Luang Prabang, the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), is uniquely its own. A former royal kingdom marked by Buddhism and traces of a French colonial past, it combines an impressive array of natural, built, and intangible cultural heritage. How these can be protected, valued, and leveraged for long-term livability is the big question. 

The ASEAN Australia Smart Cities Trust Fund (AASCTF) supported the Luang Prabang Provincial Government with the Luang Prabang Smart and Integrated Urban Strategy project, delivering the titular strategy backed by two supporting reports: the Urban Assessment and Urban Scenario reports. Together, this integrated strategy provides a comprehensive plan with an actionable list of projects centered on the city's vision of a livable heritage city for all.

This project data sheet is part of a collection that features 10 cities with direct interventions from AASCTF. Each data sheet provides a summary of the project, detailing challenges, solutions, and early impacts and benefits, as well how the solutions can be sustained long after project completion. The goal is to showcase how AASCTF has collaborated with the city and partners to catalyze people-centric smart solutions, which can hopefully be replicated or scaled in other Asian cities.

AASCTF is financed by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, managed by the Asian Development Bank, and implemented by Ramboll.