In Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the ancient capital city of Luang Prabang, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1995 for its unique urban pattern and the strong nature-culture link that permeates throughout the city, has numerous convivial public spaces, each with multiple functions. A large public space rehabilitated as a market place for ethnic minorities serves as a delivery point early in the morning for trucks to unload goods for shops in the historic centre, later an open-air fresh food market for locals, followed by a craft market for visitors. For one week in December, it is the main venue for the Luang Prabang Film Festival for South-East Asian cinema. Its people-friendly, urban pattern is now being replicated, on a much larger scale, in the city’s new extension area through the World Heritage management plan. 

Source: Minja Yang, Humanizing cities through culture