TV series takes tour of Laos

Dream weaver: The Chronicle of Laos depicts the scenery and customs of the nation. — VTV Photo Quoc Khanh

HA NOI — A series entitled The Chronicle of Laos, exploring the scenery, people, culture and history of the neighbouring nation, is currently screening on Viet Nam National Television (VTV).

The first part of the 24-episode series was produced last year, recording the landscape, customs and special festivals in northern Laos, including the Bunpimay (New Year) and Elephant festivals. The second part was completed just before airing of the series began earlier this month.

"We were the first from VTV to experience the water festival," said the deputy director of VTV's Ethnic Language Department, Do Quoc Khanh. "We danced, shouted and splashed water to exciting music. It was an unforgettable memory for the film crew.

"This year, the VTV film crew decided to shoot in the central and southern parts of Laos that border on Viet Nam," added Khanh. "We recorded real-life stories from real people."

This second part of the series will bring viewers to Xieng Vang, a small village about 30km from Khammouan Province, where the late President Ho Chi Minh crossed the border to build a revolutionary base.

Viewers will also get to see Savannakhet Province, an area closely connected with the revolutions of Laos and Viet Nam, as well as Champasak, which has Laos's largest Vietnamese community of about 5,000 people, many of whom sheltered and protected Vietnamese and Lao soldiers during the war, Khanh said.

The series will also spotlight economic co-operation between the two countries, including projects of the Viet Nam-Laos Rubber Joint Stock Co, the Sekaman 1 hydroelectric project, and the Thasano Rice Research Centre in Savannakhet.

"The second part was shot in one month and the film crew received a lot of help from Laos National Television in creating a quality series suitable for broadcast in both Viet Nam and Laos," said Khanh.

The series is currently airing Monday through Friday at 11.30pm on VTV1. It was produced by VTV's Ethnic Language Department in co-ordination with Nghe An Television. — VNS