A few issues with this article. 1. This is old news. Northern Laos has long been fighting against disuse of the local kip. There are three major towns in the n

A few issues with this article. 1. This is old news. Northern Laos has long been fighting against disuse of the local kip. There are three major towns in the north; the border itself (Boten); Udomxai ("Muang Sai") and Luang Namtha. AFAIK all of them had large banners hung to the effect "use local currency" for many years. This effort would include both USD and Vietnamese Dong as well as Chinese Yuan Renminbi. 2. The border town area is called Mohan on the Chinese side, and Boten on the Laos side. Some of the images shown appear to be the Chinese side. 3. The initial Chinese push was for a road down to Chian Saen in Thailand. This road was built allegedly against promises from Thailand to pay for or at least allow the bridge at the end of the road to cross the Mekong. Thailand apparently rescinded and declined the bridge after the road was built. Chinese logistic influence on far northern Thailand was thereby eclipsed. Note further this area of Thailand is a stronghold of Nationalist Chinese support. 4. Much cargo travels directly from Yunnan to Thailand via boat, not so much via road and Laos. Similarly, much Thai fruit comes north to China via the same route. The boat trip can be taken by individuals. I've done it a few times and can vouch that it used to be spectacular, but widespread deforestation for rubber plantations has drastically reduced the biodiversity along the river over the last 20 years. 5. The major Chinese gambling destination was not Laos, it was Kengtung in Burma's Shan State (accessed from Menghai rather than Mengla). This was long ago closed off (10+ years), although a limited amount of covert border crossing probably continues. (Source: Previously lived in the area, transited many times.)