WHAT'S NEW

Are you planning a break in Luang Prabang? Then make sure you add a relaxing boat trip to your itinerary. This summer, Banana Boat is offering 15% off for all Sabaidee

readers who book direct. There are many trips to choose from. Take the more scenic trip to Kuangsi waterfall via the Mekong, it's the most popular trip, departing at 11am and returning at sunset when the river is really alive. There are also trips to Pak Ou caves, via whiskey and handicraft villages, or you could choose to ride an elephant. If you’re short on time you can always enjoy a sunset cruise, with Lao snacks, sodas and beers – a great way to finish the day. Private charters and family discounts also available. For bookings and information visit www.bananaboatlaos.com, send an email through the contact page, visit the Ma Té Sai shop in Ban Aphai, or call 071 260 654 or 020 2295 9091. Quote the promo code ‘SABAIDEE15’ to receive the discount.

BANANA BOAT’S Summer Special

Lao Telecom recently awarded their highest selling distributors nationwide with a teambuilding holiday to Phuket, Thailand. The four day, three night trip was hosted by Wonderland Tour Company and led by Mr Kingkeo Vangkaneng, Mr Piyavat Chariyasetthaphong and Mr Souphat Bakava, the Deputy Director of Lao Telecom. Around 130 people attended, including the distributors and division and sector heads. The aim of the holiday was to reward Lao Telecom distributors who have made outstanding sales and achieved targets, and to strengthen the relationship between the company and its distributors. This is the second reward-based holiday Lao Telecom has arranged in 2014, with another group of high-performing distributors holidaying in Seoul, South Korea.

Lao Telecom REWARDS DISTRIBUTORS

TAEC Boutique opens this month on the peninsula in Luang Prabang. The boutique retail space of the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre specialises in exclusive handcrafted products direct from ethnic minority groups across Laos. Located on the main street in Luang Prabang, just across from Villa Santi Hotel, TAEC Boutique will feature the TAEC Heirloom Collection, with one-of-a-kind textiles, carvings and silver. Each museum-quality, collector’s item piece will include a certificate of authenticity. Open seven days a week from 9am-9pm, be sure to visit the TAEC Boutique the next time you visit Luang Prabang. For more information contact TAEC Boutique on shop@taeclaos.org.

TAEC OPENS BOUTIQUE

| Photo Shayling Ngo. |

A fresh and funky new burger joint has opened in Vientiane. A collaboration of the brains behind Pimenton and Jazzy Brick, Sputnik Burger is a welcome addition to the city’s dining scene. The restaurant is a retro ode to pop culture with Banksy-esque street art adorning the walls, industrial-style steel furniture, 1980s tunes pumping through the speakers, and the soon-to-be-iconic Volkswagen Beetle dining tables lining the entrance. The mouth-watering burgers, in an array of inventive flavours, are all served with hand cut chips in simple but unique cardboard boxes. The eponymous Sputnik Burger (45,000 kip) is a must-try with a succulent, tender beef patty, Swiss cheese, crispy bacon, gourmet greens and delectable caramelised onions. Pop into Sputnik Burger on Rue Setthathirath from Monday to Saturday, 11am-11pm. For more information, or to get your hands on their hip merchandise including t-shirts and caps, contact 03 0937 6504 or visit www.facebook.com/SputnikBurger.

Sputnik Burger LANDS IN VIENTIANE

Couleur D’Asie has reopened their boutique after relocating a hop, skip and jump from their previous location, to Rue Nokeokumane in downtown Vientiane, and the new space has allowed for the addition of an exquisite tearoom. The store lives by the concept of being able to buy everything you see. From the vibrant handmade dresses designed by owner Viviane Inthavong down to the cutlery on the dining tables, it is a shopper’s heaven. Open every day from 8am until midnight, by day, Couleur D’Asie creates a relaxing atmosphere where you can enjoy a comforting cup of tea while browsing the endless knickknacks hidden in every corner of the store. As the sun sets, the tearoom transforms into a hip lounge where friends can come together to relish a cheeky glass of champagne and a simple French or Asian meal. For more information please contact viviane.alth@gmail.com.

THE Colours OF ASIA

On a misty morning in mid-October, Luang Prabang’s daily procession of barefoot, saffron-clad monks will cross paths with a troupe of trainer-sporting, neon-clad runners who will hit the scenic streets of the UNESCO Heritage Town to raise money for a new children’s hospital. The Luang Prabang Half-Marathon ‘La Procession’ will take place on October 12, 2014. This year, runners will be lacing up their sneakers to support the construction of the Lao Friends Hospital for Children, which aims to provide high-quality health care for the children of Laos. One of the race’s sponsoring hotels, Villa Maly, is welcoming runners in town for the half-marathon with a special deal over the nights of October 11 and 12, 2014. A 33-room boutique hotel nestled in a former royal residence just outside the heritage town, Villa Maly’s Runners’ Package features two nights’ stay in a superior room with breakfast, pre- and post-race massages, round-trip airport pickups and transport to and from the race’s starting line. Rates for the package start at US$300 per room for single occupancy and US$438 for double sharing. For enquires about Villa Maly’s Runners’ Package, visit www.villa-maly.com or email info@villa-maly.com. Full details about the race and registration are available at www.luangprabanghalfmarathon.com.

Villa Maly ROLLS OUT RED CARPET FOR LA PROCESSION

| Photo Shayling Ngo. |

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