Boten does have a very different feel from the beautiful and quaint Laos vibe that I know and love... Much respect to you Nat for sharing yet another lesser known part of Laos to us... Always be safe and keep up the great work, bro! Seems like a real quiet place now
Thanks for your videos! I'm currently in Laos and your videos have been great for helping me navigate around. I'm currently in Luang Prabang and visiting some spots you highlighted in your video from a month ago.
Thank you Nat for sharing. I had no idea Boten even existed. The history is quite precarious, but thankfully the government was able to intervene. I do sense that the atmosphere is more relaxed than the Golden Triangle. I'm happy too that you were able to use Lao currency there. Have fun and be safe on your next adventure 🙏😊
I see that there are many westoids, hating the developments happening in Laos. Laos is in serious need of onfrastrictire development. What better way than co-operating with a fellow Socialist and also a neighbour country like China, that just happens to be the best in today's world when it comes to building things. Laos could be in a much more difficult position if it doesn't share border with China.
Yes, Laos people should live from hand to mouth for the pleasure of Western people forever. Any development is bad for Laos people . Just shut up and stop this Western propaganda nonsense.
went to Boten in January of 2024. the whole place was so eerie, only Lao people there were the people that worked (i'm not sure do they get paid for it) on the construction of the roads or were carrying construction material to the vacant buildings or building up the new ones. looks like there has not been a lot of development since January. Yen was the main currency there but Lao Kip was also accepted after converting from Yen. was quite interesting to see the place at night because the city is basically completely a ghost town during the day before the rich chinese people turn up to the main street. was able to share few wholesome moments with local chinese truck drivers while walking around the empty streets after sun had went down. the hotel i stayed at (one at the main street ran by a nice chinese guy) was interesting, did not see any other guests there than the italian old guy i arrived there with. the Chinese guy who ran the hotel was so cool, offered to give me a ride back to the train station for free. biggest thing i wondered was how do all the businesses survive there (restaurants etc.) because there can't be enough people there in order to keep the businesses a float. they must be getting some financial backing from economic zone i assume.
There are not many permanent residents, business owners relying on tourists. When I arrived there were three buses full of Chinese groups coming from China
@@natnomad guess that Chinese people want a tourist spot that is closer than Luang Prabang... which can be only a good thing because during nearly 4 months that i spent in Laos late 2023 to early 2024 i saw how majority of Chinese tourists treated Lao people like peasants without any respect. (Don Det border crossing was the most brutal one when it comes to pure disrespect towards their Lao tour guide who was picking them up from the border)
Chinese is always oppressed Lao people. In the 80’s they recruited Hmong and Lao people to stir up troubles. And Lao gov decided to please the Chinese, and then they decided to rid of Lao refugees and the Hmong. I think many people don’t know that China recruited Lao refugees in Thailand
@@natnomad If you do research about the Indochina refugees, you will see that China took about 2,500 Laotians to be settled in China, but in reality, China trained them to cause troubles for Lao gov. But after China got what it wanted from Lao gov, it decided to kill all of them and never mention about the Lao refugees any more.
Great video and good in sight; you clearly did alot of research on this subject matter. I notice that is a dirth of people or traffic; that looks a little eerie; did you shoot the video on a holiday or a Day when most people are off from work? The absence of poeple and traffic is noticable. I understand that SEZ in Laos are being challenged by locals and some people in government, but I understand there is limited Laos regulations or laws with respect to regulating Botin SEZ or any SEZ and attempt to pass new laws in the Lao Assembly in November 2023, but were stalled or failed. The business lobby surely had a hand in that.... but, in the end, it appears SEZ have a beneficial impact on jobs and services, I hope that the main beneficiaries of SEZ are Lao and not Chinese.
I filmed on the weekday, according to the people there, they told me it's normal as not many people living in the zone ATM. On the weekends, it gets busier with many Chinese and Lao tourists coming for a day or two.
Is this a Ghost City then. No point building these super high towers if you dont have schools, medical, transportation and simply attractions more than a few Shrines. Very very poor expensive decisions
There are still fewer people living in the zone now. The developers are advertising and selling condo units. A lot was bought by many Chinese investors. The project includes hospitals and schools and other facilities
when i was there the biggest attraction there was the prostitution, there was few brochures at the hotel i stayed at advertising how you could call a girl in to your room. there was also one "go go bar" at the main street full of young women and older chinese guys.
Boten does have a very different feel from the beautiful and quaint Laos vibe that I know and love...
Much respect to you Nat for sharing yet another lesser known part of Laos to us...
Always be safe and keep up the great work, bro!
Seems like a real quiet place now
Thank you, always bro🙂
Thanks for your videos! I'm currently in Laos and your videos have been great for helping me navigate around. I'm currently in Luang Prabang and visiting some spots you highlighted in your video from a month ago.
Thank you. And welcome to Laos/Luang Prabang. Enjoy your holiday 🙂
A really comprehensive look into Boten and the other Chinese mega projects in Laos. Thank you
Thank you🙂🙏
I always bought the drink you bought when I'm in Laos lol. My top favorite.
Yep, it's quite refreshing for a hot day
Thank you Nat for sharing. I had no idea Boten even existed. The history is quite precarious, but thankfully the government was able to intervene. I do sense that the atmosphere is more relaxed than the Golden Triangle. I'm happy too that you were able to use Lao currency there. Have fun and be safe on your next adventure 🙏😊
Thank you. It was so chill in Boten. Would nice to come back in the next 5 or 10 years.
I like the information you provided.... thanks
Thank you🙏😊
I see that there are many westoids, hating the developments happening in Laos. Laos is in serious need of onfrastrictire development. What better way than co-operating with a fellow Socialist and also a neighbour country like China, that just happens to be the best in today's world when it comes to building things. Laos could be in a much more difficult position if it doesn't share border with China.
Yes, China is one of the best in terms of building infrastructure.
Thanks! Keep up the good work!
Thank you very much for the gift. That's so kind of you🙂
Much appreciated 🙏
@@natnomadYou're very welcome!
Another one beside triangle zone is very bad for Laos generation to come.
I was told there are 4 of these zones in Laos,don't know if that's correct.
Yes, Laos people should live from hand to mouth for the pleasure of Western people forever. Any development is bad for Laos people . Just shut up and stop this Western propaganda nonsense.
Po Tem economic zone, it is a border town by the area between China and Laos.
went to Boten in January of 2024.
the whole place was so eerie, only Lao people there were the people that worked (i'm not sure do they get paid for it) on the construction of the roads or were carrying construction material to the vacant buildings or building up the new ones. looks like there has not been a lot of development since January. Yen was the main currency there but Lao Kip was also accepted after converting from Yen.
was quite interesting to see the place at night because the city is basically completely a ghost town during the day before the rich chinese people turn up to the main street. was able to share few wholesome moments with local chinese truck drivers while walking around the empty streets after sun had went down. the hotel i stayed at (one at the main street ran by a nice chinese guy) was interesting, did not see any other guests there than the italian old guy i arrived there with. the Chinese guy who ran the hotel was so cool, offered to give me a ride back to the train station for free.
biggest thing i wondered was how do all the businesses survive there (restaurants etc.) because there can't be enough people there in order to keep the businesses a float. they must be getting some financial backing from economic zone i assume.
There are not many permanent residents, business owners relying on tourists. When I arrived there were three buses full of Chinese groups coming from China
@@natnomad guess that Chinese people want a tourist spot that is closer than Luang Prabang...
which can be only a good thing because during nearly 4 months that i spent in Laos late 2023 to early 2024 i saw how majority of Chinese tourists treated Lao people like peasants without any respect. (Don Det border crossing was the most brutal one when it comes to pure disrespect towards their Lao tour guide who was picking them up from the border)
Chinese is always oppressed Lao people. In the 80’s they recruited Hmong and Lao people to stir up troubles. And Lao gov decided to please the Chinese, and then they decided to rid of Lao refugees and the Hmong. I think many people don’t know that China recruited Lao refugees in Thailand
This is something new to me. Thanks for sharing 🙂
@@natnomad If you do research about the Indochina refugees, you will see that China took about 2,500 Laotians to be settled in China, but in reality, China trained them to cause troubles for Lao gov. But after China got what it wanted from Lao gov, it decided to kill all of them and never mention about the Lao refugees any more.
I think you have to take history into account
in the early 80's Vietnam, Laos, USSR VS Thailand,Khmer Rouge，China，US
In the may this year. Chinese Yuan to laos kip is 1:3300. I don't know the rate now
Now it has gone up a bit
ໄປໃສອີກ
ໄປບໍເຕນ
จีนมีประชากรเยอะ ไปที่ไหนก็เจอคนจีน แต่ประเทศนั้นๆ ต้องมีกฎหมายควบคุมคนจีนด้วย ถ้าปล่อยจีนทำอะไรตามใจตนเอง บอกได้คำเดียวว่าวุ่นวายครับ 😢
ถูกต้องครับ
Great video and good in sight; you clearly did alot of research on this subject matter. I notice that is a dirth of people or traffic; that looks a little eerie; did you shoot the video on a holiday or a Day when most people are off from work? The absence of poeple and traffic is noticable. I understand that SEZ in Laos are being challenged by locals and some people in government, but I understand there is limited Laos regulations or laws with respect to regulating Botin SEZ or any SEZ and attempt to pass new laws in the Lao Assembly in November 2023, but were stalled or failed. The business lobby surely had a hand in that.... but, in the end, it appears SEZ have a beneficial impact on jobs and services, I hope that the main beneficiaries of SEZ are Lao and not Chinese.
I filmed on the weekday, according to the people there, they told me it's normal as not many people living in the zone ATM. On the weekends, it gets busier with many Chinese and Lao tourists coming for a day or two.
Is this a Ghost City then. No point building these super high towers if you dont have schools, medical, transportation and simply attractions more than a few Shrines. Very very poor expensive decisions
I bet those staying in the high towers flats do not get any water after say 6th floor.
Think future
There are still fewer people living in the zone now. The developers are advertising and selling condo units. A lot was bought by many Chinese investors. The project includes hospitals and schools and other facilities
when i was there the biggest attraction there was the prostitution, there was few brochures at the hotel i stayed at advertising how you could call a girl in to your room. there was also one "go go bar" at the main street full of young women and older chinese guys.