Phongsali

The northernmost province of Laos is the home to many minority ethnic hilltribe people, their 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 the 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