Lao Khaen Association to promote building of Nongkhamsaen Park and Lao Khaen Museum
 
The Administration Committee and members of the Lao Khaen Association, officials of Hadxaifong district, monks and representatives of six target villages held a meeting last week to discuss the proposal for building the Nongkhamsaen Park and Lao Khaen Museum at Nongkhamsaen Temple.

Officials pose for a group photo after presenting the project proposal and participating in a ritual ceremony for the building of Nongkhamsaen Park and Lao Khaen Museum at Nongkhamsaen Temple.

 The meeting discussed various ways to promote and preserve the Lao Khaen, a traditional musical instrument. Khaen music has been included in UNESCO’s list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The Lao Khaen Association offered to build the Nongkhamsaen Park and Lao Khaen museum on an area of more than six hectares in Sithan-Tai village of Hadxaifong district.
The park and museum will be part of efforts to develop and promote cultural tourism sites, history, nature, environment and biodiversity. The project is also aimed at the sustainable development of six target villages in Hadxaifong district – Sithan-Tai, Khokxai, Xaifong-Tai, Xaifong-Neua, Thakhaek, and Thinphia.
These efforts will also help in preserving, developing and promoting the culture of the nation and natural resources.
On the same day, the officials participated in a Buddhist ritual ceremony before formally starting work on the project.
The officials of the Lao Khaen Association, after presenting the project proposal to the district authorities and representatives of the six target villages, enjoyed watching a khaen performance by members of the association.
The association will now conduct a survey and come up with a master plan and design for the park and the museum. It will also establish a centre for the conservation of nature and the environment and the Khaen Lao Culture Centre. The association expects to complete the work this year.
The association will encourage people to join the activity to build the Lao Khaen Museum as the facility is expected to enhance the socio-economic development of Vientiane and Hadxaifong district.
A key part of the cooperation to build the park and museum at the Nongkhamsaen Preservation Zone is creating cultural and historical tourism sites and developing sustainable tourism. This will help generate income for the local people, and encourage them to make products which can help them earn more money.
The museum will be constructed in traditional Lao style and will be 132 metres tall. It will have elevators and lifts for going up to a viewpoint to see the city. This viewpoint will have a “Tipkhao” or sticky rice box that will be 16 metres tall and symbolise Laos as the land of sticky rice and khaen music.
The museum will have rooms to display the culture heritage of Laos and the traditional musical instruments of 50 ethnic groups. It will also have rooms for seminars and for watching cultural performances. There will also be rooms where the making of the khaen will be demonstrated.

By Sisouphan Amphonephong
(Latest Update July 8, 2022)