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This hydroelectric dam on the Ngum River just north of the capital, was the first in Laos. It was built by the Americans in the '70s during the Indochina war. The US was hoping to curry favor with the royal government that ruled at the time. But the royalists were overthrown soon afterwards.

The Lao government now has plans to become the "Battery of Southeast Asia" which means damming not just the tributaries, but the Mekong itself. Not everyone's happy - especially those downstream who depend on the river's bounty for their livelihood.

But Thailand wants the electricity and Laos wants the money, so plans are moving ahead.