Xaisomboun and Bolikhamsai Provinces
Xaisomboun and Bolikhamsai Provinces
Making it to Xaisomboun and Bolikhamsai provinces for a visit meant that you made it to some of the least visited provinces of Laos. Both provinces have a lot of beautiful nature and amazing views that come with it.
Xaisomboun province – turbulent history and high mountains
This province is located between Luang Prabang province, Vientiane province, Bolikhamsai province and Xieng Khuang province and the name is also spelled Saisomboun and several other ways of writing it. The capital of the province is named Xaisomboun town/ city and is located in Anouvong district. Xaisomboun was created as the 18th province of the Lao PDR in 2013 and has a very turbulent history. The province is home to many Hmong people and for history lovers the town of Long Cheng (a former CIA airbase and camp) is very interesting. The province is very mountainous and the highest mountain of Laos is located within its borders: Phu Bia. Tourism is developing slowly in the area but it is still very much ‘off the beatean track’.
Bolikhamsai province – Saola, hydropower and national parks
The province is home to the largest hydropower plant of Laos and you might call it ‘the battery of Laos’. In the east of the province it is bordering the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and in the west the Kingdom of Thailand. The capital is named Paksan (Pakxan) a small city with about 30.000 people. The province has some national parks and one of the most special animals in Laos and probably the entire world is to be found in the province and the Nakai–Nam Theun National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) is home to the Saola.