Visitor facilities at Nam Ngum 1 reservoir to re-open in June

The construction of visitor facilities around the reservoir of the Nam Ngum 1 hydropower plant in Keo-oudom district, Vientiane province, is making good progress with work now 60 percent complete.

Upgrade of visitor facilities at the Nam Ngum reservoir in progress.

The improvement of basic infrastructure and facilities at the Nam Ngum Basin 1 is expected to be complete and ready for the use of visitors by the end of June.
The Deputy Governor of Vientiane province, Mr Phouvong Bounshou, told Lao media that the upgrade of the popular leisure site began in July 2021, funded by a grant from the Asian Development Bank.
The upgrade comprises improvement of the entry and exit road to the reservoir by paving it with concrete, which is now complete.
Additional improvements include renovating the shops, restaurants and bars that line the edge of the reservoir, as well as the visitor information centre, are also underway.
Improvements are also being made to hotels and guesthouses as well as local transport services.
Mr Phouvong said the upgrade of visitor facilities at the reservoir was one of seven tourism-related activities taking place at the provincial level and one of the province’s 20 tourism activities listed under the Visit Laos Year 2024 programme.
Provincial authorities are keen to encourage the development of visitor facilities and attractions around the Nam Ngum dam, which has long been popular with day-trippers from Vientiane, as it has the potential to attract more visitors because of the opportunities offered by the large expanse of water, as well as other attractions in the surrounding area.
The reservoir is sometimes referred to as Laos’ sea because of its clear blue water and stretches of white sand, and local authorities hope that investors will build resorts and bars on some of the islands in the reservoir, to attract more visitors. 
Tourism experts note that the Laos-China railway station at Phonhong provides further potential and have advised provincial authorities to consider running buses from the station to the reservoir, to bring more visitors to the site.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update January 10, 2024)