Sayaboury Province
Sayaboury is one of the seven northern provinces of Lao PD. It has a long history dating back 550 years, having been established in 1450 A.D, according to archaeological research in to the main edifice of Sibounheuang temple (where the Great Buddha is located).
Sayaboury province is on the Right Bank of the Mekong River, 323 metres above sea level. To the north, it shares border with the northern province of Bokeo, Oudomsay, Luang Prabang and Vientiane on the east and westwards has a 645-kilometre border with Thailand.
The province covers 16,389 square kilometres and is home 333.000 people, with Capital City being Sayaboury district. It has ten districts: Sayaboury, Khorb, Hongsa, Ngeun, Xieng-hone, Phieng, Pak-lai, Kenethao, Botene and Thongmisay. Sayaboury district is the political, administrative, economic, culture and social seat of the province. It has 543 villages with a total population of 333.000, including 151,982 female, in 52,52,079 families. According to the population census in 1995, the province comprised 75,35% Lao Loum (lowland), 8.60% Lao Soung, 16.01% Lao Theung (upland) and foreigner residents 0.04%. The annual population growth rate is 2.6%, and the population density is 18.39 per square kilometre. There are two distinct weather areas. In the north (from Pak-lai to Khorb district) it is quite cool, while in the south (covering four districts) the weather is usually like that of central Laos, quite hot. The average rainfall is around 1.2 metres a year, with a rainy season running from April to October, and the rest of the year dry.
The inhabitants rear animals and grow cash crops such as cotton, maize, bean sesame, sweet tamarind and orange. Sayaboury province has an abundance of natural resources, with deposits of gold, coal, copper, salt, manganese and lignite. Hongsa district has a lignite-powered plant generating 750 megawatts of eletricity.
Rivers and streams provide plenty of water for agriculture, while some also operate as communication links, as well as being a future potential source of more hydropower. The province abounds with waterfalls, green forest covering over 50% of the province area, and beautiful scenery, an it is plain that Sayaboury will increase in importance as a natural and cultural tourism destination. Tourist interest places are Tard-ham waterfall, Ham waterfall, Malou waterfall, Fanh waterfall, Botene district, Chao meuang waterfall, Sayaboury district, Caves in Pak-lai district, House with 32 columns of Leu ethnic group, in Hongsa district, Poui natural water spring, in Phieng district, Elephant riding travel. Hotels, guesthouses and restaurants are located in the city offers you in reliable prices. You can reach Sayaboury by air or road, right now, there is a regular bus leave Vientiane for it, just take bus at evening market, northern bus terminal. Or take air to Luang Prabang then take bus 2-3 hours to Nan District, all buses stop at Ban Pakkhone. And take boat or ferry across the Mekong River just 1.000 kip each to Ban Thadeua, at there, there are many pick up waiting for you with 6.000 kip per passenger and take 30 mins to Sayaboury city.
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