12th Lao Food Festival

Video credit:  Vientiane Times, January 25, 2017

By:  Siladda Souliyong, Vientiane Times, January 25, 2017

The 12th Lao Food Festival officially opened yesterday at Chao Anouvong Park in Chanthabouly district, with the food extravaganza set to open from 8:00am to 10:00pm over three days from January 25- 27.

President of the Lao Business Women's Association, Mrs. ChanthachoneVongsay reported at the opening ceremony that the Lao Food Festival has been held every year since 2006, and that this year is the 12th such food festival.

One of the aims of the festival is to remind people to preserve and promote Lao traditions and culture such as Lao cuisine, Lao produce and also Lao traditional dress.

It also specifically aims to promote women's business units operating in small crops, stock breeding, and cooking among other fields.

The festival is also intending to promote restaurants in Vientiane and the provinces by allowing them to exhibit and sell their goods.

It aims to promote opportunities for women entrepreneurs to exchange knowledge and learn how to improve their products and supply market demand, as well as generate revenue for the women and their households.

The 12th Lao Food Festival has about 178 booths from domestic and foreign exhibitors, including Lao food vendors from nationwide, as well as their counterparts from Asean countries and the US embassy in Laos.

Moreover, this year, ambassadors' wives from Asean countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines and Thailand will also attend to promote and sell their national foods

A total of some 178 booths will be exhibited at this year's festival including Lao and foreign foods, drinks, herbs, handicrafts and others. The number of booths has increased by more than 50 booths compared to previous years.

The official opening of the festival was attended by Lao government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and other authorities.

Many people have expressed their interest in visiting this year's 12th Lao Food Festival, which organisers hope will be able to raise about three to four billion kip.

Meanwhile, festival authorities also announced the winner, 1st runner up, 2nd runner up and honourable mentions for a food contest centering on Mok Kai Lad - chicken meat mixed with herbs and wrapped in banana leafs before being steamed.

The food contest was held on January 24 at the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith) on the campus of Pakpasak Technical College.

The winner was named as Ms. Vanmanivone Leuangbounkham, 20, from the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith), who received three million kip.

The 1st runner up was named as Ms. Bang Keovi, 22, also from the Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (Lanith) who received two million kip, while the 2nd runner up was named as Ms. Sonethid Manikham, 19, from the Skills Development Centre, who received 1.5 million kip.

The seven other contestants received 500,000 kip each as an honourable mention.