Vieng Phou kha

Vieng Phouka, (also Vien Pou Kha Vieng, Viangphoukha, Viengphoukha, Vieng Pou Kha, Vien Pouka) is a town in Luang Namtha Province, northeastern Laos, approximately 50 kilometres southwest of the town of Luang Namtha. It is the capital of Viengphoukha District. The town was affected by the 2007 Laos earthquake, the epicenter only being several kilometres to the southwest.

Understand

Vieng Phoukha is a mountainous district located in the south of Luang Nam Tha Province on Road 3 about 60 km from Luang NamTha town. It has a total land area of 1866 square Kilometers, bordering NamTha, Nalae and Long district as well as Bokeo Province. With population of 18000 people (in 2005)

Vieng Phoukha is the main town between NamTha and Huay Xai in Bokeo, so if you are entering or exiting Laos you will pass this town.

Notable landmarks

The area surrounding the town is heavily forested and isolated, with dramatic mountain scenery in the distance and part of the Namtha National Biodiversity Conservation Area. The main river in the area is the Nam Fa River. In the southwestern part of the town is Bor Kung Nature Park, known for its shrimp and crab ponds and Wat Bor Kung. The other temple of note is Wat Ban Thio in the northeast of the town. The town also contains a hospital, Thong My Xai Guesthouse, tourist office, morning market, bank, police station, and bus station.

Get in

By Bus

• a bus from Luang Nam Tha 3 times a day from the local bus station , 20,000 Kip 1.5-2 hours
• a bus from Huay Xai

Do

Vieng Phoukha offers some of the most spectacular trekking in Luang Nam Tha Province but there aren't many tourists in the town (most of the time there isn't anyone), so if you are coming to trek don't rely on other people, chances are that you will be the only westerner in town.

Walking

Have a hot cup of Lao coffee and bowl of soup at the Morning Market to kickoff the day, and observe an ethnically diverse crowd of rural groups selling farm and forest

products. Then, work your way west to the Bor Kung Nature Park that unfolds behind the Vieng Phoukha Tourist Information Center, and stroll the trails through a sacred forest to Bor Kung (Prawn Spring) with shrimp, fish, and crabs in its ponds. Find nearby stone pools for a refreshing dip. For lunch, head to the Nam Fa River, before wandering Vieng Phoukha’s handful of streets. End the day with a climb to

Vat Ban Thio Temple in the town’s northeast for a soothing sunset view.

Tour Agencies:

• Vieng Phoukha ecoguide Service- located on Rte 3 in the village center ( you can't miss it )
• Tourism information and trekking guide service center – located 300 m' from rte 3

Source http://wikitravel.org/en/Vieng_Phoukha