ASEAN rally group arrives Thailand

ASEAN rally group arrives Thailand

ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ from Vietnam and Laos arrived Thailand this afternoon in Mukdahan Province on the Mekong River.

Mukdahan Provincial Center of Tourism, Sports and Recreation Director Narongsak Kubunya-arak and over 100 Thai-Vietnamese and students welcomed ‘ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ crossing the Thai-Lao border at immigration office near the 2nd Thailand-Laos Friendship Bridge at Mueang District of Mukdahan Province.

The rally is led by Sawannakhet Deputy District Attorney Suban Kaeomeexai and Quang Tri Center of Tourism, Sports and Culture Director Vien Van Yung, consisting of 80 people in 20 cars.

‘ASEAN Family Rally 2009’ project is organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to encourage tourism routes in Thailand and other ASEAN members as Thailand assumes the Chair of ASEAN.

The rally will resume tomorrow (9 March) from Mukdahan Province to join with the group from Cambodia at Sirindhorn Museum in Kalasin. Then the rally will head to Phitsanulok, the intersection of Indochina.

Initially, Myanmar planned to join the rally but had to cancel its participation due to the closure of Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in recent days. The blockade of the bridge was the result of bus entrepreneurs in Mae Sot district of Tak province who were affected by the overlapping routes of vehicles from Myanmar.

The withdrawal of Myanmar group has left just 4 countries,Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia to complete this historic rally.

National News Bureau of Thailand
08 March 2009