The message was conveyed by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, who chaired a recent press conference on the official celebration of the Plain of Jars’ listing as a World Heritage Site.

Director General of the ministry’s Heritage Department, Mr Thongbay Phothisane, told Vientiane Times that officials will meet at the end of August to discuss the application process for the UNESCO listing of Hin Nam Nor.

He expected that a report on the matter would be submitted to UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee at the end of this year.

Hin Nam Nor is a dramatic range of limestone peaks located in Khammuan province, about 150km south-east of Thakhaek district.

It covers an area of 82,000 hectares and is home to over 40 mammal species, over 200 bird species, 25 bat species, 46 species of amphibians and reptiles, over 100 fish species, and more than 520 plant species. The process of applying for the site to be listed by UNESCO began in 1998.

If its listing as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO is approved, the government is hoping it will attract a large number of visitors and generate much-needed income for local people.

International recognition of Hin Nam Nor would give Laos four World Heritage Sites.

The first to be listed was the old town of Luang Prabang in 1995, followed by Vat Phou Champassak in 2001, and the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province this month.

The Hin Nam Nor National Protection Area is noted for its stunning scenery and caves, including Tham Nang Aen, Tham Pha Nha, Tham Pha, Tham Konglor and Tham Xebangfa.

Visitors to Khammuan can also see Kamphengyak, otherwise known as the Giant Wall, Tha Falang, and the Sangsou and Nam Sanam waterfalls.

With this being Visit Laos-China Year, provincial authorities are going all out to please visitors and ensuring that good quality food is widely available in restaurants.

Staff in tourism-related businesses have been trained in customer service as well as advertising and promotion to ensure visitors’ expectations are met.

Visitors should be sure to try some of the area’s tasty food, such as khaonompan, which is flour mixed with beans and coconut, khaokhop - a sticky rice cake - and mam, which is pork or beef mixed with onions, chilli and herbs.

Khammuan province is also renowned for its souvenirs, especially the intricately woven bamboo baskets used to store sticky rice, as well as clothing and other items made from naturally dyed cotton. 

The province is about 360 km from Vientiane along one of Laos’ better stretches of road.

Last year, more than 400,000 people visited Khammuan, the provincial Information, Culture and Tourism Department reported.

Further information about the province’s highlights can be obtained from the department on 051-213022.