Vang Vieng Central Plaza is a planned tourism development on the site of the old CIA airstrip in Vang Vieng.
A proposal to develop the site was announced in 2018, and land clearance was ordered in 2023. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on the 1st of June 2026.
From the Lao News Agency:
“Developed by China Engineering Construction Laos Co., Ltd., the USD 216 million project will cover 210,000 square meters and feature a comprehensive commercial complex integrating tourism, dining, culture, and entertainment under the concept of “Vang Vieng – The City That Never Sleeps.””
There is also mention of a casino, pending approval by authorities.
Official images haven’t been released yet, so I will post images and official websites when they become available.
The Laotian Times posted an image of the project model.
[Model of Vang Vieng Central Plaza (via The Laotian Times Facebook page).]
Note that the model shows the development surrounded by trees, which gives the impression that the airport is outside of the city. The actual location is in the city centre (refer to the map below).
Vang Vieng Central Plaza Map
The old airstrip is in the town centre. I have pinned the Bureau de Poste de Vangvieng as the arbitrary centre of town. The map also includes the location of the Vang Vieng Railway Station.
[Map of Vang Vieng Central Plaza project.]
About the old Vang Vieng Airport
The old Vang Vieng Airport is a former CIA airstrip known as Lima Site 6. After the war, the airport was managed by the Ministry of National Defense.
News reports refer to it as the old Vang Vieng Airport, which suggests it was a functioning civilian airport (it wasn’t). The airport had the IATA Code VGG and ICAO Code VLVV, though these codes no longer show up on the official IATA website.
Could the old Vang Vieng Airport be redeveloped into a new commercial airport?
The old runway is located in the city centre, so it cannot be repurposed into a modern airport.
The arrival of the Laos-China Railway means that it only takes 52 minutes to travel by train from Vientiane, which is the nearest city to Vang Vieng with an airport.
Further Reading
List of covert sites of the Laotian Civil War [Wikipedia]
Air America’s Legacy – Vang Vieng, Laos – Airstrip Video Tour [Far East Travels]
News archive
2026
Vang Vieng gears up for USD-216M tourism overhaul as old airport transforms – [02/06/26]
“Lao Yijin Group Co., Ltd. is leading the project, which received government approval after passing feasibility and regulatory reviews, according to state media. The company signed a concession agreement with Vientiane provincial authorities and plans to complete construction within five years on 16.24 hectares formerly managed by the Ministry of National Defense.”
2023
Authorities to clear commercial area for tourism spot in Vang Vieng – [24/04/23]
“The government of Vang Vieng issued a notice, calling for the closure of businesses within the commercial area of the old airport to pave the way for Yijin Engineering Construction Lao Co., Ltd’s ambitious new tourism project.”
2018
Chinese firm authorised to develop Vangvieng Airport as tourism complex – [15/02/18]
“The authorities of Vientiane Province has authorized the Chinese company Ichin Engineering & Construction Lao a 50-year concessional right to develop abandoned Vangvieng Airport as a US$ 200-million tourist complex featuring a five-star hotel, a hospital, a tourism school, a multi-ethnic cultural theater, and a casino, among others.”
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