Vientiane gears up for an exciting Lao New Year
People nationwide are eagerly anticipating the Lao New Year (Pi Mai Lao) festival (Year of the Rooster) next week, with the official holiday taking place from April 14-16. Vientiane is preparing an exciting programme of activities for locals and visitors alike, including a Miss Vientiane contest on April 8, an arts show, a sandcastle building contest, and sports competitions on the sandy shores of the Mekong. The highlight will be a parade of Buddha images but there will be no Miss Lao New Year (Nang Sangkhan) parade as in the past, Chanthabouly district Governor Ms Bualon Vongdalasaen told Vientiane Times on April 4.
