Sikhottabong district will host Vientiane 's first ever Ms Pi Mai Lao (Ms Lao New Year) parade over the Lao New Year next month.
District authorities and the Lao National Tourism Administration came up with the idea of organising the parade and a street fair to boost tourist numbers in the district over the New Year holiday, which runs from April 14-16.
A member of the festival organising committee, Mr Sopha Inthavong, said Sikhottabong district is an ideal location for a parade because it is popular with both locals and tourists who gather to celebrate the New Year.
The committee will encourage young men and women to dress in traditional Lao clothes to add to the colour of the parade.
This year is the Year of the Ox, so Ms Pi Mai will be seated on a sculpture of an ox during a parade from Oumong temple to the nearby statue of King Fa Ngum and back.
Locals will sell food and handicrafts at stalls along the parade route to add to the festival atmosphere.
“The event will be similar to the one held in Luang Prabang province every year, but we will concentrate on making it unique to Vientiane . It will be a hard job for us to organise a big event like this, but hopefully we can be successful and it will become a popular annual event, just like in Luang Prabang,” Mr Sopha said.
“This will be the first such parade for the district as well as Vientiane, so the committee will be very particular about selecting a Ms Pi Mai who is well-behaved, well-dressed and respects Lao culture.”
Mr Sopha said more than 40 women have entered the contest after the organising committee asked for applicants two weeks ago. However, only 30 women will be selected to participate in the contest which is taking place at Xang Jieng market.
On March 25, contestants will be judged in the contemporary and traditional Lao dress divisions. One of seven finalists will be chosen to ride in the parade on the following day, as Ms Pi Mai Lao 2009.
