Makan

Makan (: มากัน; : Ma Kan), officially Makan Metropolitan City (Lomphasa: ​ເມືອງ​มากัน; Dokja: Meuong Ma Kan), formerly known as Pinghoe until 1877, is a city in northern Lomtai. It borders the national capital, Champasak and the rural town of Chanmakh to the northeast. Makan is the administrative capital of Pekalo province, and is the region's economic stronghold. As of 2016, Makan has a population of 7 million people.

Since the fall of Lomtai's communist regime and transitional period of the 1990's, Makan has led the country's economic development. By reopening foreign access to the Makmai river, Lomtai's eastern neighbors were able to engage in trade and commerce. Basanreserian financial investments into Lomtai's economy also aided in the industrialization and modernization of Makan throughout the late 90's. Due to international trade and general foreign interest in the city, Makan was dubbed the "Gate to Lomtai". In 2009 Makan was designated as Lomtai's second of only two global cities in Lomtai.

Numerous international conferences such as, the OSDMA Summit (2010) and Thale festival have been held in Makan.

=History=

The oldest historical record of the Makan region dates back to roughly 730 CE, during the Eight Cliques of Lomtai period, by the name of Möttheytánh on the western region of the Makmai river. There have been at least three recorded name changes in the past 500 years, in 1500 Makan was called Sodmeung, and from 1670 to 1877 it was known as Pinghoe or Pingsod.