Luang Prabang province is the province in the  northern Laos. It is literally meaning “Royal Buddha Image“, Pubgprabang is a city of the province, consisting of 58 adjacent villages, of which 33 comprise the UNESCO Town Of Luang Prabang World Heritage Site. It was listed in 1995 for unique and “remarkably” well preserved architectural, religious and cultural heritage, a blend of the rural and urban developments over several centuries, including the French colonial influences during the 19th and 20th centuries.

The centre of the city consists of four main roads and is located on a peninsula at the confluence of the Nam Khan and Mekong River.

The Nam Ou (“rice bowl river”) spans 450 kilometers, flowing south from mountains near the Lao-China border in Northern Laos to meet the waters of the mainstream Mekong River. Along the way, the river traverses through the provinces of Phongsaly, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang, past mountains, forested valleys and stunning limestone karsts. Yet, fundamental changes to the riparian ecosystems and surrounding communities are underway as the development of a seven-dam cascade by China’s Sinohydro Corporation moves forward. To date, thousands of affected people have received little information about the project or planned resettlement schemes. With limited information publicly available, there has been little opportunity for public scrutiny of this hydropower cascade.  

Communities of diverse ethnic minorities that have relied for generations on the Nam Ou and surrounding forest resources for food, income and spiritual well-being will be significantly impacted by the dams. In total, 89 villages are expected to be displaced. The Nam Ou has also recently become a destination for wilderness trekkers, kayakers and tour groups. However, these dams will undermine much of the tourism industry and its associated economic contributions.

Luang Prabang Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is located Luang Prabang Province with total zone area of 4,850 ha. They investment portfolio cover wide range such as real estate development, international high school, hospital medical centers, banking and financial institutions, hotel, entertainment venues and restaurants, sport center, cultural center and amusement parks, etc.

References:

1. Wikipedia ‘Lungprabang’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luang_Prabang
2. International River ‘Nam Ou’: https://www.internationalrivers.org/campaigns/nam-ou-river
3. IPD ‘Investment in Laos’: http://bit.ly/2GerZrN