Luang Prabang Smart and Integrated Urban Strategy – Report Series
The Luang Prabang Smart and Integrated Urban Strategy identifies smart city solutions to facilitate sustainable urban and tourism growth, address urban management problems, and preserve Luang Prabang’s distinctive built, natural, and intangible heritage. The Luang Prabang provincial government led the development of the strategy with assistance from the ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund (AASCTF), and based on extensive consultations with public and private stakeholders.
Preparation of the strategy followed a three-stage process: urban assessment, urban scenario, and the integrated strategy stage. Each stage is captured as a report listed below. Through this comprehensive undertaking, the overall strategy presents a smart city strategic infrastructure plan to achieve Luang Prabang’s ambition to become a more livable heritage city for all.
AASCTF is financed by the Government of Australia through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, managed by the Asian Development Bank, and implemented by Ramboll.
In the urban assessment stage of the strategy process, data and documentation were analyzed to identify the city’s current challenges and opportunities, including from a gender equality, disability, and social inclusion perspective. Community leaders, civil society, government officials, entrepreneurs, youth, and women working in the night market were consulted in person and through online surveys to understand their aspirations for the city.
In the urban scenario stage, population and visitor numbers were projected up to 2040 to analyze different urban scenarios with varied urban growth trajectories. This Urban Scenario Report also looks at land use projections to ensure sufficient land is identified for growth while protecting the integrity of the Luang Prabang historic township. The report should be read in tandem with the Urban Assessment Report since both documents assess the needs and potential of Luang Prabang. Findings from both reports were used to guide the development of smart city strategies and priority projects in the Urban Strategy.
The Luang Prabang Smart and Integrated Urban Strategy outlines three strategic pillars which have specific strategies and smart city projects that support the realization of Luang Prabang’s livable heritage city ambition. The three strategic pillars are: (i) Integrated Tourism and Heritage Destination, (ii) Clean and Safe Environment, and (iii) Sustainable Villages and a 15-Minute City. Each pillar will have a working group from the local government that will oversee the progress of each pillar, and to ensure that the smart city initiatives across the different domains are aligned with the overarching ambition and contribute to urban sustainability, resilience, social inclusion, and livability outcomes. The strategy is also available in Lao version.
The Inception Report provides an overview of the Luang Prabang Smart and Integrated Urban Strategy project of AASCTF. The project began in March 2022 and was completed with the launch of the strategy in October 2023. This report sets the stage for the development of the strategy, based on ADB's Smart City Analytical Framework. It also details the context of Luang Prabang and the impetus for a smart and integrated urban strategy.