The Lao government has set aside a massive budget to develop and improve infrastructure in order to create better links with neighbouring countries.
Construction of the Vientiane-Kunming railway began on Dec 2,2015, when the Lao PDR celebrated its 40th anniversary. Road R3 has already been built from the Laos-China border to Thailand via Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces. This route enables business operators to transport their goods from and to Thailand, Laos and China as a logistics hub in the region.
Bounsong said Luang Namtha was a small province with a land area of 9,191sq km, of which 85 per cent is mountainous. It has five districts and a population of about 189,000 people, with 17 ethnic groups that have their own traditions and cultures.