Luang Namtha Explained

Luang Namtha
Native Name Lang:lo
Settlement Type:District & municipality
Official Name:Namtha District
Pushpin Map:Laos
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Laos
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Admin. division
Subdivision Name1:Luang Namtha Province
Leader Title:Provincial Governor
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2015
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population Total:54,100
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Blank1 Title:Ethnicities
Population Blank2 Title:Religions
Population Blank2:Buddhism
Timezone:ICT
Utc Offset:+7
Coordinates:20.95°N 125°W

Luang Namtha (Luang Nam Tha) (Lao: ມ. ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ) is a district as well as the capital of Luang Namtha Province in northern Laos. The city lies on the Tha River (Nam Tha).

Luang Namtha is a popular tourist destination, and a base for treks, biking to the surrounding hill tribe villages. The Luang Namtha Museum is in the town.

History

From January through May 1962, troops from the Royal Lao Army (RLA) fought the Pathet Lao and People's Army of Vietnam in the Battle of Luang Namtha. The battle ended with the RLA's headlong retreat southward 150 kilometers across the Mekong River.[2]

Transport

Waterway

In the rainy season, Luang Namtha can be reached by boat from the Mekong River.

Road

It is connected by Highway 3 to both the Thai border at Houayxay-Chiang Khong (197km (122miles)), the Chinese border at Boten-Mengla County (60km (40miles)), and the Burmese border at Xieng Kok-Kenglat.[3]

Air

Luang Namtha is also served by Louang Namtha Airport, 6km (04miles) south of the city.

Rail

It has 2 railway stations which served by Boten-Vientiane railway: Nateuy railway station at Nateuy and Boten railway station at Boten.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Results of Population and Housing Census 2015 . Lao Statistics Bureau . 19 February 2024.
  2. Book: Conboy . Kenneth . Morrison . James . Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos . 1995 . Paladin Press . 0-87364-825-0 . 67–73 . 31 May 2020.
  3. Web site: Thu . Ei Ei . 8 November 2018 . Myanmar-Laos border gate receives international status . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210129194919/https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-laos-border-gate-receives-international-status.html . 2021-01-29 . 19 September 2020 . Myanmar Times.