Laos to host music fest

VIENTIANE Laos will organise an international music festival “Vang Vieng Music Fest 2016” in Vang Vieng district, Vientiane province,  16 to 17 December.

The festival organised by Smart Event Organisers and Indee Records, in cooperation with the authorities of Vang Vieng district is now in its second year.

The festival venue will be in front of the iconic Lom cave. The festival’s aim is to promote a tourism focused on culture and art, rather than the  town’s raunchy image presented in the past.

Vang Vieng is a small riverside resort town about halfway on the old highway to Luang Prabang, about 166 km north of Vientiane. It is popular with backpackers who stay there for a few days to enjoy the river scene, and trek to nearby caves. There is a lively nightlife scene that is often criticised for its excesses.

Lao News Agency quoted Smart Event Organisers and Indee Records managing director, Anouluck Pathammavong, saying the festival aims to attract more tourists to visit Vang Vieng.

“Last year was the first time the festival was held and it attracted an audience of about 40,000, mostly from Vientiane.”

He cited: “This year will differ from 2015 because of a new and improved sound system designed for a larger crowd and a more internationally sourced artist roster.”

Many well-known bands, vocalists and DJs from both Laos and neighbouring countries have been invited from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom and South Korea.

The music festival is a new strategy that tourism officials are employing to increase visitors to the town. Tourism in Vang Vieng decreased over the last several years.

The official added that they are cooperating with the police and military to station over 100 officers on security detail during the event.

sourced:ttrweekly.com