KPL
Champassak Province has hosted the 8th International Cooperation Project Meeting for the Vat Phou Champassak World Heritage Site, bringing together Lao officials, international partners, and heritage experts to assess ongoing restoration and development efforts.
(KPL) Champassak Province has hosted the 8th International Cooperation Project Meeting for the Vat Phou Champassak World Heritage Site, bringing together Lao officials, international partners, and heritage experts to assess ongoing restoration and development efforts.
The meeting, held on 25 November 2025 in Pakse, was attended by Tedavan Kaeopilavan, Head of Champassak’s Department of Culture and Tourism; Phakhansay Sikhansay, Director General of the Heritage Department; Kwanwan Baek, Deputy Director General of the Korean Heritage Administration; along with representatives from provincial offices, international organisations, and technical specialists.
Continued Cooperation Since UNESCO Recognition
Ms. Tedavan noted that the meeting builds on the 7th coordination meeting held in Vientiane in 2023. Since Vat Phou was inscribed as Laos’ second UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001, joint coordination meetings have played an important role in heritage conservation, including restoration of ancient monuments, monitoring of the old town area, and managing development around the site.
International support has come from multiple partners, including Korea, France, India, and other countries providing long-standing grant assistance.
Review of Foreign-Assisted Projects
The meeting served as a platform to review progress on key projects, including:
Lao–French CHAMPA project: archaeological research, Lidar aerial surveys, socio-economic and tourism-related studies
Lao–Korean cooperation: monument conservation and restoration
Lao–Indian cooperation: restoration and conservation of stone structures
Participants also received updates on:
Site management and development plans
Champassak Province’s tourism strategy, including development initiatives at Vat Phou
Improvements to the Vat Phou Museum, including expansion and exhibition upgrades
Old town development in Suay Sathit, Nong Vien and Vat Sang Vai
Surveys of ancient routes for tourism development, including the Tat Sampang route from Vat Phou to Hong Nang Sida
Exchanging Ideas for Future Work
The meeting provided an open forum for discussion, allowing participants to share experiences, identify challenges, and propose new approaches to improve project implementation and expand cooperation in the future.
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