I have mix feeling of happiness and sadness when reading through this news. I am happy because Laos is now developing very fast and our people can engage in different kinds of job. My sadness is that these developments may harm our beautiful cultures and we may have no more Luang prabang listed as world heritage site in next coming 10 years because many big projects try to use Luang Prabang for commercial purposes. What do you think ?

 

Laos To Create New City Costing U.S.$2 Billion

VIENTIANE, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- A new urban area covering 3,000 ha is expected to be created near the World Heritage-listed town of Luang Prabang, at a total cost of US$2 billion, Lao news agency, KPL, reported.

The project, known as the Diamond City, will be located in Chompheth district, Luang Prabang province, and will include a wide range of tourism, financial and recreational services, the news agency said quoting local media reports.

The city will be equipped with basic infrastructure services such as electricity, water supply, roads and bridges, post and telecommunications systems, economic establishments, agriculture and animal husbandry, processing industries, a cultural centre, 5-star hotels, resorts, 36-hole golf courses, cultural and eco-tourist sites, educational and cultural centres, as well as health facilities, business, financial and investment centres, a stock exchange market, real estate development projects, banking facilities, and public parks and other recreation sites.

The project also includes the construction of a road running from Chompheth district to Hongsa district in Sayaboury province.

A memorandum of understanding on the project was signed earlier this week by the New Century Group of Laos and the KPL Development Co. Ltd (Korea Development in Laos) from the Republic of Korea, outlining the terms of their cooperation.