Seven Years On, Vientiane’s Blue Emergency Poles Largely Unused

2026-02-02 - 07:19

Vientiane’s blue emergency poles, installed in 2019 as part of an early “smart city” push, have largely faded from daily use, as residents increasingly turn to mobile phones and emergency hotlines instead. The poles were rolled out in July 2019 amid concerns over bag snatching and drug-related crime. With more than 6,200 crimes recorded nationwide