Rockets blast off in Yasothon

YASOTHON, 3 April 2012: Yasothon’s famous rocket festival blasts off, 11 to 13 May, with teams from four Asian nations participating in the competition.

The idea is to blast a rocket in a perfect climb skyward from launch sites at the provincial town’s Chang Sanit Road, opposite City Hall and Phraya Than Park.

Known locally as Bun Bang Fai Yasothon the event features many activities leading up to the rocket displays on the third day. Teams are competing from Laos, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. Winners are mainly decided on the power and ascent time. Ceremonial rockets are judged on their appearance after they are paraded through town.

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Art on Chiang Mai’s streets

CHIANGMAI, 21 March 2012: This northern city will host the Chiang Mai Fest 2012, an arts and cultural event, 23 March to 7 April, at the Three Kings Monument, in the centre of the city.

Tourism Authority of Thailand partners with Earth Wind & Fire Company to host the second edition that offers entertainment over 16 days.

Based on last year’s data, Earth Wind & Fire advisor, Yut Wanichanon, estimates the event will attract 35,000 Thai and international visitors who will spend around Bt200 to Bt300 million.

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Songkran chills summer sizzles

BANGKOK, 20 March 2012: As temperatures soar to the mid-30s, it is a reminder that the fun-filled nationwide Songkran Festival is just around the corner with an opportunity to chill out literally.

This year, the official holidays runs from 13 to 15 April, which falls on a weekend, but the festival holiday will get under way in some places as early as 9 April  and continue to 24 April, depending on the location in the country.

During the annual festival, children and adults throw water at each other from sunrise to sunset. The activity looks like a war zone, as truck loads of revelers roam the streets armed with water pistols and even fire hoses to wash down their neighbours. These tit for tat battle are fun, if you are dressed for the occasion and need a bucket of ice cold water thrown over you to cool down in the sizzling summer heat.

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Muay Thai in the spotlight

AYUTTHAYA, February 24, 2012: More than 300 Muay Thai boxers will be in Thailand, 17 to 23 March for the 8th Thai boxing tournament and festival, to showcase what is audibly one of world’s most specular contact sports.

The week-long event will see competitors and Thai boxing enthusiasts from 30 countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia, South Korea, France, Ukraine, and South Africa.

Officially known as the World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony and Miracle Muay Thai Festival, the event is being organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. Read more

February: Month of Love

BANGKOK, 2 February 2012: Tourism Authority of Thailand spotlights wedding ceremony options in four destinations in hailand starting 10 February through to the end of March.

February is linked to romance based on the popularity of Valentine’s Day, 14 February, which is celebrated with gusto throughout the country. Red roses are sold at premium,while gift shops do a roaring trade competing with cookie and chocolate kiosks for attention of mainly teenage romantics.

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Annual Vat Phou festival

VIENTIANE, 30 January 2012: The annual Vat Phou festival will take place 5 to 7 February.

The Vat Phou festival is held annually during the full-moon night of the third lunar month. This year it falls on 7 February.

Activities include parades, traditional sports competitions such as boat racing, catch-ducks and breaking pots, concerts, market fairs, and light and sound stage shows.

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Flower fest draws tourists

CHIANG MAI, 26 January 2012: Chiang Mai’s international horticulture expo, known as Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, has attracted more than 1 million visitors, according to Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative.

Agriculture and Cooperative Minister, Theera Wongsamut, said since the royal flora opened its doors, 14 December until 25 January, there were 1,246,973 visitors based on ticket sales.

“This is a great performance for just one month so we can attract far more than we had earlier anticipated,” he said during his update yesterday. Read more

Pattaya hosts PTT tennis

PATTAYA, 26 January 2012: Pattaya will once again welcome professional female tennis players to the PTT Pattaya Open Tennis Tournament, 5 to 12 February at Dusit Thani Hotel, Pattaya.

Now in its 21th year, the event is the longest running tennis event in the country organised by the Women’s Tennis Association. Around 80 professional female tennis players will compete at the eight-day event for prize money worth US$220,000 or around Bt6.8 million.

According to the host, Pentangle Promotions, the 21th PTT Pattaya Open should attract 3,000 to 4,000 visitors a day at the three tennis courts. Read more

Lao elephant festival privatises

LAO FESTIVAL

VIENTIANE, 25 January 2012: The annual elephant festival in Laos’ Sayabouly province is scheduled for 17 to 19 February in Sayabouly district town run for the first time by a private company.

The 6th Elephant Festival is now being managed by the private sector after the Lao government said it was no longer underwriting the event financially. It also hopes a private company will improve the quality of the event and raise its profile regionally.

RiverOrchid Communications Agency won the contract to manage, but the Elephant Conservation Centre and ElefantAsia will continue to supervise the elephants welfare within the festival framework. Read more

Film fans head for Hua Hin

HUA HIN, 17 January 2012: The National Federation of Thai Film Associations, together with Hua Hin Municipality, in Prachup Khiri Khan, will host the Hua Hin Film Festival, 26 to 29 January.

Hua Hin Film Festival 2012 promises to be both entertaining and educational using four venues: InterContinental Hua Hin Resort; Major Cineplex Hua Hin; Vic Hua Hin and Centennial Park.

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