Luang Prabang ancient capital at risk of losing UNESCO title

Laos Massive construction, tourism overload, and loss of traditional culture are the main reasons why Luang Prabang is at risk of being removed from UNESCO's World Heritage list.

The ancient capital of Luang Prabang, located between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, is described as a picturesque destination with houses of harmonious Lao-French architecture. Luang Prabang was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1995.

This place is also a major Buddhist cultural center in Laos. Visitors here can easily see monks in bright orange robes walking across the road, and long-tailed wooden boats sailing along the river surrounded by tropical wooded hills.

Beneath the ancient facade lies the worries of locals and conservationists. A new UNESCO report points to a number of worrying issues that, if not addressed soon, could see Luang Prabang lose its World Heritage status. These include development that is destroying traditional houses and structures in the protected old town. The ancient capital is facing overtourism and a gradual loss of cultural life.

In particular, the UNESCO report highlighted the impact of the construction of the Luang Prabang hydropower dam 25 km upstream by a Lao-Thai joint venture and a second dam in the area in the near future on the value of the ancient capital of Laos. Minja Yang, former deputy director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, was concerned that this could turn the riverside town into a lakeside town.

“If the second dam is built, that will be the main reason why Luang Prabang will be removed from the world heritage list,” Mr. Yang said.

Colonial brick buildings in Luang Prabang. Photo: Discovery Laos

A local government official said he was concerned the town would lose its World Heritage listing. "UNESCO has given us many rules to follow, but now we are doing the opposite," the official told Nikkei Asia.

Named after Phra Bang, a golden Buddha statue gifted to King Fa Ngum in the 14th century, Luang Prabang is one of the oldest towns in Laos, dating back thousands of years. It was the royal capital and the centre of Buddhism in Laos for much of its history.

After Laos gained independence from France in 1953, the capital was moved to Vientiane. Luang Prabang fell into oblivion, leaving much of its ancient architecture intact.

Today, the ancient town has more than 600 buildings and 183 wetlands protected under the terms of a UNESCO agreement. As living standards rise, the town is gradually rejuvenating as young people working in the tourism sector flock here. Tourist arrivals to the town have increased tenfold in the past two decades, with nearly 800,000 foreign visitors in the first three quarters of 2023.

With property prices soaring, many locals have chosen to sell or rent out their homes and move out of the city. The local population has declined, and monasteries have had to downsize. Traditional local offerings are now largely for tourists. A recent ceremony saw a large number of foreigners attend. Some local restaurants have been known to rip off tourists.

There are also major concerns about the potential impact of the Luang Prabang dam, recalling the damage caused by a dam collapse in southern Laos in 2018, as well as the impact on the banks of the Mekong River.

Wat Xieng Thong, Luang Prabang. Photo: Discovery Laos

Tourism in this town is on the rise, becoming an attraction for many Chinese investors. Locals say that from small shops to large hotels in Luang Prabang are being built by Chinese investors. The Laos-China railway also went into operation last year, connecting Kunming with Vientiane in just a few hours. This also contributes to boosting the tourism market in Luang Prabang. Some locals are concerned that too much tourism development will lead to Luang Prabang becoming as big as Vientiane and they do not want the town to lose its ancient beauty.

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee will make a decision on Luang Prabang in July. Experts predict that it is likely the town could be placed on “endangered” status.

The former deputy director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre said that without the World Heritage title, wrong projects of shopping malls and casinos would spring up rapidly in Luang Prabang.

"All efforts to prevent these activities over the past 20 years may be in vain, and the future of the town is uncertain," said Mr. Minja Yang.

Bich Phuong

According to Nikkei Asia

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