VIENTIANE: The annual Kapok Blossom Festival (Boun Dok Ngiew Ban) is underway in Tonpheung district, Bokeo province, within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone.
The event is a big occasion for the people of Bokeo province, as it celebrates the glories of nature in the bucolic surroundings of Don Xao island, where kapok trees produce a mass of red blossom.
The blossom is at its most spectacular in January and February, with the trees covering an area of about 40 hectares, drawing thousands of people to admire their colourful blooms.
The festival is one of the traditions that give Bokeo and its people their special identity.
Festival activities kicked off on Monday, including a street market and an exhibition of goods for sale.
The street fair generates revenue for locals and the province, while giving tourists an insight into the culture and traditions of the ethnic groups in Bokeo province.
On Saturday there will be an international photo exhibition, an art show and competition, a video show about the development of Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone and Bokeo province, a Miss Kapok beauty contest, and fireworks.
The programme on Sunday features a golf tournament, cultural shows, and the announcement of the winners of the Miss Kapok contest. Visitors will be able to send lighted lanterns into the night sky, and the festival closing ceremony will take place.
The festival is a welcome source of income for local residents, gives people the chance to visit a fairly remote corner of Laos, and is an incentive for foreign businesses considering investing in tourism in Bokeo.
The province has many places of interest for the visitor, such as the Nam Kan Protected Area in Toub village, Huayxai district, which also offers some great adventure activities.
The lushness of the landscape makes trekking really rewarding and people who are fit and agile can enjoy ziplining and a stay in a treehouse.
The provincial capital, Huayxai, situated by the Mekong River, is home to old temples perched atop scenic cliffs, as well as the ruins of the ancient city of Souvanna Khomkham.
Among the tasty dishes to be savoured are khao laeng feun (noodles with chilli sauce) and khao soy tad (noodles with sugar sauce or honey), which is a dessert favourite.
Bokeo is located in the far northwest of Laos, 624km from Vientiane, and is accessible by road and air.
Last year, Bokeo welcomed more than 248,000 tourists from across Laos and other countries, up from 18,950 visitors in 2023, with tourism spending amounting to US$12 million, according to the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department. - Vientiane Times/ANN
