Just to give a bit more details about the crime rate. My street is a small and quiet street, but also a short cut between Kouhviang and Lao-Thai-Road. It is usually busy at rush hour, but relatively quiet in the evening. All the break-ins happened at night, the dog hits in the morning. This crimes all happend within the last 8 months.
View Crimes in my street in a larger map
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Friday, October 26, 2012
Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel soon to be finished?
Wasn't it meant to be the hotel for the delegates of the ASEM summit that will take place in two weeks from now? Although from the outside the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel (formerly know as Grand Mekong?) looks pretty inside, I have no idea how it looks from the inside. I heard that 50 percent of the roms will be ready for the summit, guessing from the progress so far it might be even more.
In a country where it took 5 years to build a city pillar it is quite impressive to get a hotel this size build in 78 months. Since the recently opened Dork Jumpa Hotel (!) caters toatally the Chinese market, I am wondering what the Landmark is targeting at.
In August Laovoices had a story about the progress, where the owner was quoted :
"Ms Orlathay said that once construction of the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel is completed, the hotel will be one of the luxurious places to stay in most Vientiane. The hotel will be equipped with all facilities needed to meet international five star hotel standards."
I just wonder how they will assure that the service is five star as well - this is actually the bigger challenge. It is mentioned, that "At first, there will be both Lao and Chinese staff working at the hotel,” she said, adding that after the Lao employees had been trained and developed quality working skills, they will be promoted to hold more important positions." but I am not sure that the Chinese staff is able to train the locals properly (in what language, for example?)
Anyway, I am still positive to get a first five star hotel to town, with international standard. Let's see when ordinary people are allowed to visit it.
In a country where it took 5 years to build a city pillar it is quite impressive to get a hotel this size build in 78 months. Since the recently opened Dork Jumpa Hotel (!) caters toatally the Chinese market, I am wondering what the Landmark is targeting at.
In August Laovoices had a story about the progress, where the owner was quoted :
"Ms Orlathay said that once construction of the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel is completed, the hotel will be one of the luxurious places to stay in most Vientiane. The hotel will be equipped with all facilities needed to meet international five star hotel standards."
I just wonder how they will assure that the service is five star as well - this is actually the bigger challenge. It is mentioned, that "At first, there will be both Lao and Chinese staff working at the hotel,” she said, adding that after the Lao employees had been trained and developed quality working skills, they will be promoted to hold more important positions." but I am not sure that the Chinese staff is able to train the locals properly (in what language, for example?)
Anyway, I am still positive to get a first five star hotel to town, with international standard. Let's see when ordinary people are allowed to visit it.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Laos slightly better in doing business, but still bad
Just saw the new index for the ease of doing business. Laos made it 3 ranks up, but it is still bad. Improvement came mainly from the parameter of starting a business (but ask myself if this is meant for a 100% FDI?) and trading across borders. Rank for protecting investors is 185, and in all other fields Laos actually dropped.
Of course the relevant organs will praise the jump. If you are interested in starting a business, better have a closer look at the data here. This site gives also some good information about the processes of doing business here. What you need to know is that this tables just mention the official data. For example, even if you can go to court in a dispute, it doesn't mean this court has the same standards as in other countries. Also, the tax department can be quite creative in what kind of taxes apply to you, and expect a lot of expenses for lawyers.
If you take a look at the contributors you will see that these are the most competent ones you can find here: http://www.doingbusiness.org/contributors/doing-business/lao-pdr
Of course the relevant organs will praise the jump. If you are interested in starting a business, better have a closer look at the data here. This site gives also some good information about the processes of doing business here. What you need to know is that this tables just mention the official data. For example, even if you can go to court in a dispute, it doesn't mean this court has the same standards as in other countries. Also, the tax department can be quite creative in what kind of taxes apply to you, and expect a lot of expenses for lawyers.
If you take a look at the contributors you will see that these are the most competent ones you can find here: http://www.doingbusiness.org/contributors/doing-business/lao-pdr
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Social marketing Lao style
So I received this email today. (I anonymised the name of the place, it doesn't matter who it is).
"Dear.....
We need you to help us decide what has to change at XXXX. You have the power !
Let us know what you like and don t like about the restaurant and we will do the modifications accordingly.
No taboos, tell us the blank truth......
1. Do you like XXXXX Restaurant?
2. Why?
3. What would you change to the current restaurant?
4. Do you think we should change the concept (yyyyyyy food)?
5. What type of restaurant is missing in Vientiane and could work instead of XXXXX?"
I was asking myself how desperate the people in charge must be. They just publicly (all recepients in cc instead of bcc) admitted that they are in such trouble that they even consider to change the concept of the venue.
You think it's smart to be that honest?
"Dear.....
We need you to help us decide what has to change at XXXX. You have the power !
Let us know what you like and don t like about the restaurant and we will do the modifications accordingly.
No taboos, tell us the blank truth......
1. Do you like XXXXX Restaurant?
2. Why?
3. What would you change to the current restaurant?
4. Do you think we should change the concept (yyyyyyy food)?
5. What type of restaurant is missing in Vientiane and could work instead of XXXXX?"
I was asking myself how desperate the people in charge must be. They just publicly (all recepients in cc instead of bcc) admitted that they are in such trouble that they even consider to change the concept of the venue.
You think it's smart to be that honest?
Statement of the Asian People Forum
So 1000 delegates signed a declaration. And they speak for all European and Asian People, although never selected, but carefully supported by NGOs and government agencies.
The statement:
*Asia-Europe People's Forum gathered 1000 citizens in Vientiane
(Laos): "We demand a people-centered world not a system based around
deregulation of markets and increasing power of multinational cooperations"
Not a word that the deregulation was actually done by governments. Companies can only go as far as the law allows. But politicians who bow to lobbyists instead of voters may create laws in favor of those who give them
money instead of those who elected them. As you can see in the US and Europe now.
And of course NGOs and government agencies criticise companies, because guess who is paying them? Right, governments.
These summits are a waste of money, they have no impact at all. (Beside the fact that the participants had a nice trip and time here, at least I hope so)
The statement:
*Asia-Europe People's Forum gathered 1000 citizens in Vientiane
(Laos): "We demand a people-centered world not a system based around
deregulation of markets and increasing power of multinational cooperations"
Not a word that the deregulation was actually done by governments. Companies can only go as far as the law allows. But politicians who bow to lobbyists instead of voters may create laws in favor of those who give them
money instead of those who elected them. As you can see in the US and Europe now.
And of course NGOs and government agencies criticise companies, because guess who is paying them? Right, governments.
These summits are a waste of money, they have no impact at all. (Beside the fact that the participants had a nice trip and time here, at least I hope so)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Mega mall falls first
just got that from RFA:
"Construction of a mega mall that was set to be Laos’s largest shopping complex has been suspended after the project’s international developer ran out of funds despite having collected advance rent from retailers, sources in the city said Tuesday. "
So they are running out of money. Or away with it. I predicted this already.
The same concept is behind the World Trade Center and the Vientiane Center project. Shiny sales buildings to distract people from the fact that they dont have big investors behind.
So be careful with investing.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/mall-10232012170127.html
"Construction of a mega mall that was set to be Laos’s largest shopping complex has been suspended after the project’s international developer ran out of funds despite having collected advance rent from retailers, sources in the city said Tuesday. "
So they are running out of money. Or away with it. I predicted this already.
The same concept is behind the World Trade Center and the Vientiane Center project. Shiny sales buildings to distract people from the fact that they dont have big investors behind.
So be careful with investing.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/laos/mall-10232012170127.html
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