25th SEA Games, Laos

(KPL) Thirty per cent of tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games have already been booked by authorities of ministries and state and domestic and foreign private sectors.

Mr. Phankham Vongkanthi, Director of the Vongkanthi Construction Company, SEA Games Ticket Agent, said last week that after the company signed a concession for distributing the tickets of the 25th SEA Games, the tickets have been already booked by 30 percent. Tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies of the 25th SEA Games, at the new complex stadium, Dong Sang-hine village (at KM 16), Saythany district, Vientiane Capital, are available for sale with 500,000 kip of VIP seat, 400,000 kip for type B seat, 300,000 kip for type C and 200,000 kip for type D.

Here are the prices of tickets to different sport events. Tickets for football matches, for both male and female, cost 100,000 kip, 70,000 kip and 50,000kip, respectively.

The tickets to boxing event at Beungkayong indoor stadium is 50,000 kip per person. And the tickets to other kinds of sports cost 30,000 kip and 20,000 kip per person.For further information, interested people can call 021 260 458, 260459, or 020 6990635, the Ticket Sales Office of the 25th SEA Games, at the Sibounheuang village, Chanthaboury district, Vientiane Capital.The tickets will be on sale on 20 October and at the venues.

Tourism agencies from around the country are working with the Lao Association for Travel Agencies (LATA) to promote tourist attractions to visitors during the 25th SEA Games this December.

The association will gather information on tourist attractions from various provincial travel agencies before creating tourist guide books for use by visitors during the games.

“We have already received a lot of information and we will now select the best ideas to put into booklets for SEA Games visitors, a member of the association's Management Committee, Mr Inthy Deuansavanh, said yesterday

“The guide to Vientiane will include That Luang Stupa, Patuxay Monument , and Sisaket, Hor Phra Keo and Xiengkhuan temples as well as Talat Sao Shopping Mall, many handicraft shops and the night-bazaar which is currently under construction,” he said.

Mr Inthy said a guide book for Vientiane province will also be produced and would include Nam Ngum Dam, kayaking at Hin Heub and also Vangvieng.

“We will also bring out a guide to Borikhamxay province that will cover Phou Khao Khuay protected area where visitors can see wild elephants,” he said.

The association will meet with the Vientiane Tourism Department to discuss the proposed guide books.

The LATA will print 10,000 of the guidebooks for free distribution during the event.

Mr Inthy said the association also plans to set-up tourist information desks at various locations throughout Vientiane during the games.

The Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) has conducted a survey on the readiness of the hospitality sector ahead of the games.

The LNTA believes more than 6,300 people will visit Laos during the games including delegates, media representatives and athletes.

The administration reported that there are 95 hotels with 3,616 rooms and 169 guesthouses with 2,474 rooms in central Vientiane . Another 26 hotels with 966 rooms and the SEA Games Athletes' Village with 4,000 rooms are currently under construction.

The LNTA will also arrange for tours to sites of cultural, national, historical and archaeological interest in the capital, Vientiane and Borikhamxay provinces for visitors during the games.


By Souknilundon Southivongnorath
Vientianetimes