Luang namtha Travel Attractions
Luang Namtha Overview
Located : A northern province bordering on China and Myanmar
Total Area : 9,325 square meters
Population : 140,000
05 Districts : Namtha, Sing, Long, Viengphoukha and Nalae
Capital : Namtha
Luangnamtha is a northern province bodering on China and Myanmar. The province’s combination of environmental, social, historical and development factors has made it a great location to develop sustainable cultural and eco-tourism initiatives.
Namtha National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) was established where dense forest cover 90% of the terrain. A vast array of wildlife including wild cattle (guar and banteng), Asian wild dogs, tigers, clouded leopard, bears, monkeys and gibbons can be found living in the NBCA and surrounding area. The lush vegetation of the NBCA is also home to a large population of birds.
The area is populated by a variety of different ethnic groups including such groups as the Khamu, Akha (Eko), Hmong, Yao (Ioumien) and Lanetene. Lowland Lao people, Tai Lue, Thai Neua and Thai Dam also live in villages just outside the protected area and in the areas surrounding the historic town of Muong Sing.
Muong Sing District
Once a garrison town and the most northern outpost during the time of French colonial rule, the town was also the center of the Sipsongpana civilization now living in Yunnan Province in the southern China. The old barracks and other colonial buildings are unusual features worthy of visiting when in this area.
This district has a picturesque beauty with mountains and many old temples. Although many temples were destroyed during the war, one major attraction and several old temples remain which are noticeably different in style from the classical temoles found elsewhere in Laos.
Many tour itineraries include an outing to Boten, the Lao-Chinese border Checkpoint and to the west where speed-boats can be taken down the Mekong River through spectacular gorges and rapids to Houixay District and Luang Prabang Province.