Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, Economic development zone in Ton Pheung District, Laos
This special economic zone covers 3,000 hectares along the Mekong River where Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar meet at their shared border. Hotels, shops, restaurants, medical facilities, apartment buildings, and markets fill the area, connected by roads to Houay Xay and accessible by local ferries.
The Lao government established this zone in 2007 through a partnership with Kings Romans Group, a Chinese-owned company. This development transformed the region into a major hub for cross-border trade and investment activity.
Chinese currency and Thai baht circulate more freely here than the Lao currency, and Chinese language, shops, and food are everywhere you look. The commercial environment feels distinctly shaped by cross-border trade and investment rather than local Lao traditions.
You will find accommodations, food, and shopping readily available within the area, though you should expect to use Chinese yuan or Thai baht for transactions. Getting there is possible by road to Houay Xay or by ferry across the Mekong River.
The Kings Romans Casino sits at the center of the zone, drawing visitors mainly from mainland China where gambling is prohibited outside Macau. What surprises many travelers is how the entire area functions almost like an extension of China rather than a traditional Lao community.
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