Top 3 MOST recommended restaurants in Luang Prabang

There are so many restaurants offering Laotian, Western, Thai, Chinese and Indian food around Luang Prabang. We only select the TOP 3 which are our most favorite restaurants that we highly recommend you try out:

Les 3 Nagas
Sakkarine Road
Located right inside the beautiful Les 3 Nagas Hotel. Nice outdoor atmosphere. Excellent Laotian cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. One of the nicest places in town!

L’ Elephant
Ban Vat Nong, Luang Prabang
This is probably the most stylish place in town. This French restaurant offers a colonial atmosphere for fine dining. Just about every dishes served here are good especially the imported steaks. Prices are relatively expensive (maybe the most expensive in town) but certainly worth it. No air-conditioning. Open from 10.00 a.m.-10.00 p.m. daily. Advance reservation is a must!

Tamnak Lao
Opposite Villa Santi Hotel, Sakkarine Road
Great Laotian food in western-style taste.  Great atmosphere especially out at the balcony overlooking the Sakkarin Road. No air conditioning. Average prices. Open for lunch and dinner only. Advance reservation recommended.

 

Add comment February 9th, 2007

Latest update on Vietnam Visa Exemption

Visa exemption:

* Not more than 30 days: for citizens of Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Laos.
* Not more than 15 days: for citizens of Japan and South Korea, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland. (Vietnamese diplomatic and official passport holders are exempted from visa requirements to enter Japan).

* French citizens holding valid diplomatic passports are exempt from visa requirements when visiting Vietnam and are allowed to stay for up 3 months at one time or on several visits within six months since their first immigration dates. Vietnamese citizens holding valid diplomatic passports also enjoy similar privileges.
* Citizens of Chile and Vietnam holding valid diplomatic or official passports from one of the two countries are exempt from needing entry, exit and transit visas in the other’s territory and are allowed to stay for up 60 days on each visit.

Add comment February 9th, 2007

Bangkok Airways’s Bangkok-Pakse service on the radar

A direct link between Bangkok and Pakse (a southern town of Laos is the gateway to Vat Phou and Phou Assa) is expected to kick up this April 2007, operated exclusively by Thai-privately owned, Bangkok Airways.

Mr. Vang Rattanavong, Laos National Tourism Administration Vice President has confirmed the news during the ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Singapore last week.

According to him, the development of the new air links will boost tourist arrivals to Pakse in the far south.

Source: TTR Weekly

Add comment February 9th, 2007

Furama Resort presented world prestigious award by New York’s Seven Stars and Stripes Inc.

The 5-star Furama Resort Da Nang has become the first 5-star resort in Vietnam to receive the prestigious American “Seven Star and Stripes Award” for best service. 

Furama is the first seaside resort in the central region and the 2nd Vietnamese winner of the world-renowned award. Earlier, Ho Chi Minh City’s 5-star Caravelle Hotel became the first hotel in Southeast Asia to be chosen by the New York-based Seven Stars and Stripes Inc . 

Located in Vietnam’s central Danang city, Furama resort has 198 rooms and suites, overlooking the sea on the one side, and a freshwater swimming lagoon and manicured tropical gardens on the other. 

It has received many other famed awards including The Best Resort in Asia in 2000 by USA Epicurean Magazine, Top Ten Asian Hotels in 2001, the International Award for Tourism, Hotels and Catering Industry 2000-2002, Best Dream Hotel in Asia 2002 by Hong Kong Esquire Magazine, Best Resort by Vietnam Economic Times and The Guide magazine from 2000 to 2005, and Member’s Choice 2004 by World Hotels. 

Established 10 years ago, the Seven Stars and Stripes Inc. annually selects hotels and restaurants with the best services around the world.

Source: VNA 

 

Add comment February 9th, 2007

Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai is voted for the Best-For-Facilities in the Gold List 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller

Here comes the 3rd annual Gold List of Conde Nast Traveller for selection of the hotels around the world that have the following Conde Nast Traveller Gold Standard for:

* Best for Ambience and Design
* Best for Facilities
* Best for Food
* Best for Location
* Best for Rooms
* Best for Services

The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai has been voted by readers of Conde Nast Traveller Gold List 2007 for the Best Facilities this year. 

The Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai; a sublime complex of thatched pavilions in landscaped grounds with rice terraces and mountain views. The leisure facilities that include a serene infinity-edged swimming pool, cookery school, spa and tennis courts. Golf and elephant-back rides are available nearby.

Should you wish to view information about this hotel from our website, please click on to:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/hotel_detail.php?hotel_id=00048&country_id=208&city_id=3

Source: Conde Nast Traveller magazine

 

Add comment February 8th, 2007

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is voted for the Best Hotel (best for facilities) in the Gold List 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller

Here comes the 3rd annual Gold List of Conde Nast Traveller for selection of the hotels around the world that have the following Conde Nast Traveller Gold Standard for:

* Best for Ambience and Design
* Best for Facilities
* Best for Food
* Best for Location
* Best for Rooms
* Best for Services

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi has been voted by readers of Conde Nast Traveller Gold List 2007 for the Best faclities this year.

The Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi is set in the60 secluded acres of paddy fields in northern Thailand, this resort is an architecturally fascinating tribute to the Lanna people (who lived in Laos, northern Thailand and Burma). The Dheva Spa and Ayuvedic Centre has a reception building modelled on a Mandalay Palace, with 2 free-form pools and a fitness centre with yoga pavilion. Other activities include shopping in the purpose-built Thai village and excursions to the surrounding hills.

 

 Should you wish to view information about this hotel, please click on to:

Add comment February 8th, 2007

First snowfall in Lao Cai and Sapa, Vietnam this year

Those of you who are going on the trip to Sapa and Lao Cai should check this out!Cold spells over the weekend reduced temperatures on some mountains in the region to as low as two to four degrees Celsius, said officials from the Lao Cai Meteorology and Hydrology Centre. 

The average temperature in the mountains was around 6 to 7 degrees celcius.At 2 pm last Friday, Sa Pa Town and Sa Pa Commune reported 30 minutes of thin and irregular snowfall. It was the first report of snow this year in Vietnam!

The flurries will be a treat for tourists in the area, however farmers are expected to be hit with cold temperatures affecting crops and flowers for Tet, or the Lunar New Year.Source: Viet Nam News

Add comment February 7th, 2007

Amanpuri Phuket is voted for the Best Hotel (Ambience/Design) in the Gold List 2007 by Conde Nast Traveller

Here comes the 3rd annual Gold List of Conde Nast Traveller for selection of the hotels around the world that have the following Conde Nast Traveller Gold Standard for:

* Best for Ambience and Design
* Best for Facilities
* Best for Food
* Best for Location
* Best for Rooms
* Best for Services

Amanpuri Phuket has been voted by readers of Conde Nast Traveller Gold List 2007 for the Best Ambience and Design this year.

The original Amanresort (built in 1988) is hidden in a coconut plantation on Phuket above a stunning white-sand beach and overlooking the Andaman Sea.The Thai-chic interior design, the first of its kind in Thailand, has a timeless quality. The villas have dining salas and private pools.

Should you wish to view the information about this hotel from our website, please click on to:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/hotel_detail.php?hotel_id=00013&country_id=208&city_id=28

Add comment February 7th, 2007

The new Evason Ana Mandara Villas & Spa has launched its soft opening in Dalat

Fully restored French colonial style villas of which most are over 80 years old, set in the rural Vietnamese highlands overlooking the picturesque city of Dalat….a truly unique experience not to be found anywhere else in Asia awaits. With phase one completion for the soft opening for Evason Ana Mandara Villas & Six Senses Spa at Dalat on December 20, 2006. Initially a total of 5 accommodation villas comprising 19 luxurious suites, studios and rooms restored to their original colonial splendor will be available. Each villa also has its own private dining and living room area and will also have their own butler and housekeeper to service guests during their stay.

To view full information about this hotel from our website, please click on the below link:

http://www.orientalcompass.com/hotel_detail.php?hotel_id=00416&country_id=229&city_id=10

Guest facilities/services will also be fully operational including:

“Nine�  Offering inside and outside dining with the focus on modern European, Asian fusion cuisine. Add the spectacular high ceilings, enormous French style shutters and doors, a large central fireplace, and a blend of modern uplifting and classical décor…. a one of a kind dining experience awaits! “Wine Bar @ Nine�  Classy and chick this stylish bar will offer a selection of New World Tapas as well an extensive wine and beverage choices in a relaxed, colonial style atmosphere. 

“Courtyard Café @ Nine� Large outdoor area with a relaxed feel resembling something of a French style café with a Vietnamese flavour. On offer will be extensive coffee and hot drink selections as well as light meal choices such as large selections of patisseries and baguettes.  “In Villa Dining�  Guests have the option of dining in their room or in the dining room of the villa or at the outside barbecue area. The choice is yours. Extensive villa dining options will be available for breakfast, lunch or dinner. 

“Pool Bar� Full serviced bar offering light food choices. 

“Six Senses Galler” Offering Six Senses products as well as unique items from Vietnam and Dalat in particular 

 

 

Add comment February 7th, 2007

Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and the re-opening of Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport

On February 06 2007, the Thai Government agreed in a Cabinet meeting to a partial re-opening of Don Muang Airport to offset the problems that have arisen at the new Suvarnabhumi Airport, not only for some domestic routes as had been discussed before, but now also to some international routes. 

 

Which airlines and flights that will move back to Don Muang will be decided in the next 2 weeks (around February 21 2007) 

 

The partial re-opening of Don Muang’s services will commence 45 days later (about the first weekend in April, before the Songkran holiday rush) 

  

Suvarnabhumi Airport will retain its BKK airport code 

Don Muang’s Airport code is DMK 

  

Depending on which airlines will transfer back to operate at Don Muang, there could be some implications for us all and the services we provide. As soon as we have further news we will let you know. 

  

As always our 2 local English language daily newspapers are a good source to keep abreast of further news and developments: 

 

Bangkok Post

http://www.bangkokpost.net/ 

 

The Nation

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/ 

  

 

Add comment February 7th, 2007