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Luang Prabang is a small city located in the mountains of Northern Laos, almost untouched by the modern world. Since 1989, the Lao People's Democratic Republic has been opening the whole country to the rest of the world. Due to the increasing of development and prosperity, especially since recent years dangerous pressures on changing and demolishing individuals monuments and the urban landscape increase. And to the dramatic current and anticipated future increases in foreign and national visitors to Luang Prabang town, the cultural complex and the surrounding urban and rural areas are being subjected to severe development pressures. Therefore, the government has taken an active interest in preserving Lao National Cultural Heritage in monitoring and controlling the urban growth. Since 1993, administratively different government authorities both ministerial and provincial have been involved with various aspects in assuming responsibility for all development and preservation programs, within the support of UNESCO, UNDP and many other foreign countries. Introduction
Luang Prabang is located in the northern part of Laos approximately 400km North from the capital city Vientiane. The town is built on an isthmus, formed by the confluence of the river Mekong and the river Nam Khan. It mesures some 9.308 ha and has today about 30 000 populations.
The old town founded on the foot of a hill is dominated by the holy Phou Si hill, surrounded by natural mountains and rivers to protect the city. Its history date back more than 700 years, according to the Anal of Lao.
Clear information about Lao history was from the 14th century while the king Fa Ngoum rule the kingdom of Lan Xang, "million elephants" and founded Luang Prabang as capital city. It was then on the 16th century, under the rule of king Sayasethathirath the capital city was moved to Vientiane, due to protect it from the invasion of the Burmese army.
In the 18th century, Luang Prabang consist of 65 Vats (Buddhism temple), but still left to this day only 29, which each of them contain their own special history of its foundation and great events which mark its existence.
In the 19th century, the town was burned which has destroyed many wooden houses. It was then at the beginning of 20th century, in the French colonial period that the architecture style of building changed not only the shape but also including the use of material. Lime masonry construction was mostly use on administration buildings and less on Lao traditional houses.
In 1960 the town develop much more to the south with the influence of modern style architecture with a basic use of cement as material for construction.
In 1967 Many temples in Luang Prabang has been restored, by the Royal Court.
In 1975 after the new revolution, the whole country has been closing to the outside world, which kept Luang Prabang city untouched by the new development that is spread all through south east Asia. In 1989 after opening the whole country to the rest of the world, the Lao Government has taken an active interest in preserving Lao National Cultural Heritage in monitoring and controlling the urban growth. Therefor many restoration and conservation projects has been occurred within the cooperation and support of many foreign countries such as: |
| 1992-95 | Restoration of Luang Prabang Museum (Former Royal Palace), cooperation project funded by SIDA (Sweden). |
| 1992 | Restoration of Phu St Stupa, populations donation. |
| 1994-95 | Restoration of Vat Long Khoun, cooperation project funded by the French organization for the safeguarding of Vat Long Khoun (French). |
| 1993-1997 | Construction of Prabang's Temple, funded by the Lao P.D.R.Government and private agencies. |
| 1993-96 | Conservation of Tham Ting Cave, cooperation project supported by Australia. |
| 1994 | Restoration of the ancient gate of Vat Vixoun, by Transfield Company (Australia). |
| 1993-94 | Study and Identify the Heritage Protection Zone for Luang Prabang, by The Institute for Urban Technical Study, MCTPC in cooperation with the Urban Project Managing Assistance UNCHS, within the support of UNDP. |
| 1994 | Inventory of the Historical Monuments of Luang Prabang, by the Department of Museums and Archaeology and the consultant company Atelier de la Peninsule. |
| 1995-96 | Mural Painting Conservation of Vat Pa Houak, a cooperation project funded by the Thai Government. |
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In November 1993, a decree declaring nine National Cultural, Historical and Natural Heritage of Lao P.D.R. by the Prime Minister's cabinet Office, which the Town of Luang Prabang was included.
According to the 9th session in Berlin (Germany), 4th to 9th December 1995, the World Heritage Committee has decide to inscribe Luang Prabang Town in the World Heritage list, No 479 Rev. base on the cultural criteria (ii) (iv) and (v): "Luang Prabang represent, an exceptional value mix between the traditional urban architecture structure and those from the European colonial period of the XIX and XX century. This remarkable Urban landscape is extremely well conserve and illustrate a key period relation of two different traditional culture".
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