Phongsaly province tour

The question is why I choose this topic to write about my country “Laos” because when I talk to foreigner and I ask them where r u from them said “I am from ………” I know the answer but when he or she ask where am I from “I said = I come from Laos” they always said sorry that I don’t know. That is why I have question in mind how I can introduce and let them know about my country

Laos PDR = “Laos People Democratic Republic is full name” the capital city name is Vientiane. State in my country call province, in my blog I will let you know every province and suggest everyone about places and important places traditional, region, culture and life style…etc.

Now I will introduce 18 provinces and will start from the northern part name is Phongsaly.

 Phongsaly is located in the northern part of Laos have total area 16,270 square kilometers and have population about 176,151 which shares borders with Yunnan (China) and Dien Bien (Vietnam). Most of Phongsaly Province lies at a high altitude. Its capital, Phongsaly town, is the highest city in Laos PDR at 1.400 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 river of the Mekong. The population is made up of officially 28 different ethnic groups, of which the majority being Khmu, Phounoy, different Akha, Tai Lue and Hor, each with their own culture, traditions, costumes, and languages. The forests contain an abundance of animal, bird, insect and plant life, and there are certainly many undiscovered species, new to science. Several trekking tours have been established by the Provincial Tourism Office Phongsaly.

Although a bit off the main tourist circuit, visitors can spend plenty of time in Phongsaly Province trekking to remote villages around the provincial, Boun Neua, Muang Khua at the Nam Ou River and in Boun Tai District’s “Nam Lan Conservation Area”. In the northern most district of the country, Gnot Ou, visit Wat Luang, a magnificent Tai Lue style Buddhist monastery dating back to 1445 AD. In the future “Phou Den Din National Protected Area” along the border with Vietnam will be opened for boat trips. Wild animals like monkeys, elephants and tigers still claim it their territory!

The province offers a delicious variety of Lao and Yunnan’s cuisine that consists of wild forest ingredients such as fragrant herbs, bamboo and rattan shoots. After dinner try a shot of the local Lao Lao, smooth, strong and tinted green! During the final stage of the distillation process this rice whisky is running over fresh picked raspberry leaves absorbing the green color.

Green Whiskey (Lao Khiaw) or Green Lao Lao

Homemade rice-whisky (lao lao) is found in every province, almost in every village. But in Phongsaly it is green! During the final stage of the distillation process the alcohol runs over fresh raspberry leaves and absorbs the green colour. You will probably have the opportunity to try a shot of this country-wide famous whisky…or two: it is said that two glasses (at least) are needed, as we have two legs! It is to sell in mineral water bottles at the market or local shops. You can also buy the most famous and tasty green whisky directly in Kounsouk village.

 Green tea

Phongsaly is surrounded by tea plantations and its green tea is well-known for its highest quality and superb taste. Most of it is exported to China, but you can also find it at local shops. The tea with green packaging is from the local tea factory located at km 2, on the road to Hatsa (blue building on the left). But especially famous is the tea from the 400-year-old plantation of Komaen village link to Komean village under attraction (15km from Phongsaly), where tea leaves are picked by Phunoy people from tea trees, standing 6 m high with a stem up to 30 cm in diameter. These precious tea leaves are then compressed in bamboo cylinders and sold in cigar-shaped tubes. Fertilizers and chemicals have never been used. Drinking a daily cup keeps the body in good health, reduces fat and preserves a clear mind… not only according to local belief!