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Laos Major
Attractions >
Phongsali
The
northernmost province of Laos is the home to many minority ethnic
hilltribe people, th eir
cultures and villages amids rolling hills after hills of natural
scenery. The province borders with China and Vietnam in the north, east
and west. It is the most inaccesible place in Laos. Maybe because of
this it still retains many of their unique cultures untouched by the
damaging effects of tourism and other business and non-business
operations.
It is estimated that there are 22 groups of ethnic minorities, among
them Hmong, Iko , Phunoi, Kheu, Lolo, Hanyi, Yao, Thai Khao, Thai Lu,
Phuan, Phai, Khamu, and Mien to name a few. The Ethnic Museum in
Phongsali city center is a place where visitors can see traditional
costumes and lifestyles of the locals.
The hilly region with many river streams is in cool weather all the year
round. Phu Den Din National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) covers
more than 1300 square km in the north-eastern part of the province along
th e
Lao-Vietnamese border. This area is hilly with highest elevation of
around 1934 meters; and is home to many threatened endangered wildlife.
Nowadays construction of roads and facilities have started eating into
this largely forested region. In the future the travel to this beautiful
place will be much easier than present. It is the responsibility of the
tour operators, travel agents, tourists, local people, as well as policy
makers to carefully create a sustainable limited tourism. Good education
must also be made available to the local people
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