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About
Phong Sa Ly
Phongsaly province the most
remote in northern Laos, enclosed three sides by China and Vietnam
and cut off to overland travel from Oudomsay to the south. It
consists of six districts: Phongsaly, Muangmai, Muangkhua, Samphan,
Sombounxay and Yot Ou.
More than twenty ethnicities
make up the province's population of approximately 153,400;among
them Iko, Loma, Akha, Pusang, Thai Dam, Thai Deng, Yao, Thai Lu,
Khamou, Phai, Solo, Lao Hoy etc. All retain district cultures,
Languages and religious beliefs, though their most obvious
difference is their dress of woman of each tribe.
Phongsali has a year round cool
climate with temperatures as low as 5 degrees Celcius at night.
Rain can be heavy - bring a jacket and warm clothes. The highest
mountains in Phongsaly is Phu Fa which you can see the cities' views
and beautiful scenery
The Phu Den Din National
Biodiversity Conservation Area along the Vietnamese border with
mountains as high as 1950m with
over 70% forest cover is home to the asiatic black bear, bantang,
clouded leopard, elephant, guar and tiger.
Handicraft skills-notably in
weaving, embroidery and making silver jewelry are also well
developed.
Muang Khoa is a small town
situated on the junction of Route 4 and the Nam Ou river. The
journey to Muang Khoa along route 4 from Udomxai takes about four
hours. It is possible to travel up river to Phongsali from here, or
down to Luang Prabang.
Getting there
The capital Phongsaly, can be
reached from Muang Xai with buses leaving once a day.
Phongsaly can be reached by road
and river, from Oudomsay it is possible to travel by road as far as
Muangkhua in southern Phoisaly then continue from Muangkhua by boat.
From Luangnamtha it is possible to travel by road via Muangla (Yunnan
province, China). From Luang Prabang it is possible through the Nam
Ou river straight north into the heart of Phongsaly. Another way,
you can travel by Lao Aviation, which provides two flights per week,
Lao Aviation's domestic timetable.
See also
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