Nam Ngum 1 dam undergoes upgrade to bolster tourism
The area surrounding the Nam Ngum 1 dam in Vientiane province is being developed in a bid to attract more tourists to the site, with roads and other facilities to be built. The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism aims to upgrade the area and make it more attractive to tourists.
Head of the Road Construction Project and Tourism Facility at the Nam Ngum 1 dam, Mr Soun Manivong, said on Thursday the project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank with more than US$4.6 million and construction will begin soon.
The Khamfong Group Co., Ltd. has been granted a concession to operate the project and expects the upgrade to be finished in 2023. Mr Soun said development of the area includes the construction of two concrete roads leading to the Nam Ngum Resort with a total length of 6.3 kilometres, width of 6 metres, and thickness of 17.5 centimetres. Drainage and streetlights will also be installed.
Other works will include the construction of parking lots, renovation of the marina in the Nam Ngum basin, improvement of sidewalks, and the building of shops and a viewing tower. A landfill area will also be created with waste bins and tanks for wastewater treatment, and additional water and electricity connections will be installed. In addition, five pavilions will be built where visitors can go to relax, and trees and shrubs will be planted throughout the development area. Construction will begin later this month and is set for completion in June 2023.
Upon completion of the project, it is expected that it will be handed over to the local administration and related parties for management. The ministry hopes the development will bolster the area’s reputation as a tourist destination and draw more visitors to the Nam Ngum basin, helping to boost the economy of Vientiane province and add to the income earned by local people.
Vientiane province has suffered from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and last year received just over 80,000 tourists a drop of about 35 percent compared to the previous year. However, provincial authorities are hopeful that the planned development will significantly increase the number people visiting the dam, with a special focus on Lao visitors. According to a 2019 report, the Asian Development Bank is providing US$47 million for infrastructure development in Vangvieng district and around the Nam Ngum reservoir to spur the growth of tourism in Vientiane province.
