Fears grow that dam across Mekong River in Laos could harm World Heritage site of Luang Prabang

People on a boat move in Mekong river in front of construction site of Luang Prabang dam in Luang Prabang, Laos, Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Luang Prabang was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site nearly 30 years ago, but a multibillion-dollar dam project is raising questions that could deprive the city of its coveted status and prompting broader concerns the Mekong River could be ruined by multiple dams that are being planned.(AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

LUANG PRABANG: Landlocked Laos doesn't have the famous beaches of its neighbours to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors.

The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a Unesco World Heritage Site where legend has it that Buddha once rested during his travels. It brings all the elements together, with its mix of historic Laotian and French colonial architecture on a peninsula at the confluence of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers.