"Sekong: Land of 13 Ethnicities"

At the beginning of the rainy season, I set out to film a documentary series titled "EXCITE WORLD: People, World, Wonders" in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. My destination was Dak Cheung, Sekong Province, southern Laos, which borders Vietnam. This remote area is rarely visited due to its challenging terrain, treacherous roads, and strict government restrictions on tourists.

Despite months of meticulous planning, my journey was marred by unforeseen mishaps.

Firstly, I intended to go with three people, including my son as a co-host. However, my son is not very fond of the entertainment industry. I had previously forced him to act in two dramas, but he backed out both times, causing me embarrassment with Channel 7. I stopped asking him to act. This time, I asked him nicely if he would go film a project with me. It was with the same team that he had previously filmed a tourism advertisement for Cambodia in Siem Reap. He said he would go if it was with this team. However, when the time came, he said, “

"My father won't go to southern Laos. He's afraid of eating snakehead tom yum again like he did in Cambodia. I'm not going either." In summary, the son is refusing to go and has lost one ticket.

Secondly, my photographer, the head photographer, was sent alone. However, there was another mistake: his passport had less than 6 months of validity. Thailand allowed him to leave, but Laos would not allow him to enter.

This assignment was a solo mission, with me venturing out armed with two Sony cameras: the a7III and the latest Sony action camera. It was undeniably a challenging task.

I took a BKS bus to Pakse. I chose the bus because I didn't want to fly to Ubon Ratchathani and then take a bus to Pakse, which would be too much hassle. I wanted to sleep and arrive the next day. When I arrived at the border, I sent the photographer back. I took the bus to Pakse and asked the bus to drop me off at the Lao BKS at Lak 8. I then took a bus to Sekong. There are two buses to Sekong per day. I arrived in Laos just in time for the 10:00 am bus, which was an ordinary van.

I just found out that if you get on at a different location, there are air-conditioned buses that run from Vientiane to Attapeu. You can buy tickets for these buses, but once you get on, the bus stops frequently depending on where people want to get on or off. I filmed the entire journey, so I have very few still images from this trip.

The car drove through the mouth of the alley. The air was cool and comfortable, and it was drizzling. The mouth of the alley was so beautiful that I thought I would come back and sleep here for a night. (On the way back, I stayed here for one night. I met a child who was an orphan. He was very well-behaved, so I adopted him as my adopted son. I will go back to sign with the authorities next month, and I will tell you more then.) From the mouth of the alley to Sekong, we sat for a long time. We arrived in Sekong after 1 pm. It turned out that there were no taxis in this city. I was unlucky. How could I get into the city? Because the car was parked at the bus station outside the city. In the end, I asked the car from the Hongsawa Hotel, which is the best hotel here, to pick me up. I was saved.

I spent one night in Sekong because there was no transportation to Dakchung. I asked the locals in Sekong where I could get permission to enter Dakchung. They told me to go directly to Dakchung to request permission, as entering this restricted Laotian city requires special authorization due to its status as a controlled zone. I decided to go there to apply for permission today and spend a day exploring Sekong. It turned out to be a big mistake (I will tell you later about the mistakes I made when I entered Dakchung and how I almost couldn't return to Thailand).

The Hongsa Hotel is a decent option for accommodation in this type of town. The staff is friendly and helpful, and I rented a van from them for 200 baht per hour to explore the city. However, the city is small and there isn't much to see or do. There are no shopping malls, and it feels like a rural district in Thailand. Despite the lack of amenities, the locals are very friendly and welcoming to tourists.

Sekong Province comprises four districts: Lamam (the provincial capital), where I am currently staying; Dakchung, located near the Vietnamese border; Kalum, situated deep in the mountainous region and the most challenging to reach; and Thateng, which I passed through on my way to Sekong.

The Spirits of Sekong: A Cultural Tapestry of Belief and Tradition

Sekong, a tapestry of diverse ethnicities, is home to a multitude of tribes, including the Katu, Ngae, Krieng, Ta'oy, Suoy, Laveen, Yaha, Dakkang, Tariw, Kaseng, Lavee, Harak, and Tarieng. Each tribe possesses its own distinct language and cultural traditions, yet they share a common thread: a profound belief in the spirit world.

This belief manifests in the annual propitiation ceremonies, where offerings are made to appease ancestral spirits. The fear of "violating the spirits" is deeply ingrained, leading to strict regulations for tourists entering the region. These regulations serve to protect both the cultural integrity of the tribes and the safety of visitors.

The intricate tapestry of Sekong's ethnicities, woven with the vibrant threads of their beliefs and traditions, presents a fascinating glimpse into the heart of Laos' cultural heritage.

The main city of Sekong Province boasts a large flagpole that serves as a symbol of the city. In front of the entrance to the main city pillar, there are statues of the 13 + 1 ethnic groups, including the Lao Loum, to honor the people who have resided in the city and have overcome obstacles to build their homes and city together. They once joined hands to take up arms to fight for the liberation of the country during the era of struggle against the French who occupied Laotian territory. Therefore, this place is a central point for ethnic groups, where everyone has equal rights.

The city pillar is a popular evening tourist destination, where young people from Sekong gather to relax from the late afternoon until the evening. They say that there is no crime here, so you can walk around freely.

Visiting Sekong province is best enjoyed by exploring its forests and waterfalls, which are abundant. However, for me, Lamam district in Sekong province, where I am currently staying, is merely a stopover. My ultimate destination is Dakchung, a remote tribal village nestled atop a mountain in the dense forests bordering Vietnam.

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