The “old” and the “new”: events and placemaking in Luang Prabang, Laos

Two festivals in Luang Prabang, Laos—a centuries-old tradition and a recent innovation—reveal that place-making is not static but a dynamic interplay of past, present, and future. The study challenges the separation of 'events' from 'place,' arguing this dichotomy undermines both lived experience and analytical depth. Through fieldwork spanning 2008–2016, including interviews, observations, and participation in Lai Heua Fai (2013) and the Luang Prabang Film Festival (2015), researchers demonstrate how these events spatially construct identity, blending tradition with contemporary markers of place attachment. This work redefines place-making as an ongoing process where 'old' and 'new' are continuously reconstituted, offering new perspectives on heritage site evolution in a globalized world.

Staiff, R., & Bushell, R. (2017). The “old” and the “new”: events and placemaking in Luang Prabang, Laos. International Journal of Event and Festival Management, 8(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijefm-05-2016-0036