Hi Adm

Do you know where is the location of this Chinatown?

In the vicinity of north Oumoung village is what we consider "the Chinese area".

Other than that, I don't think there will be another Chinatown, according to the following report anyway.


A Chinese-Lao joint venture has pulled out of a deal to develop a Suzhou-style “model city” on the outskirts of the Lao capital, Vientiane, according to senior Lao officials.

The "New City Development Project," which involved a 50-year lease for 1,000 hectares of land in and around the That Luang Marsh, required the group to pay roughly 7,000 households a total of U.S. $400 million in compensation for relocating their homes.

Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, a former mayor of Vientiane and current minister of planning and investment, said the concession had been canceled because the Chinese developer didn't want to pay the compensation.

“Previously, the government had an agreement with the Chinese company to build a new city. But this has already been canceled,” Khoutphaythoune said.

“Due to the high cost of compensation to residents in the area surrounding the location, there are no longer any companies interested in developing it.”

The joint venture comprised three Chinese firms and one Lao firm and was managed by the Suzhou Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co.

Khoutphaythoune said the Chinese company will revert its planned development to the original 1,000 hectares it had targeted near a Chinese-built stadium Laos used to host the 2009 Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) in December.

Thank for the info Admins. I want see development in Laos, but agree with Lao government that residents should be compensate fairy according to market value. What's going on in Cambodia is not good where more 150,000  people get kick out of their land sometime without any compensation.


Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1^st Feb, 2011 at 2:01am:

In the vicinity of north Oumoung village is what we consider "the Chinese area". Other than that, I don't think there will be another Chinatown, according to the following report anyway. A Chinese-Lao joint venture has pulled out of a deal to develop a Suzhou-style “model city” on the outskirts of the Lao capital, Vientiane, according to senior Lao officials. The "New City Development Project," which involved a 50-year lease for 1,000 hectares of land in and around the That Luang Marsh, required the group to pay roughly 7,000 households a total of U.S. $400 million in compensation for relocating their homes. Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, a former mayor of Vientiane and current minister of planning and investment, said the concession had been canceled because the Chinese developer didn't want to pay the compensation. “Previously, the government had an agreement with the Chinese company to build a new city. But this has already been canceled,” Khoutphaythoune said. “Due to the high cost of compensation to residents in the area surrounding the location, there are no longer any companies interested in developing it.” The joint venture comprised three Chinese firms and one Lao firm and was managed by the Suzhou Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co. Khoutphaythoune said the Chinese company will revert its planned development to the original 1,000 hectares it had targeted near a Chinese-built stadium Laos used to host the 2009 Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) in December.

If they build Chinatown in Laos can anybody buy property and live there or it's only for Chinese resident? There are also many Chinatown in America, but most or all of the resident are Chinese.  Chinese have their own culture, and don't usually assimilate with other culture like other Asian people.

There's no Lao, Thai, Hmong, Viet, Khmer town in America because they assimilated into American culture and society pretty well.

I guess anyone can live there, if they want to mix with Chinese people.

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1^st Feb, 2011 at 2:01am:

In the vicinity of north Oumoung village is what we consider "the Chinese area". Other than that, I don't think there will be another Chinatown, according to the following report anyway. A Chinese-Lao joint venture has pulled out of a deal to develop a Suzhou-style “model city” on the outskirts of the Lao capital, Vientiane, according to senior Lao officials. The "New City Development Project," which involved a 50-year lease for 1,000 hectares of land in and around the That Luang Marsh, required the group to pay roughly 7,000 households a total of U.S. $400 million in compensation for relocating their homes. Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, a former mayor of Vientiane and current minister of planning and investment, said the concession had been canceled because the Chinese developer didn't want to pay the compensation. “Previously, the government had an agreement with the Chinese company to build a new city. But this has already been canceled,” Khoutphaythoune said. “Due to the high cost of compensation to residents in the area surrounding the location, there are no longer any companies interested in developing it.” The joint venture comprised three Chinese firms and one Lao firm and was managed by the Suzhou Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co. Khoutphaythoune said the Chinese company will revert its planned development to the original 1,000 hectares it had targeted near a Chinese-built stadium Laos used to host the 2009 Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) in December.

No one in the right mind would pay 400M to leasing just 1000 hectares for only 50 years.
recently, I have check out all the property for sell in Vientiane. some of the property asking way too much. it's would be better for me to rent it than buy it.

US$400m may be a lot of money over 50year lease, but China-Laos trade had reached new record high of almost US$600 last year, so I'm sure the money will be well worth spending especially after the China-Laos railway is up and running in 4-5 years time.

I agree that house prices in Vientiane are way too high, not to mention all purchases are cash only, no mortgages whatsoever. However it is not common for Lao people to rent a home of which they live in. Most rental properties are tailored for expatriates and the rents are very high too.

Maybe they purposely asking for high prices to discourage the Chinese settlement. Many people speak out against it this project.
8-)



Tee wrote on 5^th Feb, 2011 at 5:22am:

Admin Saovaluck wrote on 1st Feb, 2011 at 2:01am: In the vicinity of north Oumoung village is what we consider "the Chinese area". Other than that, I don't think there will be another Chinatown, according to the following report anyway. A Chinese-Lao joint venture has pulled out of a deal to develop a Suzhou-style “model city” on the outskirts of the Lao capital, Vientiane, according to senior Lao officials. The "New City Development Project," which involved a 50-year lease for 1,000 hectares of land in and around the That Luang Marsh, required the group to pay roughly 7,000 households a total of U.S. $400 million in compensation for relocating their homes. Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, a former mayor of Vientiane and current minister of planning and investment, said the concession had been canceled because the Chinese developer didn't want to pay the compensation. “Previously, the government had an agreement with the Chinese company to build a new city. But this has already been canceled,” Khoutphaythoune said. “Due to the high cost of compensation to residents in the area surrounding the location, there are no longer any companies interested in developing it.” The joint venture comprised three Chinese firms and one Lao firm and was managed by the Suzhou Industrial Park Overseas Investment Co. Khoutphaythoune said the Chinese company will revert its planned development to the original 1,000 hectares it had targeted near a Chinese-built stadium Laos used to host the 2009 Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games) in December. No one in the right mind would pay 400M to leasing just 1000 hectares for only 50 years. recently, I have check out all the property for sell in Vientiane. some of the property asking way too much. it's would be better for me to rent it than buy it.