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THAILAND
Boi Fair in Bangkok
For the third time in 16 years, Thailand Board of Investment BOI FAIR organizes in Bangkok, at the Impact Convention and Exhibition Centre, Muang Thong Thani, from 5th to 20th January 2012. This event is an integral part of the celebration at the national level of the 84th anniversary of His Majesty the King. On 240,000 m² over 3000 stands under the theme "Going Green for the Future" will be an excellent showcase of the Thai industry and enhance the advantages of the country as a destination for investors. Over 200 seminars will be proposed to share industrial technology, know-how, business practices and business management experience. 5 million visitors are expected.
The Chinese New Year 2012
Chinese New Year is the occasion for an important celebration in Thailand, because a good part of the population, especially in cities, has Chinese origins. In 2012, the Chinese New Year celebrations will be held from January 19th to 29th. It’s essentially a family celebration. Nothing happens, all shops are closed for 4 days and buses, trains and hotels are crowded. The most spectacular events take place at Nakhon Sawan, in the North of Bangkok, while in Bangkok, the Chinese New Year fires Chinatown during a disproportionate party, fed by small concerts and uncountable canteens, installed in the streets closed to traffic for the occasion. A good walkabout to try if you're in the area January 23rd 2012. The New Year will be placed under the sign of the Golden Dragon and will reflect the close relationship between the Thai and Chinese people and 37 years of friendship between the two countries. Numerous activities will take the theme of "Chinese culture and tourism."
Francophony Festival
If the Francophony is celebrated March 20th over the world, school calendar obliges, it’s on Feb. 4th that it will be celebrated in Thailand, this year around the theme of advertising. In a festive and friendly atmosphere, the day of the Francophony will be an opportunity for all lovers of French language to participate in many competitions: petanque, dictations, quizzes, karaoke, scrabble, theatre, Questions for a Champion ... There will be something for everyone! With in the key, many prizes to win! French-speaking Embassies will present their country in various stands and propose many games, animations, tasting ... The theme of this year, the advertising, will give rise to various competitions, projection of advertising clips and advertising exhibition, which will permit to see the funniest, the most unusual, the most striking of the Francophone world. Francophones and Francophiles from Thailand and elsewhere, go on 4th February to celebrate the French language in all its forms and in its greatest diversity!
Bangkok Marathon
About 42 kilometres of the race cross Thai capital on February 12th 2012. For the less relentless sportsmen, tests of half and quarter marathon also held the same day. The arrival to the Royal Palace in Bangkok is a great reward for runners. Due to the floods of November 2011, the marathon has been postponed in February 2012. You will find all information (path, inscriptions ...) on the website: www.bkkmarathon.com/eng/index.php
International Festival of blues and rock in Phuket
During two evenings (between 23rd and 26th February 2012) Thai musicians occur in Phuket (Laguna). This festival is designed to support charitable activities, including education projects for children (funds will serve to finance Patong Beach Rotary Club for the education of children). This year the top of the bill is Chris Thomas King and there will be once again truly global artists from the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. For more information: www.phuketbluesfestival.com
Film festival at Phangan
From 24th to 26th February 2012, the festival of Cinema of Phangan Island shows films from independent producers, open windows on the traditions of the world. The island of Koh Phangan is located inside Gulf of Thailand. It’s the fifth largest island in Thailand with an area of 191 km ². It’s a part of Surat Thani province, the town is located at hundred kilometres on the west, on the continent. Its surface is still partly covered by unspoiled rainforest and granitic mountainous relief protects it from a too fast tourism development. Its fauna is rich but not always easy to observe, and it counts among its members over 200 species of animals. The island has more than thirty white sand beaches not to mention the myriad of small deserted beaches, some of which appear or disappear with the tides. The east coast of the island is the finest, wildest and remains difficult to access by its lands. The nearest island is Koh Samui in the south (approximately 20 km) and Koh Tao in the north and 65 km separates the island from Koh Tao. To get there, the island has a port which is located in Thong Sala (southwest).
Website: http://www.phanganfilmfestival.com/festival.html
Culture ONE International Dance Music Festival
The best DJs from Thailand and around the world installed outdoors at a lake near the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre on the occasion of Culture ONE, the International Festival of Dance Music. Dance, vibrate to the rhythm of heartbeats, listen to a clairvoyant reveal you the future and get tattooed with henna. BITEC (Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre), 88 Bangna-Trad Road (Km 1), 10260, Bangkok, Thailand. The date is not fixed yet.
First flight for Air PC with transsexual hostesses
The first flight of the airline Air PC was held on December 24th and flew from Bangkok to Vientiane in Laos. Initially scheduled for March but postponed due to flooding and to enjoy the high season according to the management, the charter flight will carry transsexual stewardesses whose employment allowed making speak about the company. PC Air employs four transsexuals, including ancient Miss Tiffany 2007, Thanyarat Chirapatpakorn, among a cabin with 30 people. According to the Bangkok Post, PC Air, based at Suvarnabhumi Airport, possesses at the moment only one plane, an Airbus A 310-222, which should take care to connect two new destinations from Bangkok, to Chinese cities, from January 23rd. The company hopes to acquire a new Airbus in the second quarter 2012 to serve in the future, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.
MYANMAR
Kachin Manaw Festival to Myitkyina
This festival celebrates the New Year January 9th to 10th 2012. We pray for good harvests and for a happy year full of successes. We also express its gratitude to the spirits of the ancients. Traditional dances are a culmination of the festival. Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State in northern Burma. It’s located 1480 km from Rangoon or 785 km from Mandalay. Its name means near the Great River: the town is on the right bank of the Irrawaddy, about forty km from Myitsone, the place of confluence of its two main tributaries, Mali and N'mai Hka Hka. This is the port and the station of railroad the most northern of the country.
Mahamuni Pagoda Festival in Mandalay
In the north of the state of Myanmar, former royal capital, Mandalay has many pagodas among which this one, the Maha Muni Pagoda. This pagoda, one of the most revered in Myanmar, is famous for its Buddha’s statue cast in bronze. It weighs 6.5 tons and is built on a pedestal of 1.84 meters and reaches a height of 3.82 meters. Gold leaves are regularly applied to the statue of Mahamuni Buddha by the faithful giving it an inform edge. The gold layer bonded to the chest of Buddha reached 20 cm, while the face is smooth, and washed every morning. Mahamuni Pagoda hosts a festival punctuated by chants of Buddhist monks and the dancing from 6 to 7 February 2012. A market selling local specialties. The ceremonies are celebrated on the full moon of the month of tabodwe. Large quantities of incense are burned in the temple as a sign of respect for the statue of Mahamuni.
Tabodwe (Shan State Holiday and Day of the Union)
This day celebrates the federal union and Aung San, who manages to unify the various ethnic groups of Burma. During the two weeks preceding the Feast of the Union, from February 6th to 12th 2012, the Burmese flag goes from town to town. In 1989, the country took the name "Union of Burma" then that of "Union of Myanmar," composed of several states. Those in the north are in theory occupied by non-Burmese. There are also in the south the provinces or administrative 'divisions' inhabited by Burmese. The Panglong Agreement, signed February 12th 1947, recognizes the administrative autonomy of border regions. The full moon falls on February 6th - 7th 2012, while the feasts of the Shan State or the Union day are celebrated on fixed dates, February 12th.
Shwedagon Pagoda Festival to Yangon
Shwedagon Pagoda or Pagoda of Shwedagon (Shwe, gold, and Dagon, former name of Yangon) is a remarkable stupa situated on the hill of Singuttara in Rangoon, the capital of Myanmar. This Buddhist holy place is the first religious center of the country because following to a legend it contains the relics of four former Buddhas, among which eight hairs of Gautama Buddha. From February 26th to March 7th 2012 takes place Shwedagon Pagoda festival: offerings of water, of light and flowers around hundreds Buddha's images in the pagoda.
Reopening of an important border post between Myanmar and Thailand
The checkpoint Mae Sot-Myawaddy situated on the border between Thailand and Burma has reopened. This "checkpoint" had been closed on July 18th 2010 after the construction of a dam by the Thai government along the river Moei in Mae Sot’s district of Tak province, according to Myanmar, had an impact on the plan of the border between the two countries. Local authorities considered that it was good news for the economy; 20 billion baht had been lost for the border trade during the closure, according to figures provided by the Chairman of the Commerce Tak Chamber. This border post reserved for national trade may close without notice.
LAOS
Magha Puja (Makha Bouça) to Luang Prabang
Wat Xieng Thong temple, the most famous of Luang Prabang, commemorates the Buddha preaching of his own death. This one is deeply celebrated in the ancient royal capital during the full moon of February, on February 7th 2012. The faithful come early to give offerings to the monks who preach then follow torchlight processions between the thirty temples of the city, dances and sermons remembering the Buddha's teachings. Magha Puja is the most important date in the Buddhist calendar after Bouça Visakha (May), the anniversary and enlightenment of Buddha and his attainment of nirvana.
Silhottabong Festival near Thakhet
This religious festival is takes place in Sikhottabong stupa, located about 8 km south of Thakhek on February 7th. Thakhek is the capital of the province of Khammouane. Located on the banks of the Mekong, opposite Thai town of Nakhon Phanom. A trade fair also takes place during this festival.
Wat Phu Festival to Champassak
The festival of Wat Phu takes place every year, the 15th day of the waxing moon of the third month (January-February) and coincides with the Buddhist holiday of Makha Busa. For the year 2012, the Vat Phou festival will be held from February 5th to 7th. The last day is also the celebration of the full moon on the site. Processions, recitations, liturgical chants will take place during the three days of the festival. Canoe races, play "catch-duck", volleyball and petanque competitions compose the festival, buffalo and cocks fighting, dances take place. Local authorities try to keep some traditions and maintain the sacred character of the place. The various attractions as well as evening concerts add a profane note.
Lao Elephant Festival in Paklay District (Sayaboury province)
Many activities around the animal are proposed during this great tribute to the animal symbol of the "Land of a million elephants” : traditional ceremonies, demonstrations of training and working mahouts, exhibitions, performances and projections of outdoor movies, but also a drawing competition for children, rides and performances by Laotian and European artists, and colourful processions. More than 70 elephants are present at the festival from February 17th to 19th 2012. Lane Xang, the former name of Laos, means "million elephants", but the country was well known long ago. The elephant, symbol of Laos, is now endangered.
VIETNAM
Reopening of Long An Palace - Royal Antiquities Museum
From January 2012, the Long An Palace - Royal Antiquities Museum in Hue (Centre), located at 3 rue Le Truc will be reopened to tourists after a long break due to restoration work. The Long An Palace is the only museum of Vietnam to expose so many objects of Nguyen (1802-1945), the last feudal dynasty in Vietnam. It shows various collections, including fine arts from this period, with the royal costumes, porcelain, royal objects used in everyday life, paintings on glass, musical instruments of the Royal Court, to put together with a variety of other objects in wood, metals, cloth, ivory, sculptures, etc... Long An Palace belongs to the remains of the ancient imperial city of Hue built in 1845 during the reign of King Thieu Tri. When he died in 1847, his relic was kept eight months in Long An Palace, before becoming the place of worship of his throne until 1885. Long An Palace has since become the exhibition of Hue royal antique and is part of one of the finest museums in Vietnam in terms of architecture.
Birthday of the foundation of the Vietnamese communist party
On February 3rd, we commemorate the foundation of the Vietnam Communist Party by Ho Chi Minh in 1930. It was then called the Indochinese Communist Party. The first congress of the party was held in 1935 in Macao, China.
Lim Festival or Feast of Hoi Lim (Bac Ninh province)
"A jewel of the national folklore" according to the terms of the Vietnamese National Tourism Office: procession, rituals ceremonies, dances and singing competition punctuate this event which takes place two weeks after Tet festival. We also call this very typical party the festival alternated songs quan ho. The festival take place on the 13th day of the first lunar month is February 4th 2012
Trang-Nguyên festival (first winner) in Vietnam
Trang-Nguyên festival gives rise to pilgrimages in temples and pagodas to implore the divine blessing, because as tell the saying, "the religious practices of all year are not worth a pilgrimage of the 15th day of the first month," the February 6th 2012. This festival originated from evening meetings around the emperor and lettered. We take advantage of the soft spring nights and a feast.
Archaeological remains of the Thang Long Citadel
On December28th, the Institute of Vietnam Social Sciences gave to The Hanoi popular Committee the management of the archaeological sector A - B of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, situated at 18 Hoang Dieu street, Hanoi. The results of excavations led these last nine years have shown that it’s a historic area of national importance, which reflects 1,300 years of construction and development, through the period of Dai La and Dinh – Le – Ly, Tran - Le - Nguyen Dynasties until the modern period. Archaeological research has shown the creativity of the Vietnamese past, exchanges and contacts with other civilizations, which has created a civilization of varied Dai Viet, track of national identity. Professor Doctor Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of the Institute of Vietnam Social Sciences, declared that this institute has developed a global project to build a cultural-historical park including the remains of the citadel and its surroundings, to preserve and enhance that space.
Tourism: new slogan and logo of Vietnam
According to the Culture, Sport and Tourism Ministry, "Vietnam, an eternal beauty" was chosen as slogan of the program to promote national tourism for the period 2012-2015, with for logo a lotus of petals five stylized by five different colours symbolizing the charm of Vietnamese tourism. The lotus, new logo of the national tourism industry, has a particular meaning because it symbolizes man, soul and landscape beauty of Vietnam. According to oriental philosophy, the number five is considered as a number of happiness which symbolizes development and a strong vitality. The different colours of the lotus also evokes tourism products and various experiences of foreign tourists when visiting Vietnam.
CAMBODIA
New domestic flights
Cambodia Angkor Air will launch three times by week flights between cultural province of Siem Reap / Angkor and the coastal town Krong Preah Sihanouk or Sihanoukville (Khmer: Preah Sihanuk), formerly Kompong Som ("pleasant harbour", som is derived from Sanskrit Saumya ). This city is located in South of Cambodia looking on the Gulf of Thailand. Sihanoukville is the only deep sea port of Cambodia. It was renamed in honour of Norodom Sihanouk, former King of Cambodia. The new airway links will increase the development of seaside tourism in Cambodia. The new flights will reduce travel time between the two cities (about 10 hours by road and only one hour and 15 minutes by plane).
Stop Siem Reap with Silk Air
Passengers wishing to travel to Singapore from Danang can fly with Silk Air, the regional branch of Singapore Airlines which currently offers four weekly flights to Singapore. Two of these flights make stopover Siem Reap, permitting to passengers to travel to Siem Reap to visit the famous sites including Angkor Wat. Flights from Danang-Singapore are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays while the services of Siem Reap are on Wednesdays and Fridays.
A rice mill in Takeo next year
The construction of a rice mill in Takeo will begin during the next harvest. This investment of $ 10 million is realized by Canadian Bank. Recently, this one increased funding for agricultural projects, particularly in the rice sector. The rice mill would produce 300 tons of rice per day and 60,000 a year. In the long-term, production could reach 100,000 tons per year, therefore one tenth of objective fixed by The Prime Minister Hun Sen: export one million tons by 2015. Today, the ability of rice milling in Takeo reaches 100 tons per day.
Small Christmas account: the village of Sdei-Bet-Méas
In the commune of Trâpéang Russei, Kompong Svay canton, in the province of Kompong Thom, if you walk along the river, you will find a small village called Sdei-Bet-Méas, or named "the Altingia tree covered with gold". This tree had now disappeared, but not the legend which accompanies it. According to «Tales and legends of the Khmer country» of Professor Hoc Dy Khing: Long time ago, the family of a dam fishing chief composed of a man, his wife and their nubile daughter of a resplendent beauty, lived in a pond while fishing near the hut of a genius of the ground, Néak-ta, the tree SDEI. Fishing for this dam head was prosperous every year. He became a very fortunate man thanks to his business. The area was infested with mosquitoes. One day in the twilight, the dam chief gathered his family and his servants. And he spoke them in jest: "Is there, among you, anybody who would dare to lie and exposed to mosquitoes for a night?" At this time, a young single servant, beautiful and intelligent replied that he accepted: "I dare. If I can lie and exposed to mosquitoes during a whole night, will you give me a reward, master? " Hurt, the head of the dam replied, "Rascal, You know how to only boast. Nobody asked you to take care of that." The servant riposted and said: "If you say that I boast, I pray you, master, to make a bet with me. I shall dare to pledge all that you will want." The master began more and more angry and said to him: "I'll bet all my properties. I will leave without anything if you dare to accept that I bind you leaving you exposed to mosquitoes overnight. But if you steal or if you can’t resist, do you accept to be my slave and to serve me? " The servant replied: "I agree, Master, if you gave me your daughter, if I win." The boss said that he accepted without hesitation "Hey You, valets! Stop him and tie up him on SDEI tree behind the hut of the "genius of the ground". I agree to try the bet against this guy, and you help in serving me as witnesses" The servant left tied up and attached to the tree SDEI. When others were returned to their homes, this young servant asked the genius of this place to come to his rescue. "Save me, Lord Genius, I'm too involved in the bet with the fisherman master. Make that no mosquito bites me, that I stay alive and I get the hand of the daughter of the dam head, make that I take possession of his properties. If, as I wish, I get all this, I make you the promise to buy gold to cover this tree SDEI from its foot to the summit and also to build a wooden hut covered with tiles for the offering, Lord genius. " While the master thought: "This stupid servant who was left tied up is now exposed to mosquitoes. They will kill him by sucking his blood. But if he can’t resist and calls to deliver him before midnight, he will be my slave for the rest of his life. " During that night, the genius of the SDEI tree, who had gambled away with other geniuses, had brought them all the mosquitoes of the region to pay its debts. Usually, there were so many mosquitoes that it seemed we launched on the fly rice hulls. But that night it was deserted, no mosquito. And no one came to prick the young servant, with his luck, he would have married the predestined daughter of the dam chief and he would become rich. When the day rose, the fisherman master and his servants discussed: "The servant attached to the tree SDEI has certainly gave up the ghost." They gathered to go to see. But the master and the other servants saw him smiling. So those who saw him admired with respect the magic power of this young servant. Desperate, the master said to the servants: " According of the engagement of yesterday evening, this young servant won, I must give him all my fortune and give my daughter in marriage." The same day the dam head ordered to kill pigs, chickens and ducks to prepare the wedding feast of his young servant with her daughter. Then he endowed it with all his properties and gave his job to succeed him. The master took his wife and went to live in his old house. The new master fisherman told his wife: " We have to order to somebody to buy gold leaves to cover the sdei tree with it and that we build a hut for the genius to whom I made a promise and I pleaded." When all this was built, this genius became very powerful and effective. It was not only the master fisherman who paid him tribute, all the locals and travelers along the river also asked protection for this revered genius. And so from this time he became known as the "genius of the SDEI tree covered with gold." Nowadays the SDE tree is dead. And the hut which the master fisherman built fell into disrepair and was destroyed. It remains only the location of the SDEI tree and a genius hut covered with thatch. According to this legend, the village situated on the river next to the hut of genius still bears the name of Phoum-Sdei-Bet-Méas, that is to say, "Village of the altingia tree covered with or ". (Extract from « petit journal du Cambodge »)
Agenda 2012:
A sampling of celebrations not to be missed....
THAILAND
Makha Puja : February Full moon
Songkran (New year Thai) : April 2012
Royal Ploughing Ceremony: beginning May 2012 at Bangkok
Rocket festival : May 2012 at Yasothon (Nord-East)
Visakha Puja : May 2012Full moon
Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen : August 12th 2012
Ok Phansa and Thot Kathin : October 2012
Ragattas : October 2012 at Thot Kathin, Nan, Phichit, Surat Thani, Nakhon Phanom, Pathumthani. Loi. Krathong: November 2012 Full moon
Festival of elephants in Surin: Third week-end of November 2012
Week of River Kwai Bridge: end of November- beginning of December 2012
Birthday of His Majesty the King: December 5th 2012
CAMBODIA
Tet festival (Vietnamese or Chinese): February 2012
New Year Khmer (Bon Chaul Chhnam): April 2012
Genocide day: May 9th 2012
Sihamoni Birthday King: May 2012
Buddha Birthday: May 2012
Norodom Sihanouk king Birthday: October 31st 2012
Independence Day: November 9th 2012
LAOS
Tet festival (Vietnamese or Chinese New Year): February 2012
Wat Phou at Champassak: February 2012
Lao Elephant Festival at Paklay District (Sayaboury province): February 2012
Magha Puja (Makha Bouça) at Luang Prabang: February 2012
Pii may or Pimay (New Year Buddhist): April 2012
Fang Mae Khong Festival at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Thakhek: October 2012
National holiday (Vanh Saad): December 2nd 2012
MYANMAR
Mahamuni pagoda festival at Mandalay: February 2012
Tabodwe (Feast of Shan State and Union Day): February 2012
Pwe du Paya Baw-gyo festival at Thipaw: March 2012
Kakku (Kekku) pagoda festival around Taunggyi: March 2012
Thanakha Grinding Festival in Rakhine state: April 2012
Thingyan Festival (water festival): April 2012
Kason: April 2012
Nat Pwe Festival at Taungbyon and Amarapura (Mandalay): August 2012
Phaung-Daw U big festival at Inle Lake: September 2012
Kyaukdawgyi pagoda festival at Mandalay: October 2012
Thidingyut Festival (Lights Festival): October 2012
Dance elephants Festival at Kyaukse (Mandalay): October 2012
Hot Air Balloon Festival at Taunggyi: November 2012
Tazaungdaing Festival: November 2012
Kyaik-Hti-Yo pagoda festival (to Golden Rock): November 2012
Pyatha (Independence Day): January 4th 2013
VIETNAM
Da Sy festival around Hanoi: February 2012
Hoi festival at Lim (BAC Ninh province): February 2012
Trang-Nguyen festival (first winner): February 2012
Quam A festival at Da Nang: February and 2012
Chua Huong (Perfume pagoda festival) at Huong Son: March 2012
Fisherman Festival at Hoi An: March 2012
Thay pagoda festival (Ha Tay province): April 2012
Van Vi village festival (Ha Tay province): April 2012
Truong Yen festival (Ninh Binh province): April 2012
Launch kites festival at Ba Giang (Ha Tay province): April 2012
Saigon capture Birthday: April 2012
Bach Dang festival (Quang Ninh province): May 2012
Buddha Birthday: May 17th 2012
Ba Chua Xu festival at Chau Doc: May 2012
Quang Lan festival (Bac Ninh province): July 2012
National festival: September 2nd 2012
Buffalo fighting festival at Do Son: September 2012
Mid-Autumn festival (child festival): September 2012
Tran temple festival at Nam Dinh: September 2012
Double nine festivals at Trung Cuu: October 2012
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