PEACE INDEPENDENCE DEMOCRACY UNITY PROSPERITY

EMBASSY OF THE LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
2222 S. Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20008
Tel: (202) 332-6416
Fax: (202) 332-4923

NEWS BULLETIN

March - April, 1998

CONTENTS

1. Laos And Vietnam Sign Cooperation Agreement For 1998

2. US Deputy Assistant Secretary Of State For Law Enforcement Visits Laos

3. Preparations For Irrigation Project In Se Bangfay

4. A Construction Site For A Mekong Bridge Was Inspected

5. Road Construction In Attopeu

6. Construction For The Drainage Channels In The Capital Begins

7. Wattay Airport Runway Project In Progress

8. Work Continues On Hydroelectric Dam In Houaphanh

9. Hydropower Construction Study

10. Lao Embassy In D.C Celebrated Lao New Year 2541

11. New Counter Narcotics Project Agreements Were signed

12. USAID Supports Handicapped Rehabilitation Center

13. Consortium Supports Savings And Loan Project

14. Australian-Lao Cooperation Bears Fruit

15. Capacity 21 Workshop On Sustainable Development Held

16. Foreign Investment In Xiengkhouang

17. Law Enforcement Destroyed Narcotics In Bokeo

18. "Ethnic Groups In Laos" (Continued): The Akha Pouly Tribe

19. Discover The Fertile Land Of Laos' Southernmost Province

Laos and Vietnam have agreed upon cooperation in economy, culture, science, technology, and commerce for 1998. Three agreements was signed during the visit to Laos in March by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam(CPV), Le Kha Phieu.

The first agreement is on economic, cultural, and scientific technological cooperation for 1998. The second agreement is about the principle on management and use of grant aid from the Vietnamese government to Laos, and the third agreement is concerning the commercial cooperation between the two countries.

As for the 1998 cooperation plan, the agreements reinterate the continued training of Lao personnel in different fields by Vietnam. Also brought into discussion were the construction of a road in Laos to the sea in Vietnam, and the construction of agricultural service centers and irrigation facilities in major plains of Laos.

As far as future business cooperation is concerned, the focus should be put on broadening commerce and goods exchange along the border. It was also agreed on entering into a joint venture in combination with a third country for export.

Jonathan M. Winer, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Law Enforcement and Crime in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, visited Laos. The purpose of the visit was to consult with high ranking Lao officials on ways to increase US-Lao counter narcotics cooperation. The Deputy Assistant Secretary visited the Lao-American Opium Crop Control and Development Project in Houaphanh province, northeastern Laos. Among the projects visited were Nam Sarth and Nam Et hydro-electric dam sites in Viengthong district, and the Nam Peun hydro-electric dam in Houameuang district.

The Lao-American Project provides assistance to help farmers in Houaphanh to improve their lives and end their cultivation of opium. The US and Lao government contributions have totaled over 14 million dollars since the project began in 1989.

The construction site of bridge across the Mekong river between Savannakhet province, Lao side, and Mukdahan province, Thai side was inspected.

The construction site for the bridge, spanning across the Mekong river between Savannakhet and Mukdahan, is 5 Km, north of the town, at Songpeuai village, Mukdahan district. On the Lao soil, the site will be at Nakae village, Khanthaboury district. The construction is expected to take place between 2000-2003.

A contract for the construction of three major drainage channels in Vientiane municipality was recently signed in Vientiane between the Vientiane Urban Development Management Committee (VUDMP) and the Hankook Construction & Engineering Co Ltd of South Korea (HCEK).

Construction of the 5.5 billion kip project, which began in March, and will take place over the next 24 months and is expected to be completed by March 2000. Capital for the project derives from loans from the Asian Development Bank and the Lao government. The three drainage channels include Hong Kae Channel, running 3,646 meters from Khouvieng Road on the southern side of Nong Chanh lake joins That Luang Marsh. The length of the cemented portion of this channel is to be 2,817 meters.

Hong Khoua Khao Channel, which runs 2,550 meters from the mouth of Hong Kae channel to the junction of Thadeua road and Khouvieng road at Km-3, includes a 2,322 meter-long cemented portion which has a width ranging from two to six meters wide.

Hongthong channel stretches for 1,784 meters from the junction of Khounboulom road and Thongkhankham road to the Hong Kae channel of which 1,434 meters is to be cemented and will be 1.5 to 6 meters wide. After the construction is completed, the three drainage channels will bear the appearance of the already completed Nam Pasak I canal at Sihom village.

The VUDMP is to assume ownership of the project after HCEK finishes the construction work. Lavalin International of Canada together with Burapha Development Consultants of Lao have been hired as quality control construction work.

The runway renovation project of Vientiane International Airport is part of the overall project for renovation of Vientiane International Airport. The new runway was surveyed and designed in 1995 by Dorsch Consultants of Germany and Naco of the Netherlands.

According to the project manager, the project of runway renovation was started in July 1997 by the contractor Nopawong Construction Co Ltd of Thailand, and the owners of the project are the Ministry of Communication, Transportation, Post and Construction and the Department of Civil Aviation. The total cost of the runway renovation project is US$ 10,648,126. The new runway is 3,000 meters long and 40 meters wide for the first phase of the construction, but when fully completed the runway will be 60 meters wide. Construction has been separated in to three phases. The first phase includes the improvement and enlarging of the taxi way by using asphalt to overlay concrete and the taxi way will be used as temporary runway during the six months of work on the runway.

The second phase includes the improvement and widening of the runway, which will be used as permanent runway by using a 20 cm layer of asphalt to overlay the old concrete. Color paints will be put on and lights installed on the two sides of the runway to give it an international standard.

The runway will be guaranteed for ten years. When the construction of the runway is completed, it will be able to receive big aircraft like the Airbus 340 and the Boeing 747. The renovation of the international runway will take four or five months. The temporary runway will be closed for six months during which the taxi-way will be used for take off and landings, starting on March 1. The construction of the runway is carried out by Nopawong Construction Co Ltd, using a specially trained Lao labor, and some Thai technicians, but Dorsch Consultant of Germany and the Netherlands control the construction.

A construction of the US$ 1,800,000 Nam Sarth hydroelectric dam construction project in Viengthong district, Houaphanh province continues to go smoothly. The project, which began construction on January 5, is part of the Lao-American Integrated Rural Development Project to assist and aid development in Viengthong district.

The Lao Development Construction Company Ltd, is the contractor for the project which is owned by the Lao-American Rural Development Project. The capital for construction has been provided by an aid assistance fund from the US government. The project is expected to be completed in ten months and laborers are working round the clock, in day and night shifts, to complete as much as they can before the onset of the rainy season.

The crest of the new Nam Sarth irrigation dam will be 40 meters long, 4 meters high and 4 meters wide. The dam is designed to use 330 meters long pressure pipe to carry water to the generators to produce the electricity that will supply the Viengthong district and adjacent villages. Also planned is a 2 km long irrigation canal which will feed water to the fields for dry season rice cultivation. Upon completion, the dam will generate 125 kw of electricity for 12 villages in Viengthong district.

At the moment, rural villagers in Viengthong district still face shortages of electricity and are often forced into using lamps and candles in their houses at night. Local people say that they will benefit greatly when the dam is up and running. They look forward most to cultivating dry season rice with irrigation water to be provided by the facilities.

A conference to endorse a report on the feasibility study of the Sekong-Sesane and Nam Theun hydropower development projects was held in Vientiane. The three-day conference studies a report on planning of sustainable hydropower development by using low expenditure for the construction project to meet power demands in the region, the prediction of the demand of electricity production, a study on socio-environmental impacts of the development of hydropower projects. The conference were attended by over 40 representatives of international projects of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.

On April 18, 1998 at the Omni Hotel in Washington D.C, over 1000 guests from as far as Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, California and other states in the United States joined the celebration of the Lao New Year 2541. This year, the celebration was more enjoyable, and interesting. The guests were entertained with performances of traditional Lao dance by the groups of pretty amateurish dancer from Rhode Island; Philadelphia and Virginia. The performances included famous singer from the Lao National Culture Troupe such as BouaNgeune Saphouvong, Malavanh Douangphoummy, Deng Douangdeuane and Sombath. Also joining the program, were Lao American singers, such as Phone Phoumithone (Virginia) , Ketsana (Caligorenia), Phayvanh (Tennessee ), Soukingkham (Canada).... Guests then enjoyed dancing (Lao Traditional Lamvong) accompanied by two Ambassadors of the Lao Embassy in Washington D.C, and Permanent Mission of Laos to the UN in New York.

The Lao New Year was organized by the Lao embassy in Washington DC, and the Permanent Mission of the Lao PDR to the UN in New York. It is important to note that the Traditional Lao New Year celebration this year could not be successfully completed with out the cooperation and support from many friends, organizations and agencies, as listed below. In this occasion, on be half of the organizer, the Lao embassy would like to take this opportunity to express its thanks and gratitude to all donors for their valuable contribution in creating necessary arrangements for the party, in order to preserve our good tradition and culture.

List of the donors

No

Name

Amount $

No

Name

Amount $

1

Mr. Khamvay I. Ramchee

20.00

2

Mr. Soutsavad Senthep

100.00

3

Mr.Southchay Nanthavong

40.00

4

Mr. Seree Weroha

100.00

5

Mr. & Mrs. Outhama

50.00

6

Mr. Khamvanh Malathong

60.00

7

Mr. Chee Chu Sea Chao

40.00

8

Mr. Lay Foung

40.00

9

Mr. Khamphan Sinnason

50.00

10

Mr. Nouphit

20.00

11

Mr. Southi Vongnorad

20.00

12

Mr. Hongphavanh Vatthana

60.00

13

Mr. Somchai Saiyamun

40.00

14

Mr. Banyenh Xiong

50.00

15

Mr. Sychanh Notum

100.00

16

Mr. Khamleck Boupha

50.00

17

Mr. Teum Vongkaysone

30.00

18

Mr. Bounlieng Mounlasy

30.00

19

Mr. Ston Vilayvong

100.00

20

Mr. Phouthome Vongsaly

60.00

21

Mr. Khamthamixay

40.00

22

Mr. Khambo Phommanylat

60.00

23

Mr.Chaleun Alom

50.00

24

Mr. Phonevilay

20.00

25

Mr.Bounhou Xayachack

40.00

26

Mr. Thongdao Vongnophone

21.00

27

Mr.Souban Sisounthone

50.00

28

Mr. Khankap Vongprachanh

50.00

29

Mr.Phonkeo Sayasanh

50.00

30

Mr. Saysana Vongviengkham

50.00

31

Mr. Dennis Briody

75.00

32

Mr. Bounsom Thammayong

75.00

33

Mr. Leck Insixiengmai

50.00

34

Mr. Thavone Vongdara

40.00

35

Mr.Kheuakham S.

30.00

36

Mr. Tom Chanhoumphone

100.00

37

Mr. Bounsom Soukaphone

20.00

38

Mr. Roger Phetmeuangmay

50.00

38. Mr. Thongsai Chanthadouangsy, Lao-American Inc. Illinois.
1. Mr. Anouson Sirisackda, Lao-American,Inc. Vientiane.
2. Mr. Khone Phoutthakesone, New Generation Travel, California.
3. Mr. Thomas Sisaket, Sisaket Furniture, Minnesota.
4. Mr. Sam Veopraseth, V.S.N. International Travel, Virginia.
5. Mr. Christ Bounheuang, Beautiful Asia Travel & Tour, Virginia.
6. Ms. Sivong, Good Luck Tour, California, provided 2 air tickets (VTE-WDC-VTE).
7. Ms. Anna Sitthiphone, Asian Travel & Tour, California, US$ 600.00.
8. Mr. Vang Seng Moua, Universal Travel, California, and Mr. Phaithoun Vongphachanh, Virginia, US$ 1,000.00.
9. Ms. Khamla Luang, Norcross Travel Agency, Inc. Georgia, US$ 515.00
10. Mr. Sengthong Chanthavong, Thai-Lao Travel Service, California, US$ 515.00.
11. Mr. Somphane Saisanavongphet, Olimpic Travel Service, Washington, US$ 300.00.
12. Mr. John B. Meyer, Trip Connection Travel Service, Virginia, US$ 300.00.
13. Mr. Saythaya Sovidaray, Virginia, US$ 300.00.
14. Mr. Thongsai Xaysongkham, K & K Insurance Agency, Inc. US$ 500.00.
15. Mr. Phovieng, Lane Thong Market, US$ 500.00.
16. Deluxe Tours / Air International Travel, US$ 50.00
17. Mr. Nareth Ngamsanith, Virginia, lent a set of Amplifier and musical instruments for the party
18. ASIACOM, Virginia, lent a minibus for a group of singers, from 15 to 23 April.

The Agreements for two new Lao-US counter narcotics projects, worth US$ 950,000 were signed, in Vientiane. The first project is for eradication of opium production in the areas that have received development assistance, so that the farmers are now able to plant other crops or to earn income from sources other than opium. This is in accordance with the Lao law banning opium production for trafficking purposes. The US government will provide US$ 650,000 for this project.

The second project is to upgrade 33 km, of rural road in Na Home region of Beng district, Oudomsay province. The road serves 12 villages in a mountainous area, and will provide better access to markets, health care and education for villagers in Na Home region. This project will help these villagers to move away from opium production and assist in further development of the area. The US government will provide US$ 300,000 for this project.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has increased aid amounting to US$ 870,000 to the Handicapped Rehabilitation Center in Vientiane to continue a war victims assistance project in Xiengkhouang, Houaphanh, Saravane, and Savannakhet provinces.

The project will be jointly implemented by Consortium Laos, a US non-governmental organization and the Handicapped Rehabilitation Center. As a result, a memorandum on the aid project implementation was signed in Vientiane.

The project, scheduled to start this year and end in the year 2000, will carry out activities in upgrading medical surgical and emergency services, unexploded bomb education and community outreach, local capacity building and coordination.

Initially the US aid agency granted a total of US$ 1.6 million in aid to the war victims assistance project in Laos through another US non-governmental organization, World Vision. World Vision implemented this project with the Handicapped Rehabilitation Center from 1990 to 1995.

During that stage, the project focused on improving surgical facilities at Xiengkhouang hospital, Mahosot Hospital, Military Hospital 103 and the Handicapped Rehabilitation Center in Vientiane. Other activities included training staff in surgical/handicapped rehabilitation and orthopaedic services, promoting jobs for the handicapped in the provinces of Houaphanh, Xiengkhouang and Vientiane, and providing materials for artificial limbs production at the Vientiane Handicapped Rehabilitation Center and at the workshops in the five provinces of Luang Phrabang, Xiengkhouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet and Champassak.

In 1997, about US$ 370,000 of the US$1.6 million aid fund was given to Consortium for use in improving and supplying surgical equipment to surgical facilities at three district hospitals in Xiengkhouang, and in education to prevent dangers of unexploded bombs.

Consortium, with support from the UN High Commission for Refugees and under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor and social Welfare, assists returnees in setting up revolving funds and providing training and agricultural inputs. But Consortium doesn't only assist returnees, it also works with poor people to upgrade their lives.

Consortium is a US based grouping of three Non Government Organizations (NGO), Save The Children, World Education and World Learning which has been working in the Lao PDR since 1992, mainly on the Lao Repatriation Program in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare and through an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Recently, the US State Department has provided additional funding to Consortium to support income generation projects in Vientiane municipality. Given that the amount of land available to returnees in the site is limited, Consortium is looking for alternative ways to improve the live-hood of villagers. The Group Guaranteed Lending and Savings project is one of these ways.

The project concerns three villages, namely: Thadindeang, Somsamay and Phon Ngam II in Xaythanee district, Vientiane municipality. Presently, Consortium Lao has activities in the provinces of Luang Phrabang, Vientiane, Sayaboury, Oudomxay, Xieng Khouang, and Vientiane municipality.

The Consortium has experience from activities in several provinces where the organization gave loan to the people but they didn't feel responsible because it wasn't their own money. Presently, Consortium is setting up the GGLS project in which villagers voluntarily contribute their money to the project and take care of it because it is their own money.

The loans will be used to promote the running of family businesses such as agricultural production, livestock and opportunity for villagers to learn such skills as embroidery, rice production, mushroom cultivation and livestock. In fact, the women in each family already do embroidery traditionally but they just do it for family self-sufficiency, instead of running a family business. Therefore, the project will lend them the money and also look for markets.

Basically, the project involves setting up a local management structure for savings and lending. The villagers themselves, with support from the project, decide on how to organize the GGLS. The villagers can become members of the project by organizing a lending and saving group where they can deposit as little as 500 kip/week into the project. Then after three months the group member can take out a loan from the project. This GGLS project aim at promoting saving habits among members as well as providing easy access to loans for income generation.

The Australian government is one of the major donors to many fields of development in Laos and has assisted the country with up to A$ 18 million per year for use on the Lao-Australian development cooperation program from 1994-1998. This period began after the completion of the Lao-Australian Mekong Friendship bridge.

The eighth high level consultations on development cooperation between the Laos and Australia were held in Luang Phrabang. The meeting summarized the activities of the development cooperation program for the past four years and considered their cooperation plans until the year 2002.

According to the meeting, in the past four years, the program funds have supported various development projects in Laos, such as infrastructure projects: construction of four bridges along Road No 1 and three bridges on Road No 13, which used A$ 4 million for 1997. Now the three bridges on Road No 1 are completed and a bridge at Nam Chae (Nam Chaei river) is expected to be completed by May this year. The bridges on road No 13 south will be completed in June this year.

The program has now earmarked one fifth of the total expenditure for the Good Governance sector which includes various fields such as providing computers to the immigration office and training in English language. It also provides funds for studying economics in preparation for ASEAN Free Trade Area membership, especially in the agriculture, industry and service sectors. The program also provided environmental experts to train staff in the Hydropower Office as well as sending staff to study in Australia. The land titling project has now issued 5,000 land titles in Vientiane municipality. The health and rural development project now makes up one fifth of the total program. NGOs such as Save the Children (Australia) and Community Aid Abroad (CAA) have had outstanding success. Infant mortality in Sayaboury is half the national average. CAA is producing some of the most cost-effective irrigation in Laos. Success of NGO projects has led to an effort to replicate these on a larger scale in Houaphanh and Phongsaly provinces. This project started in 1997 and is beginning to show results on the ground.

In the humanitarian field, over 10,000 tones of food were provide by Australia following floods over the past four years (total of A$ 7 million) and A$ 4 million have been committed to unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance and awareness raising. The program's educational projects cover about 38 percent of the total expenditure, representing A$ 5.3 million for 1997. The scholarship project now supports 40 Lao citizens working on degree programs in Australian universities. There is also a shorter term project selecting outstanding provincial students who receive scholarships for preparatory studies at the National University before going on to further study in Australia.

The meeting noted that the program's total expenditure each year is about four times higher than it was ten years ago. The Lao PDR is one of only three countries in the program to have such a high rate of growth at a time when the aid program has been static or in decline.

For the next four years (1998-9 to 2001-2), Australia has pledged its assistance on health and rural development, reform, education, and small-scale rural infrastructure. In 1998-1999, Australia will invest about A$ 17 million into various development projects such as the construction of bridges on Road No13 and Road No 1, with a value A$ 1,452,000. For the same period, the project will devote about A$5,343,000 to developing education, including long term study in Australia, with a value of A$ 4,250,000, short term education and Australian English language training center projects. Australia will spend a total of A$ 5,234,000 on the program's health and rural development project in 1998/99.

The meeting also agreed in principle to a framework for future Australian-Lao development cooperation over the four periods from 1998 to 2002.

Forty five participants from 18 countries in the Asia Pacific Region joined forces to exchange information on implementing sustainable human development at a workshop held in Vientiane. The workshop, sponsored by UNDP and hosted by the Committee for Planning and Cooperation (CPC).

The workshop coincided with the closing of the National Assembly where socio-economic development and poverty alleviation were confirmed as being a nation priority. Information and experiences exchanged at the workshop proved valuable to the government as these priorities are implemented.

Participants at the workshop shared their past experiences and lessons for future implementation of sustainable development programs. The workshop has its origins in a UNDP initiative called Capacity 21. As the name suggests, Capacity 21 was created to assist developing countries in implementing sustainable development into the 21^st century. This arose out of the 1992 Rio Summit on Environment and Development, where Agenda 21, a plan for international action to ensure environmentally sound development into the 21^st century, was endorsed. Capacity 21 assists countries in implementing Agenda 21 and is globally supported by 15 international donors. In the Lao PDR, Capacity 21 will support the government's effort in the implementation and monitoring of rural development policy at the central and local levels.

Four foreign investment projects in Xieng Khouang province have invested about US$ 13 million since 1995. The investments are based on the province's environmental features which suit investment in various fields. A Lao-Thai international farming company has invested in raising dairy cows and improved a ranch with a capital of US$ 760,000 and the province is a ten percent share holder.

Tourism is a part of the province's industrial plan. Xieng Khouang has nice air, there are many sources of natural tourism and historical places that make many tourists within the country and foreigners are interested in visiting.

In addition, this land is also suitable for farming. Many kinds of fruit can be grown. The province encourages Xieng Khouang people to plant rice named Sobo which is used to make Japanese noodles. Japanese investors have invested US$ 500,000 in farming and the government has agreed to give an old 800 hectare farm in Latsene to the company to establish an experimental field station for Xieng Khouang farmers. Another company, Champa Agriculture, has grown peaches experimentally with seeds from Italy and the land has been found suitable. The last project is a large-budget mining exploration project that involves capital from Malaysian, Italian and Thai companies.

The provincial administration of Bokeo destroyed a large quantity of narcotic drugs at a ceremony held at the provincial town in the presence of central authorities, representatives of international organizations and drug experts from Vientiane.

The drugs, comprised of 29 bars of heroin weighing 11.5kg, 113kg of opium in raw form and 48kg of morphine, were seized on January 14 during a raid on a drug refinery located at an area of Ban San Luang, Paktha district, opposite Ban Phatang of Chiangrai province, Thailand. The area is just 2km distant from the Lao-Thai border.

Also seized were more than ten items of chemicals and sets of equipment for use in drug production. The raid was made by the provincial police, and as a result, a group of 17 drug traders were arrested. Among them, nine were Thai nationals and eight were Lao nationals.

The raid on this drug refinery was the second in the province following the one made on a drug refinery at Ban Mom at the Lao-Myanmar border on April 23, 1996. The move was to the satisfaction of local people that the authorities concerned were able to dismantle and destroy a source of narcotic drugs including amphetamines. The destruction of the seized amount of drugs was done by burning, while the chemicals, in powder and liquid, were dissolved with water then poured into a deep hole, which was closed and compacted properly with earth.

The drug destruction form was adopted according to an agreement between the provincial administration, the central drug control authorities from the Ministry of Interior, the National Commission for Drug Control and Supervision and Department of the Food and Drug, Ministry of Public Health.

Concerning the 17 arrested, the local police have filed the case with the court for trial according to Article 135 of the criminal law of the Lao PDR.

The Pouly and Akha tribes belong to the same ethnic group that lives in the mountains of the northern Lao provinces. When Laos was a French protectorate, other ethnic groups used to call this tribe Kharkaw Pouly which means stupid and this was an insult to the tribe. When Laos won its independence in 1975 the name of the tribe was changed back to Akha Pouly or Kaw Pouly.

According to researcher, this tribe moved to Laos because they were exiled by war between Chinese soldiers and tribes. The researcher noted that this tribe originally lived in Yunan, China, then moved to Khan, Myanmar and about 500 years ago they settled in the Lane Xang Kingdom. They crossed the Mekong river to live in the northern provinces. Upon they arrival in Laos, the Pouly divided into two groups, one in Ban Sop Ekao now Sing district, Luang Namtha province and the other in Ban Soppankhao Long district, Luang Namtha and then to Phongsaly province.

This tribe speaks a language in the same family as Tibeto-Burman and according to the 1985 statistics, the tribe has a population of about 58,500. The majority of Pouly practice slash and burn cultivation, planting rice, soy bean, taro, manioc and sesame as well as breeding animals. In the past, this tribe planted opium but now they have stopped. Pigs are very important to them because they use pork for offerings to their ancestors during traditional ceremonies.

The Pouly women have very good handicraft skills like those other ethnic minorities, including weaving and sewing. The head of the tribe used to be quite powerful among the Pouly, and everyone had to obey him, now his power does not extend beyond the village. In the center of their houses, there is always a big wooden pole in the middle of which a shrine is hung to honor the spirits of their ancestors.

Each house has two doors, one for men set up on the east side and the other for women on the west. Women are not allowed to enter or exit from the men's door. The roofs of their houses are covered with grass or big leaves such as banana leaves.

When guests visit the village, they have to be completely dressed, no bare chests or feet, and smoking, whether a cigarette or pipe, is forbidden. A traveler that is just passing through the village must stop over at least a couple of minutes at someone's house as a sign of respect between travelers and villagers.

Before a Pouly home is build they place nine grains of milled rice, salt, silver and ginger on a plate and leave the plate in the hole dug in the ground for the central house pole. If the nine grains of milled rice are still on the plate three days later, they build their house at that location and if not, they cancel their plans and find another place for construction.

The Pouly boys wear black cotton trousers and shirts which are usually handmade by the women. Their long sleeved shirt are decorated with silver buttons and silver trim. The Pouly girls wear short knee-length skirts, a wide cotton waistband and leggings. Their tops are three-layered: a bra-like undergarment with one strap across the chest and shoulder to the back, a long sleeved shirt and sleeveless cotton jacket. Their head-dresses are adorned with different symbols of silver depending on their status as a single girl, married, widowed or divorced woman.

According to local customs, each Pouly village has a self-appointed youth group. They build parks at the north of the village for meeting, relaxing, practicing traditional dance and talking. When a young boy is l5, he has the right to talk with young girls.

The boy's father builds, a small house for his son in front of the main house to allow the son to court the girl he loves. A young Pouly girl of 14 or 15 is allowed to date young men or share a house with a woman who is already separated from her husband.

Young men from one village cannot flirt with girl from another village without asking for permission from the head of the youth group. When the head of the group agrees, the young man can choose a girl he loves. For this occasion, a meeting is held in the park and if a girl chooses to refuse his love she is strongly reprimanded by the courting boy. If a boy flirts with a girl from another village without permission from the youth group he is punished by the youth of the village. If a father dies, all the children are taken care of by the father's side of the family and the wife is free to marry again.

Many of these traditional ceremonies involve superstition and the tribe has been encouraged to change its beliefs. Other, more harmful practices, have been determined against the law. If a girl gets pregnant before the wedding ceremony, she is considered lucky. However, if her fiancee refuses to recognize the paternity of the child, the mother is exiled to give birth to her child alone in the forest. If the mother gives birth to a stillborn child or if twins are born, she is also exiled from the village to live alone in the forest. They believe that these cases are very bad luck for the Pouly women.

The Pouly people also believe that the first man of their tribe married a ghost. Because the wedding ceremony is usually held at the house of the groom, there is no procession of the groom to the house of the bride. There is however a ritual ceremony to expel the "ghost wife ". In this ceremony, the bride dresses up in all black to represent the ghost and as she leaves her house to go to the groom's house, children yell and shout at her along the way.

The bride's cousins and relatives are not allowed to participate in the wedding ceremony or to share any food especially arranged for the wedding day. However, the groom's side provides pork or chicken to serve these quests at the bride's house. The wedding ceremony starts shortly after the bride arrives at the groom's house. During the ceremony, friends of both the bride and groom, including their ex-fiancees, burn dry chilies surrounding the bride in acrid smoke, or they throw rice cakes or eggs at her.

At the end of the ceremony, the bride changes out of her black " ghost suit" and wears a normal Kaw dress. From then on, the bride stays with the groom's family. However, the newlyweds, are not allowed to sleep in the groom's parents' house, unless the parents are already dead. They must sleep in a small hut built for the groom by his parents before the marriage, but the newlyweds come to the parents' house to work, prepare food and have meals with their parents.

A married Pouly woman is not allowed to drink alcohol or have more than one husband yet a married man can have more than one wife at the same time. The second wife's wedding ceremony is bigger than the first and she has a room in the same house.

If the husband wants to separate, he has to buy some silver bowls for his wife's mother in recognition of the care the mother gave to the daughter when she was a child. He must some silver bowls for his wife because he is breaking up the family. If they have had a son together, the husband has to pay silver to the son. If the wife wants to divorce she has to pay silver only half of the amount to her husband and all the property acquired during the couple's marriage is divided in half upon their break-up.

According to Khmer historical records the original name of Champassak was Samphoupra or Samphouphoura. Later, according to Lao documents, it was called Champa Nakhone Boury Sri Champa Nakhone or the city of Champa flower. The earliest people living in this region were Austo-Asiatic people speaking Mon-Khmer languages.

Archaeological sites in the area indicate that it formed part of the strongly Hindu, Pre-Khmer and Khmer Empire cultures, which dominated those parts of Southeast Asia found in today's Vietnam delta, Cambodia, southern Laos and eastern Thailand. The sites date from 3^rd to 13^th centuries AD.

With the weakening of the Khmer Empire in the 13^th century, Champassak was no longer under Khmer rule. At the same time, there was a movement of new ethnic groups into the area, including Tai-Lao peoples. From 1349 Champassak was integrated into the broader Lane Xang Kingdom founded by King Fa Ngoum.

Champassak, one of the 17 provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, shares borders with Saravane province to the north, the Kingdom of Cambodia to the south, the provinces of Sekong and Attopeu to the east and Kingdom of Thailand to the west.

Champassak, located about 610 kilometers south of Vientiane Municipality on road No 13, has an area of 15,415 square kilometers. Champassak province consists of eleven districts, having a population of 514,236 and 18 ethnic minorities.

Champassak is a fertile province with abundant flowers and seasonal fruits, including pineapples, durians, rambutans and peaches. It is also one of the granaries of the country as is illustrated by the local saying:" The waters (of Champassak) are filled with fish and the fields overflowing with rice".

The Khmer have left many traces of their ancient civilization in Champassak. These include Vat Phou or the stone hill temple, located 15 kilometers south of Champassak district and the ancient temple on Asa Mountain at Khet Ngong village. The construction of Vat Phou began perhaps as early as the 3^rd century AD. The temple complex was extensively renovated and enlarged to its present form by the Khmer King Suryavarman I in the 11^th century.

Champassak is also rich in natural resources and lush green forests which are the habitat of rare and endangered animals. It is also blessed with scenic waterfalls such as Khone Phapheng; Li Pi in Ban Khone, Khong district; Tad Fane; Se Katamtok and others.

Champassak is renowned for its robust coffee from Paksong district which makes an ideal souvenir.

This ancient Khmer temple is located about 45 km south of Pakse and 6 km southwest of Champassak district along the Mekong. It is one the most important Hindu sanctuaries of the Khmer Empire period (9^th to 13^th centuries AD). The name Vat Phou means mountain (Phou) temple (Vat), and the core monuments of this site consist of a main temple on the upper terrace, six shrines on the middle terrace, and two so-called "palaces" and a Nandin Hall on the lower terrace. Surrounding the Vat Phou temple complex are the ruins of associated temple monuments such as the Nang Sida temple and Tao Thao temple. These are all connected by a Khmer period road which continues over the mountains behind Vat Phou to other cities of the Empire.

In addition, archaeological remains of an associated extensive ancient city (3^rd to 13^th centuries AD) have been recently discovered in the area adjacent to Vat Phou by French and Italian teams working at the site. This is the first Khmer city site from any period to be scientifically excavated in any country in the region.

A UNESCO-Lao International Project for the Safeguarding of Vat Phou, founded by Japan and Italy began in 1996 and will continue into 1997-98.

On the full moon of the third lunar month (usually in early February), the residents of Champassak celebrate the traditional Vat Phou Festival.

This waterfall lies 161 km south of Pakse on road No 13. Khone Phapheng is the biggest and most beautiful waterfall in Southeast Asia. In the past, Khone Phapheng formed a natural barrier against foreign aggression, and still remains an obstacle for navigation in the Mekong river today.

The Tad Fane Waterfall is a splendid natural tourist site one kilometer from the village called "Km 37" along the Pakse-Paksong road. It is surrounded in beautiful, deep jungle. After the water drops 100 meters, it divides into two streams.

This lowland Lao village is famous for its weaving and especially for its traditional skirts produced using the ikat (mi) technique. The village is located 24 km north of Pakse in Sanasomboune district. Apart from its textiles, Saphai is also known for the remains of the ancient stone temple called Vat Phonsay.

This name refers to a cluster of villages, Khiet Nhong, Bueng Kham and others, located 67 km south of Pakse on road No 13 . The Dong Houa Sao Forest Reserve in this area has dense jungle and abundant wildlife. Elephants can be rented to ride to this forest reserve. The area also has the remains of an ancient Khmer atone temple on Mount Asa.

The Mekong Dolphin Conservation Center is located on Don Khone Island. Tourists are welcome to visit the center and to observe the dolphins, locally called Pakha, which live in the Mekong in that area. To visit the center, visitors must go by road to Veunkham village and then take a boat north a few kilometers.

Champassak food is quite spicy but delicious. Local special food consist of glutinous rice, Lab sin (minced beef), Koypa (minced fish with lemon), Kengpa (fish soup), Pingpa (grilled fish). Fried chicken, noodles and vegetables. European, Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes are also served in many restaurants in Pakse, the capital of Champassak.

Handicrafts made of Lao cotton, silk, wood, fold or silver are popular souvenirs.