gensler proposes landscape-first tourism masterplan for vang vieng, laos
Gensler positions landscape as the foundation of future tourism
Global design firm Gensler unveils the conceptual masterplan for a 522-hectare tourism destination in Vang Vieng, Laos, proposing a long-term framework that reflects the country’s evolving tourism ambitions. Located across the villages of Pakpor and Phoudindeng in Vientiane Province, the project moves beyond the conventional resort model by organizing hospitality, recreation, cultural programs, and infrastructure around the landscape and ecological systems of the house. As Laos seeks to diversify its tourism economy, the proposal positions Vang Vieng’s natural environment and cultural identity as the foundation for future development rather than treating them as amenities surrounding tourism.
Designed for Vang Villy Hill Co., Ltd., the masterplan establishes the spatial framework and development principles intended to guide the destination’s growth over time. Instead of planning hotels, attractions, and supporting infrastructure as separate components, the proposal integrates them into a broader placemaking strategy shaped by movement, ecology, and public space.
golf resort | all renderings courtesy of Gensler
nature, mobility, and ecology shape the planning strategy
The design responds directly to Vang Vieng’s limestone mountains, agricultural land, and river landscapes, allowing existing landforms to define the spatial organization of the destination. According to the team at Gensler, circular planning principles inform the proposal through low-impact mobility networks, the protection of waterways, landscape preservation, and long-term environmental resilience. The masterplan establishes a flexible framework intended to accommodate future development while maintaining connections to the site’s ecological systems and local character.
‘Across Asia, we are seeing a major shift in how destinations are being imagined and experienced,’ says Steven Velegrinis, Gensler’s Design Director and Regional Leader for Cities & Urban Design. ‘Travellers today are seeking deeper connections to nature, culture and wellbeing, while destinations are increasingly expected to deliver long-term environmental and social value alongside economic growth. For Vang Vieng, the opportunity wasn’t to replicate tourism models from elsewhere, but to reveal and strengthen the qualities that already make this place extraordinary.’
riverside family resort
wellness resort
activities center
riverside family resort
gateway bridge
temple
project info:
name: Vang Vieng Tourism Masterplan
design: Gensler | @genslernyc
client: Vang Villy Hill Co., Ltd.
location: Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, Laos
site area: 522 hectares
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