Vientiane is the capital of the landlocked nation of Laos. It’s the second smallest capital of ASEAN, with a metropolitan population of over 800,000. It’s often described as a sleepy capital, especially when compared to the neighbouring capitals of Bangkok and Hanoi.
Things are changing though in this city by the Mekong River. Vientiane has some big projects planned, and the Laos-China railway will open up Vientiane and Laos like never before.
Here are some of the projects that are planned or under construction in Vientiane.
Vientiane Map
[Map of future Vientiane projects.]
Completed
Vientiane Railway Station
Vientiane Railway Station is the main station of the Laos-China Railway, which opened in December 2021. The station serves the current Vientiane-Boten service. In the future, it will be an international station with direct trains from Kunming and Bangkok. Laos is also planning to build a railway from Vientiane to Vung Ang in Vietnam, so there could be various services from Vietnamese cities in the future.
Vientiane Station News
Render New Vientiane Station, New Train Station in Laos. – [20/01/18]
Images for an alternative design of Vientiane Station.
Planned/Under Construction
World Trade Centre
Address: Khuvieng Road, Ban Nong chan, Sisattanak District, Vientiane, Laos.
Developer: Lao international development co,.ltd.
Investor: Royal Global Investment Co. Ltd.
Facebook: World Trade Center Lao – Vientiane Laos
News: skyscrapercity.com
The World Trade Centre project is a mixed-use development featuring residential towers, office space, a retail mall (NAGA Mall), medical centre, and conference centre.
The site will include the InterContinental Vientiane.
Latsavong Plaza
Address: Ban Phonethong, Vientiane, Laos.
Website: latsavongplaza.com
Facebook: Latsavong Plaza
News: skyscrapercity.com
Latsavong Plaza is a multi-tower development comprising:
– Portofino Hotel
32 floors/138 metres.
– Latsavong Plaza (Residential Tower)
20 floors.
– Latsavong Plaza (Office Tower)
20 floors.
– Latsavong Plaza (Shopping Center)
6 floors, 40,000 sq m of retail space.
News:
Construction of city’s tallest building to resume – [28/12/21]
“Construction of Latsavong Plaza, which houses a five-star shopping mall and a hotel and is said to be the tallest building in Laos, is to resume after the contractor ran into financial difficulties in 2016 and work came to a halt.”
Vientiane Life Center
Address: Sisattanak, Vientiane, Laos.
Facebook: Vientiane Life Center.
News: skyscrapercity.com.
Vientiane Life Center is being built by a Chinese company and it will include a shopping mall, apartments, and a multi-storey garage.
DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane
Address: Chetthathirat Road, Vientiane, Laos.
Project Manager: cm49.co.th.
DoubleTree by Hilton Vientiane is categorized as a four-star hotel. The hotel consists of 1 President Suite Room, 1 Suite Room, 6 Deluxe Suites and 180 Deluxe Rooms, total of 188 rooms.
News
DoubleTree by Hilton makes investment in Laos – [02/04/17]
Vientiane New World
Address: Don Chan Island, Vientiane, Laos.
Construction: China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd.
Facebook: Vientiane New World.
News: skyscrapercity.com.
The Vientiane New World (VNW) project is a new urban area located on Don Chan Island on the Mekong River waterfront. The area covers 500,000m2 and includes villas, a five-star hotel, commercial area, shopping mall, office buildings, serviced apartments, and gardens. The first phase includes the ASEM Villa and the Don Chan Palace Hotel.
Vientiane New World News
Vientiane New World: A modern dream and its impact on Don Chan community livelihoods – [27/08/19]
Don Chan: once were tomatoes – [17/10/12]
Amari Vientiane
Address: Intersection of Quai Fa Ngum and Khun Bu Lom Roads, Vientiane.
Developer: Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co, Ltd (AIDC).
News: skyscrapercity.com.
Amari Vientiane is a planned 15-storey hotel near the Mekong Riverside.
Holiday Inn & Suites Vientiane
Address: Next to Crowne Plaza, Vientiane.
Facebook: @ holidayinnvientiane.
Holiday Inn & Suites News
IHG® to debut Holiday Inn® in Laos capital – [23/10/17]
“Set to open in 2019, the 250-room Holiday Inn & Suites® Vientiane, which includes 50 long-stay suites, will be part of a mixed-use development consisting of the existing Crowne Plaza® Vientiane, office towers and a retail mall.”
That Luang Lake SEZ
News: skyscrapercity.com / skyscrapercity.com
That Luang Lake SEZ is a new urban area in Vientiane designated as a special economic zone. Also referred to as That Luang Marsh Specific Economic Zone, the area of 8.77 million sq m is expected to accommodate up to 300,000 people. The development is centred around a round ornamental lake, and there are plans to build a 100-metre high buddha statue by the lake.
Read more about That Luang Lake SEZ.
Saysetha Development Zone
Website: investlaos.gov.la.
Developer: Laos-China Joint Venture Development Co., Ltd.
News: skyscrapercity.com.
Saysettha Development Zone is a cooperation project jointly established by the governments of China and Laos. This Special Economic Zone is listed as a priority project in China‘s Belt and Road Initiative. The development is located 19km away from Wattay International Airport, 10km from the planned new airport, and 1.5km from the Sino-Laos Railway Freight Station (source).
D’Champa Condominium
Developer: Royal Global Investment Co. Ltd.
News: skyscrapercity.com.
22-storey apartment tower in Vientiane. Midway up the tower is a pool, garden, and entertainment area.
Proposed
New Vientiane International Airport
New Vientiane International Airport is a proposed airport that will replace the current Vientiane Wattaya Airport.
The current airport is just 3km from the city centre, making it the closest airport to the city centre of any capital in Southeast Asia. While the current airport is convenient to get to, it limits the future growth of the city due to height restrictions.
The new airport site is approximately 35km outside the city, in Xaythany district. A project study was commissioned in 2015, and construction was scheduled to begin in 2025.
New Vientiane International Airport News
Laos revives new airport plan – [18/02/15]
“The Lao government will sign an agreement with Lao and Chinese firms to launch a feasibility study into a new airport site for Vientiane, a Lao official said.”
Vientiane Bus Rapid Transit
There is a proposal to build a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Vientiane.
Read more about the proposed Vientiane BRT.
Vientiane News
Vientiane’s iconic Nam Phou fountain to be returned to the public – [14/07/22]
Vientiane Capital begins second phase of flood protection project – [07/03/22]
The production of urban space in Vientiane: From colonial to neoliberal times (1893-2020) – [September 2020]
Laos to allow foreign ownership under condominium law – [22/09/20]
Morning Market demolition draws public ire -[08/09/20]
“The original Morning Market building in Vientiane Capital has been slated for demolition, however the public has taken to social media against the decision.”
Laos’ sleepy capital awakens to a construction boom – [21/01/16]
“The construction surge comes on the back of a decade of 7-8% annual economic growth that has seen the Laotian economy double in size since 2006, according to the Asian Development Bank. Laos’ gross domestic product is still less than $12 billion, however, making it the smallest economy in the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations.”
Vientiane’s changing skyline – [25/11/13]
“As Laos slowly engages with the world economy, investors are looking for office space in the capital, where a few ambitious developments are planned.”
[Sky Office Building at World Trade Centre.]
Heritage architecture being lost – [31/07/13]
“Heritage officials have expressed concern over the number of French colonial buildings that have disappeared from the capital due to urbanisation in recent years.”
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