Programs and Events

Young visitors are interested in English teaching materials selling at U.S. Embassy booth at That Luang Fair

Crowd rally in front of free pamphlets and brochure desk

Thousands of young Laotians visited the U.S. Embassy’s booth at the Lao-International Trade Exhibition and Convention Center (Lao-ITECC) during the Boun That Luang Fair, Laos’ biggest annual cultural festival, held from October 28 – November 5, 2006. Deputy Chief of Mission Mary Grace McGeehan officially opened the event and welcomed Lao officials who came to visit the booth.

The U.S. Embassy booth hosted many activities this year, including video showings about American science, society and history, a poster show on Native American artists, information on student advising and educational opportunities in the United States, and the sale of English teaching materials to Lao students at greatly reduced prices. The Public Diplomacy staff at the booth also distributed brochures with information on American Corners (libraries with U.S.-provided materials) in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, pamphlets about the dangers of bird flu and how to avoid infection, and many other books and brochures on American government, history, and society. In total, the Embassy staff distributed over 4000 publications to interested Laotians.