1. History

2. Geography

3. Protected areas

4. Administrative divisions

5. Economy

6. Demography

7. Landmarks

8. Gallery

9. References
    Bibliography 

Houaphanh province (Laotian: ຫົວພັນ {{IPA-lo|kʰwɛ̌ːŋ hwǎː pʰán|}}; Romanization of Lao: Houaphan) is a province of eastern Laos. As of 2015 it had a population of 289,393 people. Its capital lies at Sam Neua.

Houaphanh Province covers an area of {{convert|16500|km2}}. The province is bordered by Vietnam to the north, east and southeast, Xiangkhouang Province to the south and southwest, and Luang Prabang Province to the west. The terrain is rugged, with dense mountainous forest forming much of the province, particularly on the western side. The main road running through the province is Route 6. The principal rivers are the Nam Ma, which flows from and into Vietnam, passing the village of Ban Muang-Et, and the Nam Sam, which the towns of Sam Neua and Sam Tai lie on.

The province is the home to the Viengxay caves, an extensive network of caves used by the Pathet Lao, and the Hintang Archaeological Park, one of the most important pre-historic sites in northern Laos, dotted with standing megaliths.

Houaphanh is one of the poorest areas of Laos but has dramatic scenery and fine textile traditions.

History

The province was home of the Bồn Man Kingdom (Muang Phuan Kingdom) since the 14th century. Following a Vietnamese invasion in 1478 led by Vietnamese King Lê Thánh Tông, it became Trấn Ninh Territory of the Đại Việt Kingdom with the capital at Sầm Châu (present-day Sam Neua).{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2012|p=265}} The area was known as Hua Phan Tang Ha Tang Hok, "the fifth and the sixth province,"^[2] and listed by Auguste Pavie as "Hua Panh, Tang-Ha, Tang-Hoc."^[3]

It remained a Vietnamese outpost territory until 1893 when ownership was switched by French authorities back to Laos during the French Colonial period. Under the French spelling, the province was usually Hua Phan.{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2012|p=265}}^[3]

The province is the home to the Viengxay caves, an extensive network of caves used by the Pathet Lao. Numerous caves in the province served as hideouts for important figures in the Laos in the 1950s and 1960s. Tham Than Souphanouvong Cave was the hideout of the revolutionary leader and later the President, Souphanouvong, who built a base there in 1964.^[5] Revolutionary leader and later the President Kaysone Phomvihane hid out in Tham Than Kaysone Cave from 1964, and later President Khamtay Siphandone hid at Tham Than Khamtay Cave from 1964. He established a base there, with meeting rooms, reception rooms and a research room.^[5]

Houphanh Province was noted for its "samana" ("re-education") camps. The Lao Royal Family were believed to have been taken to one such camp near Sop Hao in 1977. Crown Prince Say Vong Savang allegedly died at the camp in May 1978, followed by his father King Savang Vatthana from starvation, 11 days later.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=185}}

Religious minorities often face persecution in the province, and at the end of 1999 numerous minorities were arrested.{{sfn|Larkin|2001|p=202}}

Geography

Houaphanh Province^[4] covers an area of {{convert|16500|km2}}.^[5] The province is bordered by Vietnam to the north, east and southeast, Xiangkhouang Province to the south and southwest, and Luang Prabang Province to the west.^[6]

The terrain is rugged, with dense mountainous forest forming much of the province, particularly on the western side.^[7] Notable settlements include Sam Neua, Muong U, Houamuang, Chomsan, Muang Pan, Muang Hom, Muang Peu, Muang Xon, Ban Muang-Et, Ban Nampang, Muong Vene, Xamtai, Muang Na, and Poungthak.^[8]

The main road running through the province is Route 6. The principal rivers are the Song Ma (which flows from and into Vietnam, passing the village of Ban Muang-Et) and the Nam Sam (which the town of Sam Neua lies on).^[9]

Protected areas

Areas of Houaphanh Province are in the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) and the Nam Xam National Biodiversity Conservation Area. There are also some Important Bird Areas (IBA).

The Nam Neun IBA area of Nam Et is adjacent to the NBCA. Nam Neun is 85,450 ha in size, and is at an elevation of {{convert|800|-|1500|m}}. The habitat is characterized as mixed deciduous forest, as well as dry evergreen forest, with stands of bamboo, and occasional conifers; cleared areas have been replaced by areas of secondary grassland. Key avifauna include great hornbill (Buceros bicornis) and Blyth's kingfisher (Alcedo hercules).^[10]

The Phou Louey Massif IBA is in the Nam Et-Phou Louey NBCA and adjacent to the Nam Neun IBA. The Phou Louey IBA stretches beyond Houaphanh Province into Luang Prabang Province. It is 60,070 ha in size and is at an elevation of {{convert|700|-|1800|m}}. The habitat is characterized as mixed deciduous forest, semi-evergreen forest, lower montane evergreen forest, upper montane evergreen forest, and secondary grassland. Key avifauna include beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa), rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis), Blyth's kingfisher (Alcedo hercules), and yellow-vented warbler (Phylloscopus cantator). There are four confirmed species of turtles and two confirmed species of ungulate.^[11]

The 69,000 hectare Nam Xam IBA is in the 70,000 ha Nam Xam National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA). The IBA's elevation varies between {{convert|300|-|1800|m}}. The topography is characterized by hills and low mountains. The habitat includes dry evergreen forest, Fokienia forest, mixed deciduous forest, as well as stunted, mossy upper montane forest. Notable avifauna includes beautiful nuthatch (Sitta formosa), brown hornbill (Anorrhinus tickelli), great hornbill (Buceros bicornis), red-collared woodpecker (Picus rabieri), and rufous-necked hornbill (Aceros nipalensis).^[12]

Administrative divisions

The province is made up of the following districts:^[5]

Economy

Houaphanh Province is one of the poorest areas of Laos. In 1998, three quarters of the population were classified as poor. In 2002 GDP per capita was US$50–204, compared to the national average of US$350.^[13] Socio-economic problems plague the province, with an infant mortality rate and access to safe water and medical facilities far worse than the national average.^[13]

Bamboo is important in rural parts of the province and used as a principal building material. Women play a key role in the collecting of bamboo shoots.^[13] In Viengxay District there are two bamboo processing factories that produce items such as floormats, fences, chopsticks and toothpicks for the Vietnamese market.^[13] Overall though, the bamboo industry is undeveloped, and many find it difficult to find profitable markets for their goods.^[13]

Sam Neua, the provincial centre, is the most important market centre for regional trade. Many villagers come here to sell their goods, especially handicrafts and textiles that the people of the province are famed for. Saleu and Nasala villages in Xiengkhor District along Route 6 are noted for their skills at weaving and handicrafts.^[5] Sam Tai is noted for its textiles.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=185}}

A tourism development plan has been created for the province, capitalizing on the caves as tourist attractions, providing information and services at the sites.{{sfn|Hitchcock|2009|p=175}}

Demography

The population of the province, as of March 2005, was 280,898. The capital is Xam Neua.^[17] Minority groups such as the Phong inhabit this province.{{CN|date=November 2017}}

Landmarks

Viengxay is known as a "Hidden Cave City," the heart of the Pathet Lao Liberation Movement in 1964 to 75 when 20,000 people lived in the caves with facilities such as offices, hospital, temples, markets, school, and entertainment centre.

Historical attractions here are

• Kaysone Phomvihane's House where (in the President Kaysone's garden) people narrate the history of how Viengxay became the center for liberation and suffered air attacks in the beginning
• Kaysone Phomvihane's Cave Office — the largest cave where gifts, a statue of Lenin, and collection of books could be seen
• Politburo Meeting Room: in the cave the leaders of the freedom movement deliberated on policies and important decisions
• Nouhak Phoumsavan's House (Pathet Lao's founding father)
• Nouhak Phoumsavan's Cave, Prince Souphanouvong's (who was known as "Red Prince") house and garden
• a stupa erected during the war to bury Souphanouvong's son, Ariya Thammasin to avoid detection during the war
• Prince Souphanouvong's Cave was used as a protection bunker during bombing by US forces known as "Ravens"
• Cave of Phoumi Vongvichid who established a schooling curriculum in the cave
• Cave of Sithone Kommadane, a valiant fighter during early years of war
• a small Hospital Cave
• house of General Khamtay Siphandone, supreme military commander who motivated people to take to arms and Khamtay Siphandone's Cave where he established and operated the communication system with his forces
• Cave Barracks of ex soldiers
• Artillery Cave where heavy anti-aircraft batteries were operated
• the Xanglot Cave where weddings and traditional festivals were held during the war^[18]

Wat Pho Xai or Wat Pho Xaysanalam is on the outskirts of Sam Neua. Hintang Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the most important pre-historic sites in northern Laos, dotted with about 2,000-year-old menhirs (standing stones) or megaliths, which were unearthed in 1931. Locals refer to it as Sao Hin Tang, meaning "Standing Stone Pillars". It is also known as the Stonehenge of Laos, with many 2 metre high stones. Apart from these finds, funerary burial sites with artifacts of ancient trinkets, standing rock slabs and stone disks were found. These archaeological finds are older than the Plain of Jars and are seen along a 12-km mountain ridge in the southern part of the province.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=186}}^[18] Local animists believe that the stone discs at the site once sat atop the megaliths and fed Jahn Han, the sky spirit.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=186}} {{convert|11|km}} from Sam Neua is the Ban Tham Buddha Cave.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=185}} Tat Saloei (Phonesai) Waterfall lies off the road to Nam Noen, about {{convert|35|km}} south of Sam Neua.{{sfn|Burke|Vaisutis|2007|p=185}}

The Nameuang Hot Springs is another landmark amidst the valley of paddy fields on the way to Xamneua, where there is a Houaiyad waterfall close. The springs are the source of a small river. In Houaiyad village, crashed aircraft parts and cans of war relics are recycled into belts.^[18]

Gallery

References

Bibliography

• {{cite book|last1=Auzias|first1=Dominique|last2=Labourdette|first2=Jean-Paul|title=Laos 2012–2013|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eLqB6mbBeacC&pg=PA265|date=28 March 2012|publisher=Petit Futé|language=French|isbn=978-2-7469-5375-8|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book|last1=Burke|first1=Andrew|last2=Vaisutis|first2=Justine|title=Laos 6th Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jm4GBvwaF50C&pg=PA185|date=1 August 2007|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74104-568-0|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book|last=Hitchcock|first=Michael|title=Tourism in Southeast Asia: Challenges and New Directions|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H0PXkzgcdRQC&pg=PA175|year=2009|publisher=NIAS Press|isbn=978-87-7694-034-8|ref=harv}}
• {{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Barbara|title=International Religious Freedom (2000): Report to Congress by the Department of State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OTx1qbA8OW8C&pg=PA202|date=1 July 2001|publisher=DIANE Publishing|isbn=978-0-7567-1229-7|ref=harv}}

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