On 7 to 8th May 2008, I went to Kratie to join as a speaker in a decentralization workshop for commune councils, civil societies and stakeholders on The Roles and Duties of Subnational Councils in the Implementation of Decentralization and Deconcentration.

It was about two years that I came to Kratie again. This time I have noticed that tourism infrastructures have been built and upgraded. This development has attracted more tourists, particularly domestic people of Kratie provincial town as this province has gained benefits from country’s economic development.

I have noticed that people are crowded at evening and people could go for a walk until night. Many small stores along the Mekong River still operate until mid-night as at night the public electricity is available.

But what is interesting once I arrived Kratie again, it was the time there was no electricity as it was cut off due to technical issues which the authority could not solve on time. People there said that there will be probably no electricity of about five days. Because of no electricity, cable television is not also available. In addition, clean water supply is not available too. Thus, people in Kratie have to use electricity machines and buy water from those who have water for supply. I see that the absence of electricity would make social welfare bad and increase spending.