Vang vieng: The handover ceremony for the Vang Vieng municipal road improvement project in Vientiane Province was held on 30 August 2026. The event marked the culmination of significant infrastructure enhancements aimed at boosting the local tourism industry and improving urban mobility.
According to Lao News Agency, the ceremony was attended by prominent figures, including Minister of Culture and Tourism Suansavanh Viyaket, members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, the President of the Vientiane Provincial Administration Committee, the Vang Vieng District Party Secretary, representatives from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), relevant ministries, local authorities, and contractors. Ms Phonemaly Inthaphom, Director General of the Tourism Development Department, highlighted the project’s significance as part of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Tourism Infrastructure Development Project Phase II. The project, supported by a grant from the ADB, was initiated in October 2024 with a total contract val
ue of USD 2.76 million.
The project involved the improvement of 13 roads, covering a total length of 5,445 metres. Notable enhancements included paving roads with asphalt, upgrading drainage systems, installing safety barriers, and introducing traffic signs and road markings to regulate traffic flow and reduce accidents.
During the ceremony, Mr Sengphet Ananthavong, Deputy Director of Road No. 8 Construction State Enterprise and LBD Construction and Bridge Joint Venture, officially handed over the project. Minister Suansavanh Viyaket praised the successful completion of the project, emphasizing its importance in enhancing Vang Vieng’s transport infrastructure and tourism facilities. She noted that the project would facilitate safer and more convenient travel, boost tourism and investment, generate income and employment, and improve local living standards in line with green and sustainable development goals.
Minister Viyaket urged the Vang Vieng district administration, local departments, businesses, and re
sidents to maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the roads. She encouraged collective efforts to transform Vang Vieng into a green, clean, safe, and pedestrian-friendly tourist destination. Additionally, she officially transferred the project to the Vientiane Provincial Administration and Vang Vieng District, expressing her hope that all sectors will collaborate to sustain the infrastructure.
In her concluding remarks, Minister Viyaket called for the continuous development of Vang Vieng in accordance with the Vang Vieng Master Plan (2026-2036), aiming to attract more tourists to Vang Vieng and the Lao PDR.