transport to the stadium would travel along Kaysone Phomvihane Road to Km 13 south then stop or turn at the stadium.

Mr Chanxay said private vehicles should take the Nongnieng or Huakhua route through Nakhuay or Samke-Ban Xok and Khoksa-aat villages then turn left at Km 21 onto Road No. 13.

Private vehicles could also take the new road at the Tanxixay crossroads through Oudomphon crossroads and Dongbang-Latkhuay Road , then turn right at Km 19.

Vehicles from neighbouring countries should use the same route.

For the Beungkhayong Sports Centre, spectators should park at Beungkhayong Park or Vat Phaxay.

For the Chao Anouvong Stadium, vehicles should park at the National Culture Hall, the National Museum or along the roadside, Mr Chanxay said.



By Khamphone Syvongxay

Vientianetimes

Laos and Thailand signed agreement to open the new bus route Korat-Vientiane in order to promote tourism during the 25th SEA Games in Laos the end of this year.

The signing ceremony was held in Nakorn Rajsima province, norther eastern part of Thailand. The signing was conducted between the deputy director of the transportation department of Laos, Mr. Vilayphanh Xaiyavong and the transport expert from Thailand, Mr. Saivat Thongkhamkoun.

This is a sixth bus route between Thailand and Laos, after the opening of bus route from Nongkhai - Vientiane, Oudon Thany - Vientiane, Khon khaen - Vientiane, Oubon Rajthani - Vientiane, and Moukdahan - Savannakhet.

The new bus route from Nakorn Rajsima to Vientiane is expected to be finished by November this year.

Mr. Vilayphanh revealed that the preparation for the 25th SEA Games is going well and this new bus route will facilitate the tourism between Laos and Thailand, especially during the SEA games.

The bus service from Nakorn Rajsima to Vientiane can accommodate large group of passengers. The other bus route services between Thailand and Laos has become very popular among thai passengers who can visit Laos easily, and for Lao people who want to come shopping in Thailand, to work or to go to Bangkok.