LAO PEOPLE S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity LOGISTIC NOTE

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1 LAO PEOPLE S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity LOGISTIC NOTE The 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting 27 th November 2015 International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC, KM5) Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR And The Field Visit 25 th 26 th November 2015 Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR This logistic note aims to provide the participants of the 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting (12 th HL RTM 2015) with necessary information about the Lao People s Democratic Republic (the Lao PDR) and on practical and administrative matters relating to the meeting such as weather, visas and arrival arrangements, accommodation, transport, banking, and health facilities. Please note - some information on this logistic note might be revised based on discussions with various stakeholders. Therefore, if any changes happen, you will be advised accordingly. I. 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting (27 th November 2015 Vientiane, Lao PDR) 1. Date and Venue The 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting (12 th HL RTM 2015) will take place on: 27 th November 2015 Venue: International Cooperation and Training Center, Vientiane, Lao PDR Time: 08:00am to 16:30pm For more information about the meeting, please visit For location of the Meeting, please refer to Annex 1 for the map. 2. Seating Arrangements Delegations are seated in English alphabetical order, with the head delegation to the front. Page 1

2 One seat will be allocated for those delegations who represent various organizations and agencies such as the UN, INGO network, NPAs, Private Sector, etc. 3. Photo Sessions during the 12 th HL RTM During the morning session of the 12 th HL RTM, there will be two photo sessions with the Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR, UNDP Administrator and UNDP Director of Asia and Pacific First session is for Lao Ministers/Vice Ministers and Governors/Vice Governors Second session is for Head Delegations of Development Partners/Ambassadors and Heads/Deputy Heads of International Organisations 4. The 12th HL RTM Welcome Reception Hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR On 26 th November 2015, there will be The Gala Evening Reception for all HL RTM delegates hosted by the Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR. Key information of this Reception is as follow: Venue: Lao Plaza Hotel Time: 19:00-20:30 Dress code: Smart casual Reservation: Ms. Phaykham Songvilay, Director of Administration and Coordination Division, DIC/MPI at her mobile: ; or The Gala Evening Reception, hosted by His Excellency Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will take place at Lao Plaza Hotel. Transportation from your hotel to the Gala evening reception could be arranged if needed. Please notify the 12 th HL RTM Committee well in advance if you need the service. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let the Protocol Committee know via ing 5. Registration and Delegation The 12 th HL RTM delegates are requested to register your participation in the attached Registration Form as per Annex 2 of this Logistic Note. Please kindly submit this Registration Form to the RTP Secretariat via rtpsecretariat@gmail.com or by Fax: by 20 th November 2015 at the latest. If you have any questions or queries, please contact Ms. Bangthong Thipsomphanh, Director of Europe-America Division, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment at Mobile: ; or tbangthong@yahoo.com 6. Translation Simultaneous translation in Lao and English will be available throughout the 12 th HL RTM. Page 2

3 7. Visa Requirements For the 12 th HL RTM delegates will need to travel to Lao PDR to attend the meeting and its associated events, visa to Lao PDR can be obtained from Lao Embassies and Consulates if available in your country. Alternatively, visas can be obtained on arrival at major international checkpoints: Wattay International Airport or Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Vientiane-Nong Khai Border). To help facilitate this, there will be a special visa service counter for the registered 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting participants locating in the Wattay International Airport, and the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge. The 12 th HL RTM Protocol Committee will meet participants on arrival gate at the airport to assist you on related matters concerning visa and checking through customs. The visa on arrival is valid for 30 days. For those wishing to extend their stay, you will need to request for visa extension at the Immigration Office located next to the Joint Development Bank, opposite the Morning Market. To obtain a visa on arrival, please bring one passport size photo (3x4) 8. Airport Transfer The 12 th HL RTM Committee will stand by for making pick-up arrangements at Wattay International Airport and Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge (Vientiane-Nong Khai Border). If you would like to request the Committee to help transfer you to your accommodation, please provide itinerary details through ing rtpsecretariat@gmail.com 9. Hotels and Accommodation While you will be responsible for your own accommodation, you may wish to consider some of the following hotels in Vientiane as recommended by the 12 th HL RTM Committee as security arrangements will be made available at these hotels. Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel Donchan Road, Thatkhao Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane Capital Tel: Fax: info@landmarkmekonghotel.com.la Website: Don Chan Palace Hotel No.6 Rue Fa Ngum, Ban Piawat Sisattanak District Tel: Fax: info@donchanpalacelaopdr.com Page 3

4 Web: Lao Plaza Hotel 63 Samsenthai Road Vientiane Lao PDR Tel: Fax: Web: Green Park Boutique Hotel 248 Khouvieng Road Tel: Fax: Web: Parkview Executive Suites Souphanouvong Avenue Tel: Fax: Web: Mercure Unit 10 Samsenthai Road P.O.Box 585 Samsenthai Road, Sikhotabong Tel: Fax: The Best Western Hotel 2-12 Francois Nginn Road Tel: Web: Settha Palace 6 Pang Kham Street Tel: Fax: Web: 10. Lunch provided during the 12 th HL RTM During the 12 th High Level Round Table Meeting on 27 th November 2015, lunch will be provided. If you have any specific dietary requirements, please let the Protocol Committee know via ing rtpsecretariat@gmail.com Page 4

5 11. Transportation The 12 th HL RTM Committee will stand by at the recommended hotels, at the meeting venue (the National Conference Center) and at the Lao Plaza Hotel - a venue of the 12 th HL RTM Welcome Reception to arrange transportation services in needed by the HL RTM delegates. Page 5

6 II. Field Visit (25 th -26 th November Bolikhamxay Province, Lao PDR) 1. Travel and transportation to Bolikhamxay Province The registered HL RTM participants are recommended to travel to Bolikhamxay as a group led by the 12 th HL RTM Committee who will ensure security arrangements are in place for the field trip. Some necessary information could be found as follow: Departure date: 25 th November 2015 Meeting location and time: Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel at 12:45 Departure time: 13:00 Arrival time: 15:30 2. Development activities to be visited by the RTM delegates Three sites are selected for the 12 th HL RTM field visits (Bolikhamxay) which cover the scope of health, education, food and nutrition security and UXO activities. 1. Thaphabard District visiting the UXO clearance site and observing the clearance activities Supported by Solidarity Service International (SODI) and Anti-Personnel Landmines Detection Product Development (APOPO). 2. Bolikhun District visiting district water supply system for local communities (implications for food and nutrition security activities) Supported by South Korea. 3. Parksun District visiting Provincial Hospital observing maternal and child health related activities, and related activities of the Multisectoral (Convergence) approaches to address Food and Nutrition Security Supported by Luxembourg. 3. Hotel and accommodation in Bolikhamxay Province To ensure availability of accommodation in Bolikhamxay province, the DIC/MPI in collaboration with Bolikhamxay provincial authorities recommend Sokbounma Hotel, Senghoungheuang Hotel and Vongvilay Hotel. To ensure a convenience in terms of transportation, security reasons and other logistic arrangements, it is highly recommended that participants stay at these hotels. If you choose to stay at other hotels rather than Sokbounma Hotel, Senghoungheuang Hotel and Vongvilay Hotel, please kindly notify the organizing team in advance by ing the contact persons as listed at the end of this note and copy the RTP secretariat (rtpsecretariat@gmail.com) your communication. While the DIC will be assisting in booking and arranging the stay, participants will be responsible for their own accommodation cost. Information of these hotels is listed below: 1. Sokbounma Hotel features totally 34 rooms including 02 VIP suites, 22 Single Superior (one bed) and 06 Twin Room (double beds). Rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with clean private bathroom with hot water, satellite color TV and free WIFI. The room rate is 320,000 Kip (US$ 40) for VIP Suites, 220,000 Kip (US$ 27) for Single Superior and 170,000 Kip (US$ 21) for twin room per night including breakfast. For more details and booking, please contact: Mobile: ; or Tel: Page 6

7 ; or or or Website: 2. Senghoungheuang Hotel features totally 34 rooms including 02 VIP suites, 06 Single Superior (one bed), 17 Single Standard (one bed) and 09 twin room (double beds). Rooms are air-conditioned and equipped with clean private bathroom with hot water, satellite color TV and free WIFI. The room rate is 250,000 Kip (US$ 31) for VIP Suites, 170,000 Kip (US$ 21) for Single Superior and 120,000 Kip (US$ 15) for both single standard and twin room per night including breakfast. For more details and booking, please contact: Mobile: ; or Tel: ; or Vongvilay Hotel features totally 19 rooms which are all single standard (one bed) and equipped with clean private bathroom with hot water, tea and coffee, satellite color TV, air-conditioning and free WIFI. The room rate is 100,000 Kip (US$ 13) per night excluding breakfast. For more details and booking, please contact: Mobile: or Tel: A courtesy visit to the Governor of Bolikhamxay Province Date: 25 th November 2015 Time: 16:00 16:45 The delegates will be accompanying to pay a courtesy visit to the Governor of Bolikhamxay province right after arrival in the province before checking in at the hotels. 5. Hospitality and meals during the field visit During the field trip programmes, lunch and dinner will be provided for participants. A Dinner reception and Baci ceremony will be held on the night of 25 th November 2015 and it will be hosted by the Bolikhamxay s Governor. In addition, lunch will be provided on 26 th November 2015 and it will be hosted by the Department of Planning and Investment, Bolikhamxay Province. Note: For special dietary requirements, please kindly notify the RTP secretariat at (rtpsecretairat@gmail.com) and the key contact officials as highlighted in this concept note. 6. Reception and Baci Ceremony A Dinner reception and Baci ceremony will be held on the night of 25 th November 2015 and it will be hosted by the Bolikhamxay s Governor. Venue: the Provincial Governor s Office Time: 18:30 21:00 Dress code: Smart casual Reservation: Ms. Phaykham Songvilay, Director of Administration and Coordination Division, DIC/MPI at her mobile: ; or Phaykham_2003@yahoo.com Page 7

8 7. Travel and transportation back to Vientiane 26 th November 2015 The registered HL RTM participants are recommended to travel back to Vientiane Capital as a group led by the 12 th HL RTM Committee who will ensure security arrangements are in place for the field trip. 8. Dress Code You are advised to wear comfortable clothes and shoes during the field visit. Some areas are not appropriated for high heels. There would rain during the visit. So, you might need to bring an umbrella with you. Page 8

9 III. About Lao PDR and the Capital City - Vientiane 1. Overview Lao PDR is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochina peninsula in Southeast Asia, covering an area of some 236,800 square kilometers with predominantly mountainous terrain. The population of Lao PDR is approximately 6.5 million (2012), and with the population density of around 26 people per square kilometer. Lao PDR shares borders with China to the North, Cambodia to the South, Vietnam to the East, Thailand to the West and Myanmar to the North West. The Country stretches for 1,700 km north to south, with an east-west width of over 500 km at its widest and 140km at its narrowest point. Vientiane is the capital and largest city of Lao PDR. The city is located in central part of the country and on the banks of the Mekong River. It is a city steeped in legend and history with a population of approximately 754,000. The official language is Lao, with communication in French, English, Chinese and Vietnamese also common in many parts of the country. 2. Weather The end of October marks the change from the wet to the dry season in Lao PDR. Temperatures in Vientiane range from around degrees Celsius during the day to around degrees Celsius at night. If travelling further North of the country, temperatures in mountainous areas during the dry season can drop to as low as zero degrees Celsius at night. For Bolikhamxay province, the tropical monsoon climate of Bolikhamxay has average temperatures ranging from 21 degrees C to 31 degrees C. The mountainous areas, Khamkeut District, generally stay much cooler with average temperatures of 11 degrees C during winter. Bolikhamxay's rainy season is from May to September, while the dry season is from October to April. 3. Thatluang Festival The 12 th HL RTM coincides with Thatluang festival in Vientiane. The Golden Stupa or Pha That Luang is the national symbol and most important religious monument in Lao PDR and Vientiane s most important Buddhist festival is Boun That Luang. The That Luang Festival is held over three-seven days during the full moon of the twelfth lunar month (November, but sometimes October). 4. Time Zone Lao PDR Standard Time is 7 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+7) Page 9

10 5. Banking Facilities and Currency Several ATMs are available throughout Vientiane and Credit cards (VISA, AMEX and Master Card) are widely accepted at several hotels, vendors and some restaurants. The local currency of the Lao PDR is called Kip. Currency exchange is available at airports, local banks and exchange bureaus. The current exchange rate as at November is 1 USD = 8,165 Kip, 1 Euro = 8,955 Kip. For more information on exchange rate, please visit: 6. Medical Facilities Currently, Vientiane has four key standard medical facilities: the Mahosot Hospital, Sethathirath Hospital, French Clinic and the Australian Embassy Medical Clinic. They are available for appointments. Delegates are advised to take precautions against mosquito bites to protect themselves from Malaria and Dengue fever. French Clinic (including dental clinic) Address: Boulevard Khouvieng, Vientiane Lao PDR Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:30am-noon, 4.30pm-7pm, Wednesday 1:30pm-5pm Saturday 9am-12noon Telephone: Emergency: cmaflao@gmail.com Australian Embassy Medical Clinic Address: Km4, Thadeua Road, Watnak Village, Sisattanak District, Vientiane Lao PDR Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-12:30pm, and 1:30pm-5pm Phone: Fax: Emergency Numbers Fire: 190 Police: 191 Ambulance: Airlines International flights into and out of Vientiane can be undertaken using a number of airlines including Lao Airlines, Lao Central Airline, Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways, China Eastern Airline, Air Asia and Vietnam Airlines. Page 10

11 For more information on all logistic matters, please contact: Mr. Sysomphorn Phetdaoheuang, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment Tel: And/or Mr. Morakot Vongxay, Director of UN Division, DIC/MPI Tel: Page 11