There are 16 provinces in Laos. They are called khweng. In addition, there is a capital prefecture and a metropolitan municipality. The number of districts and communes is difficult to count; there are more than ten thousand of them. The country stretches from south to north, and the northern regions of Laos occupy the main territory. We have collected the names and brief descriptions of the regions of Laos to make it easier for you to navigate this country:
Northern regions of Laos:
Bokeu is the smallest province located in the north-west of Laos. Precious and semi-precious stones are mined here, and the name itself translates precisely as “mine with precious stones.”
Luang Namtha - the northwestern border of the province is created by the Mekong River. As many as three major tributaries of the Mekong, the Tha, Fa and Long rivers, flow through the territory of Khveng from northeast to southwest.
Phongsali is located in the far north of the country and borders China and Vietnam. The altitude of the territory ranges from 450 to 1800 meters. There is an interesting mountain Phudoichi with a height of 1842 m.
Udomsay - the length of the border with China is only 15 km. The relief is mostly mountainous, the elevation difference is from 300 to 1800 m above sea level. More than 60 rivers flow through Oudomxay, among them: Phek, Beng, Kor and Nga. The climate here is temperate monsoon. This is one of the coolest provinces in the country.
Luang Prabang is a large province in the north of the country. On the territory of Khveng in the 18th-19th centuries there was a kingdom of Luang Prabang, which is considered the predecessor of today's Laos.
Sainyabuli - Khweng in the north-west of the country, located on the banks of the Mekong. It has a border with Thailand. The Thai-Laotian border war took place here in 1906, but not only. Throughout its existence, khweng has been the subject of controversy with Thailand.
Huaphan is a province in the northeast of the country, closer to the center. Borders with Vietnam. The Vieng Xai Caves are located here and were used as a base by the Pathet Lao guerrillas who operated in the country from 1950 to 1970.
Vientiane is the khoeng of Laos, which is located north of the small metropolitan prefecture of Vientiane with the capital of the country.
Xiang Khuang - Khveng in the northeast of the country, bordering Vietnam. The name is associated with the name of the Xianghuang plateau. The administrative center is Phonsavan. In this province you can see the famous and mysterious Valley of Jugs.
There are only two central regions of Laos:
Boli Kham Xai is Khveng in the central part of the country, bordering Vietnam along the Truong Son Mountains. One of the youngest provinces of Laos.
Kham Muan - Khveng borders on Thailand in the west and Vietnam in the east. The administrative center of this peculiar “isthmus” is the city of Thakhek.
Southern regions of Laos:
Savannakhet is a large khoeng in southern Laos. It borders with Thailand in the west and Vietnam in the east. The administrative center, which had a name similar to the province, was renamed Kayson Phomvihan in 2005.
Saravan (or Salavan) - This khweng is located on the Bolaven plateau. People come here for trekking and ride elephants here. You can also admire the waterfalls and landscapes. The Phu Xieng Thong Conservation Area has been created in Khwenge to protect many species of wild animals.
Champasak - Khveng in the southwest of Laos, bordering Thailand and Cambodia. The Mekong River flows along the western edge of the province. People come here to try to see river dolphins.
Attap - Khveng in the south of the country, along the eastern border of the province of Vietnam, in the south it borders with Cambodia. To the east are the Annam Mountains. There is a Poi border checkpoint near the town of Pleikan on the Vietnamese side. Rivers such as Kong, Kaman and Su flow through the territory of Khweng. This region has beautiful waterfalls.
Sekong is a khoeng in southeastern Laos. It borders Vietnam along its eastern border. This is one of the least known among tourists and sparsely populated provinces of Laos.
Using country map, you can visit the most famous and wonderful cities in the regions of Laos. Contact tripmydream, and we will tell you where and when is the best time to go.
