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Vientiane pubs shut after flouting closing time

Wind West and Bobby - among Vientiane 's most popular entertainment venues - will no longer be open to the public after authorities last week issued an order to shut down the two venues.

Governor of Vientiane 's Chanthabouly district Saithong Keoduangdy said the two venues had failed to abide by a regulation issued by the Vientiane Mayor two years ago, which set the closing time for such venues at 11:30pm.

Officials say that if clubs stay open later this could lead to social problems such as fighting, road accidents, bag-snatching and other forms of theft.

Wind West is located in Haisok village, Chanthabouly district, and has long been the favoured haunt of Lao youngsters and overseas tourists.

Authorities also cited the reason for the pub's closure as being due to insufficient parking space, saying it was necessary to relocate the nightclub to maintain order and security.

The main aim of the closures is to create an orderly city in the run-up to the SEA Games in December and the celebration of the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos in 2010.

Bobby is located in Nongtha neua village, Chanthabouly district. The venue is called a restaurant but is also a nightclub.

This is a place where young people gather at night to eat food and drink beer. The restaurant has also failed to close promptly at the time set by authorities, which is said to be the cause of unruly behaviour.

The authorities also ordered the closure of several noodle shops where young people meet at night after finding these gatherings might be linked to security issues.

Director of the Vientiane Information and Culture Department, Ms Vanpheng Keonakhone, said district authorities have been given permission to inspect the standards of entertainment venues.

Those that failed to implement the mayor's regulation would be ordered to close or start another form of business.

“We are discussing whether or not there should be only one nightclub in each district in order to make these places easier to manage,” she said.

The owners of five other venues in Chanthabouly district have been warned not to continue to contravene the regulation and told their businesses might be closed if they stay open late or allow the entry of children under 18.

Mr Saithong said the closures would not affect tourism in any way, especially in Vientiane .

He said tourists coming to Laos wanted to see places that were beautiful, natural and of historic and cultural interest, as well as Lao lifestyle, and were not just interested in nightclubs.

“Our country is preparing for several important events, specifically the SEA Games and the 450th anniversary of Vientiane , so order and security must be maintained ahead of these occasions,” the governor said.

“We also plan to make our district one of the most livable towns in the world by 2015.”

By Somsack Pongkhao