http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Chinese-Company-Bets-Big-On-Laos-Casino-Project-149701425.html

Not good!

I actually talked to the chinese dude that was managing that project when I was in Laos (Mr. Hann). He said they basically built an entire city there but he is worried that they are not going to see a return on their investment for a long long time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4U_TS0iFYc

I see a lot of posts and news about other countries coming in and investing mass amounts of money into Laos. I'm not so sure why everyone wants Laos to become "developed". I kind of like it the way it is, simple and peaceful. It seems like paradise will be lost with all these "modern" ideas wanting to come into Laos. I don't want Vientiane to look like Bangkok or Singapore or New York. I want Vientiane to look like Vientiane the next time I visit. I don't care what anyone says, Chinese, Vietnamese and even Thai's are invading into Laos. You don't just invest billions of dollars and not expect to get something back in return. Laos people probably don't even realize the price that they are sacrificing for this "development". Why can't Lao people be the ones to "develop" Laos the way they want it, why do we have to rely on others to do that? Commie gov't doesn't know how to invest in Laos, only know how to sell it. If only they help Lao people get loans or joint ventures or even international funding for local businesses, but no, they would rather fatten their pockets and show off to the ignorants that Laos is developing, just look at that new casino over there. These are fake ideals of being developed. Learn to build some decent roads before you think about a highspeed train or highway system. Invest in some hospitals and doctors so Lao people don't have to go to Udon instead. Returing to Laos after about 6 years, I see nothing improving for the Lao people, nothing. Land is more expensive along with everything else. More chinese, more vietnamese, more crime, more corruption, more pollution, more bad roads, more foreign banks, more hi-so more bad than good. I can't think of anything good that I saw.

Speaking about building roads, the one being under construction between the back of the Russian embassy going through Donepamai to connect Talat Souanemone and later on goes to donekoy on T4 and Kinamo is I think of excellent standards. My Camera is broken, I cannot take pictures  :( . They are doing a great job : rain collected in 1 meter diameter concrete pipes, very well prepared and flatten subbasement, 30 centimeters of concrete on sand bed with  proper dilatation joints and steel mesh. If anyone can takes pictures you would see what I mean. This road is costing a lot, I do not know the price but probably several millions of USD. Concrete roads are probably going to be the standard for Lao. Lao have sand, gravel and cement (water of course) = concrete and do not require too costly and specialized vehicles compare to asphalt roads and no need to import bitumen  ;)

Laos is developing it'll take time in the next 10, 20 year :)

Extremely difficult to say, but the pace is accelerating for sure  ;)
When I arrived to visit lao the fist time Thadeua road was far from completed and now they are doing a nice parallel road connected to the first belt around VTE (T2-T4). They are actually working on the sewers of "Hoogmau Mee La Dek" street  ::)

This diamond shaped road carved land (in pink) is almost the size of Vientiane.  What are they building? Is this a mining company?

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