Photo: Nong Chanh view from Lao Green Park Boutique Hotel
Vientiane shoppers will have more options when a new modern shopping mall is built on the site of the old Khuadin Market.
A stone-laying ceremony for Lao-Viet Nongchanh Shopping Mall took place yesterday to mark the start of construction.
The ceremony was attended by Vientiane Mayor Dr Sinlivong Khoutphaythoune and Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Huy Quang.
The mall will replace Khuadin Market, one of the oldest markets in Vientiane .
The new facility will consist of two five-storey buildings and one three-storey building on a 11,500-sq m site, according to the mall's owner and director of the Construction Installation and Building Material Company No 5, Mr Tran Duy Tuan.
Mr Tran Duy Tuan will invest US$11 million in the project.
One of the five-storey buildings and the three-storey building are scheduled for completion in time for celebrations in 2010 to mark the 450 th anniversary of the relocation of the Lao capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane .
The other five-storey building will be finished two years later.
The site is located in the city centre and is easily accessible by large numbers of people. There is a growing need for consumer items and more products are coming into the country from various areas, so there is considerable potential for the improvement of the site, Mr Tran Duy Tuan said.
“The existing market is in poor condition and does not match socio-economic growth in Laos . The makeshift stalls have no protection in the rainy season and are very hot in the summer months. This causes products on sale to degrade,” he said.
In a ddition the market gives off a bad smell from all the rubbish that accumulates and the footpaths are badly managed.
“New investment to build a modern shopping mall is urgently needed. The time for such a development is now,” Mr Tran Duy Tuan said.
The mall will be fully equipped with a lift, escalators, air-conditioning, drainage, fire hydrants and a small park.
It will house 1,000-1,200 booths and food outlets. There will also be a convention centre and offices for rent, with a basement car-park.
Most of the goods on sale at the mall will be Vietnamese products, Mr Tran Duy Tuan said.
Vendors who rented stalls in Khuadin Market will be given priority for stall rental in the new facility.
At present these vendors are selling their wares in a temporary market alongside the construction site, Mr Tran Duy Tuan said. They are not required to pay for utilities, stall rental or security services.
Mr Tran Duy Tuan said the new mall would contribute to development plans for Vientiane and would promote economic growth.
According to the Vietnamese newspaper, most of the goods sell in this shopping mall will be imported from Vietnam. So what is the point. Is this another Vietnamese influences in Laos?
Construction of Laos-Vietnam Trade Centre starts
Construction of a Laos-Vietnam Trade Centre was officially kicked off in Vientiane on May 8, the Vietnam News Agency has reported.
The US $11.7 million project is invested by the Laos-Viet Trade Development and Investment Joint Stock Company.
The centre is build on the foundation of an old market in Vientiane. It has a total area of 40,000 square metres, including two five storey buildings and one three storey building with more than 1,200 booths.
Construction is scheduled to be completed after 36 months. Most of the goods traded at the fair will be imported from Vietnam.
Anonymous wrote: According to the Vietnamese newspaper, most of the goods sell in this shopping mall will be imported from Vietnam. So what is the point. Is this another Vietnamese influences in Laos?
This is called, "open market," and it will help stimulate the growth of Laos economy. It will creates jobs for the people and generate tax revenue for the Government.
