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 big country town, and it certainly feels sleepy if you are coming from Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City.
Things are changing though in this city by the Mekong River. Vientiane is experiencing a construction boom, and the future China-Laos railway will open up Vientiane and Laos like never before.
Here are some of the projects that are planned or under construction in Vientiane.
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 signature tower will be 150 metres, making it the tallest building in Vientiane.
[Sky Office Building (image via bangkokpost.com.)]
The site will include the InterContinental Vientiane, which is expected to open in 2021.
Latsavong Plaza
Address: Ban Phonethong, Vientiane, Laos.
Website: latsavong.com.cn (Chinese).
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.
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.
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 Railway Stations
One of the biggest infrastructure projects in Southeast Asia is happening in one of the smallest countries in ASEAN. The Boten – Vientiane railway (or the China-Laos railway project) will eventually connect Kunming in China to Singapore, via Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia.
The 420km Laos section is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. In Vientiane there will be two stations: Vientiane Neua – (Vientiane North), and Vientiane Tay – (Vientiane Main Station).
With the new railway it will then be possible to travel domestically to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang by train.
With Thailand building a high-speed railway from Bangkok to the Thai-Laos border, it will be also possible to get a fast train from Vientiane to Bangkok.
There is currently a station at Thanaleng (about 20km from Vientiane) that serves the overnight Bangkok to Vientiane train. The new station will bring the service closer to the city centre.
[Images via ASEAN Skyline.]
Once this line is completed other planned lines might begin, making Vientiane even better connected by railway. There is a proposed line running through Southern Laos, and another line that would connect Laos to a seaport in Vietnam. Read more about the future of Laos railways.
Amari Vientiane
Address: Intersection of Quai Fa Ngum and Khun Bu Lom Roads, Vientiane.
Developer: Asia Investment, Development & Construction Sole Co, Ltd (AIDC).
Amari Vientiane is a planned 15-storey hotel near the Mekong Riverside.
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 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.
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