Central Plaza Udon – Expect The Ultra

For many of us living in Laos visiting the Robinsons Shopping Mall in Udon Thani is the only way to get the big “shopping mall feeling”, unless one travel’s even further south.

Currently Robinsons, reborn as Central Plaza, is undergoing major building work to make this shopping mall the biggest in the Isaan region. Once finalized, the shopping mall area will be 30,000 square meters, making it bigger than the Central Plaza complex in Khon Kaen. I was told that the renovations are due to be finished in March 2012, although given the the current progress it seems it may take a bit longer.

Visiting Central Plaza this week, I was faced with the challenge of finding a parking space. The entire area surrounding the complex is undergoing construction and only a few parking lots are available. However, what looks like a new car park is well underway and should make life a lot easier once completed.

While the Robinsons Department Store remains open to its customers, most of the other shops are closed. Presently visiting the mall feels like walking around a subway station under construction, everything is fenced off with nothing to look at.  I recommend it’s better to wait until the grand opening has taken place and everything returns to normal. The Grand Opening is scheduled for 27th March 2012.

And it will all be worth-while as customers will be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping at Central Plaza Udon Thani.