Phongsaly Province
Phonsaly is located in the most northern tip of Lao, which shares borders with Yunnan (China) and Dien Bien (Vietnam). Most of Phongsali province lies at a high altitude. The capital of the province is the city of Phongsaly. It consists of seven districts: Phongsaly, Muangmai, Muangkhua, Samphanh, Boon Neua, Boon Tai and YotOu.
Phongsaly Province covers an area of 16,270 square kilometers. The province borders China to the north and west, Vietnam to the east, Luang Prabang Province to the south, and Oudomsay Province to the southwest. The highest mountain in the province is Phou Doychy with an elevation of 1,842 metres.The Phou Fa hill, at 1,625 metres. Phongsaly Province is the highest city in Laos PDR at 1400 m above sea level. Up there the climate is pleasant and refreshing covering the endless mountains down to the canyon of the Nam Ou river, biggest tributary of the Mekong.
More than twenty ethnicities make up the province's population of approximately 167,181 as of the March 2005 census, among them Iko, Loma, Akha, Pusang, Tai Dam, Tai Deng, Yao, Tai Lu, Khamou, Phai, Solo; La Hoy etc. All retain distict cultures, languages and religious beliefs, though their most obvious difference is their dress of the women of each tribe. Handicraft skill-notably in weaving, embroidery and making silver jewelry are also well developed.
Phongsaly can be reached by road and river, from Oudomxay it is possible to travel by road as far as Muangkhua in Southern Phongsaly the continue from Muangkhua by road. From Luang Phrabang it is possible to through the Nam Ou river straight north into the hearth of Phongsaly.
| Phonsaly City  |
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