Special Report: Cities in Cambodia and Laos

By GovInsider

We look into how Luang Prabang, Siem Reap, and Vientiane are ensuring clean water, overhauling public transport, and conserving their most beloved attractions.

Images: Emilio Labrador, Tim Wang, and LoriQoPB – CC BY 2.0

Countries such as Cambodia and Laos face wide-ranging problems: poverty, corruption, hunger, and low development. But that is not to say that they cannot innovate and urbanise to better the lives of their residents.

In this Special Report, we turn the spotlight to three cities that are rising to the challenge of solving these issues. They are improving on infrastructure, designing inclusive services, and ensuring sustainability.

They are also reaching out to citizens, making inroads into building viable transport systems, and harnessing data analytics to predict future needs.

We interviewed:

Soukan Bounnhong, Mayor of Luang Prabang
So Platong, Mayor of Siem Reap
Vilayvone Chanthalaty, Director of the City Office for Management and Services in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos

The transition from sleepy villages to bustling urban centres can be a complex process. Through these stories, we share the real-life impact of this change - and the hope that they bring.