| Oudomxay province | |
| Native Name Lang: | lo |
| Settlement Type: | Province |
| Map Alt: | Map of Oudomxai province |
| Image Map1: | Oudomxay Province-Laos.svg |
| Map Caption1: | Location of Oudomxay province in Laos |
| Map Alt1: | Map showing location of Oudomxay province in Laos |
| Coordinates: | 20.7°N 101.8167°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Established Title: | Established |
| Seat Type: | Capital |
| Seat: | Muang Xay |
| Area Total Km2: | 15,370 |
| Population Total: | 345,425 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 census |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone1: | UTC+07 |
| Iso Code: | LA-OU |
| Blank Name Sec1: | HDI (2017) |
| Blank Info Sec1: | 0.532[1] · 15th |
Oudomxay (alternates: Oudômxai or Moung Xai; Lao: ອຸດົມໄຊ, in Lao pronounced as /ʔú.dòm.sáj/) is a province of Laos, located in the northwest of the country. Its capital is Muang Xai.
It covers an area of . It borders China to the north, Phongsali province to the northeast, Luang Prabang province to the east and southeast, Xaignabouli province to the south and southwest, Bokeo province to the west, and Luang Namtha province to the northwest. Its topography is mountainous, between 300- above sea level.
Oudomxay has deposits of salt, bronze, zinc, antimony, brown coal, kaolin and iron. Attempts to control heroin-related poppy cultivation there have been made through the Narcotics Crop Control Project, begun in the 1990s. Besides rice, important local crops are corn, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, cassava (maniok), sugarcane, tobacco, cotton wool, tea and peanuts. In 2004, approximately 10,000 tons of sugarcane and 45,000 tons of corn were produced there.
According to local history books,[2] the first people who settled in Oudomxay around the year 700 were "Khom" (also known as Khmu). About 1260, Lao Ly came from the region of Sipsongpanna in southern China and built a village called Ban Luang Cheng ("big village" or "big district") in the area of today's province capital Muang Xay. The former Lao Ly village is now part of Muang Xaya and is called Bang Cheng.
Ly culture, which was marked by Buddhism on the one hand and the old Khom traditions on the other hand, grew and became very influential on the region. Khom and Leu lived together and shared the same rice fields. To provide protection they erected fortifications between the villages of Na Sao and Na Lai. Around 1828, Hmong tribes coming from China began to settle in Oudomxay. The modern province was created in 1976, when it was split off from Luang Prabang. Around 1987 the capital of the province was moved from Ban Nahin to Muang Xay. In 1992, the districts Paktha and Pha Oudom were reassigned to Bokeo province.
Oudomxay province, one of the provinces of Laos,[3] covers an area of .[4] The province borders China to the north, Phongsali province to the northeast, Luang Prabang province to the east and southeast, Xaignabouli province to the south and southwest, Bokeo province to the west, and Luang Namtha province to the northwest.[5] In the northwest there is a border with the autonomous area of Xishuangbanna of the People's Republic of China.Notable settlements include Muang Xay, Muang La, Pak Beng, Sen Say, Taxoum, Seneke, Sala Mok, Ban Na He, Ban Chomka, Ban Lao Phe, Ban Na Houang, Ban Lo Sa, Ban Lao Than, Ban Donkon, Ban Senlouang, Ban Napa, Ban Phoukeu, Ban Yamai, Ban Haiteu, Ban Kavang, Ban Kheun, Muang Houn, Ban Na Mao, Ban Tong, Ban Khmou, Ban Khokka, and Ban Tong.
The topography of Oudomxay is very mountainous. Altitudes vary between 300- above sea level. Approximately 60 rivers flow through Oudomxay province, as for example Nam Phak, Nam Sae, Nam Beng, Nam Kor and Nam Nga. The Nam Kor flows through the province capital Muang Xay. Oudomxay province has a moderate monsoon climate. The yearly amount of rain is about 1900-. Temperatures in February and March average between 18 and 19 °C, from April to May temperatures climb over 31 °C.[6] Due to high altitudes there are more variations in temperature during the year and a colder dry season in northern Laos as in the rest of the country.[7]
The Upper Lao Mekong Important Bird Area (IBA) is 10,980 hectare in size. It spans the provinces of Oudomxai, Bokeo, and Sainyabuli. The altitude is 300- above sea level. Noted topography includes river channel, exposed beds, sandbars, sand and gravel bars, islands, rock outcrops, bushland, and braided streams. Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Grey-headed Lapwing V. cinereus, Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni, Plain Martin Riparia paludicola, River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii, Small Pratincole Glareola lactea, and Swan Goose Anser cygnoides are some of the recorded avifauna.[8]
Vegetation in Oudomxay is rich by virtue of the monsoon climate. Several kinds of bamboo and a broad range of plants (for example orchids) are found in the region. Also hardwoods like teak and mahogany trees grow in Oudomxay and are important sources of income for the population.
The province is made up of the following districts:[9]
| Map | Code | Name | Lao script | Population (2015) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-01 | Xay District | Lao: ເມືອງໄຊ | 79,535 | |
| 04-02 | La District | Lao: ເມືອງຫຼາ | 17,173 | |
| 04-03 | Namo District | Lao: ເມືອງນາໝໍ້ | 38,826 | |
| 04-04 | Nga District | Lao: ເມືອງງາ | 30,938 | |
| 04-05 | Beng District | Lao: ເມືອງແບ່ງ | 37,491 | |
| 04-06 | Houne District | Lao: ເມືອງຮຸນ | 74,254 | |
| 04-07 | Pakbeng District | Lao: ເມືອງປາກແບ່ງ | 29,405 |
The population of the province according to the 2015 census is 307,622.[10]
The exact proportions of the approximately 14 different ethnic groups living in Oudomxay are still not precisely known. According to the province administration, the following estimations can be assumed; Khmu (among them Khmu Lu, Khmu Khong, Khmu Am, Khmu Bit) 60–80%, Lao Loum 25%, Hmong (among them Hmong Khao, Hmong Dam und Hmong lai) 15%. Minor ethnic groups living in the province include Akha, Phouthai (Thai Dam & Thai Khao), Phou Noy (Phou Xang, Phou Kongsat, Phou Nhot), Lao Houy (also „Lenten“), Phouan, Ly, Yang, Ikho and Ho.[11]
Oudomxay has deposits of salt, bronze, zinc, antimony, brown coal, kaolin and iron deposits.[11] Attempts to control poppy cultivation in the province have been made through the Narcotics Crop Control Project, formulated in the 1990s.[12] The extremely limited accessibility of the mountain villages additionally impedes economic development of rural regions.[13] Approximately 40,000 hectares of land are cultivated in Oudomxay, with rice being the main crop.
There are many landmarks in the province and some of the prominent ones are the following.
Muang La is an important Buddhist pilgrimage for Theravada Buddhists in the province. Saymoungkhoune Rattana Stupa located here has a highly revered Buddha image, which is 400 years old and is reported to have supernatural powers.[18]
Chom Ong Cave, the longest cave in Laos, is located in Ban Chom Ong, 45 km to the northwest of Oudomxay town and is the biggest known cave in northern Laos. The cave was explored by a team of cave researchers during 2009, 2010 and 2011 and reported to be 18.4 km long and considered as the second longest in Laos and 9th longest in South East Asia. The average dimensions of the cave is 20–25 m in width and 20–30 m in height. It has two passages, one is a stream and the other has fossils and both connect to a large hall which is 100 m long, 30 m wide and of varying height of 30–50 m up to the roof. It has a stream inlet in the north and the stream outflows in the southern end.[19] [20]
During the Indochina war, people of the village, who had till then kept the location of the cave a secret, had to use the cave as bomb shelter, and they thought that their prayers to Buddha had helped to protect them from the bombings. Hence, they named the cave as “Phachao Khamtan” or “Khamtan Buddha” Cave where 'Phachao' means "Buddha" and 'Khamtan' means "Valuable Protective Shield".[21]
The Baci festival was started even before Buddhism made inroads into Laos, as an animist ritual used to celebrate important events and occasions, like births and marriages and also entering the monkhood, departing, returning, beginning a new year, and welcoming or bidding etc.[22] [23] It is particularly special for ethnic groups of the mountainous region of northern Laos such as Oudomxay province, though it is now celebrated throughout Laos as a national festival and also in neighbouring Thailand. It a traditional cult festival in which after offering prayers to Buddha, in a formal gathering people tie a white thread (symbolically representing purity) or string on the wrist of their opposites wishing for their well-being, ward off ill luck and bring them good luck. The ceremony is held as a part of marriage festival or any auspicious occasion in the family when family members get together. The thread can be taken off only three days after its tying.[23]
This practice is linked to the ancient belief that Baci is invoked religiously to synchronise the effects of 32 organs of human body considered as kwan (KWA-ang) or spirits or the “components of the soul.” Its observance to establish as social and family bond to maintain “balance and harmony to the individual and community, is done in its original format in Laos, as a substantiation of human existence.”[22] [24]