On 1 July, Vientiane officially opened a new 9.3-kilometer stretch of Mekong riverfront featuring parks, walking and cycling paths, sports facilities, and flood protection infrastructure following the completion of Phase II of the Mekong River Integrated Management Project.
The new embankment extends from Wat Nak village in Sisattanak District to Hatdokkeo village in Hadsayfong district, serving 19 villages and adding 13 public parks, a riverside promenade, boat landings, street lighting, sidewalks, and drainage systems.
Construction began in February 2022 using a riprap design that employs large stones to reduce erosion and withstand floods expected once every 100 years.
The USD 67.56 million project was financed through a USD 57.6 million low-interest loan from South Korea, with the Lao government contributing USD 9.96 million.
The new embankment extends Vientiane’s riverfront protection system, which began with Phase I in 2014. That earlier phase stretches 12 kilometers from Kaoliew Village in Sikhoittabong District to Wat Nak Village in Sisattanak District and includes Chao Anouvong Park.
Several of the new parks opened to the public in June, adding green space and recreational areas for residents. The completed riverfront now offers expanded opportunities for walking, jogging, cycling, and other outdoor activities along the Mekong River.
