| Vaphai | |
| Other Name: | Ivaphai |
| Nickname: | Phaikhawpui |
| Settlement Type: | village |
| Pushpin Map: | India Mizoram#India |
| Pushpin Label Position: | left |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Mizoram, India |
| Coordinates: | 23.1468°N 93.3252°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mizoram |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Champhai |
| Subdivision Type3: | Block |
| Subdivision Name3: | Khawbung |
| Founder: | Mitinliana |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Elevation M: | 1733 |
| Population Total: | 2252 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Footnotes: | [1] |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Mizo |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code Type: | PIN |
| Postal Code: | 796321 |
| Registration Plate: | MZ |
| Blank1 Name Sec1: | Coastline |
| Blank1 Info Sec1: | 0km (00miles) |
| Blank2 Name Sec1: | Nearest city |
| Blank2 Info Sec1: | Champhai |
| Blank3 Name Sec1: | Sex ratio |
| Blank3 Info Sec1: | 968 females per 1000 males ♂/♀ |
| Blank4 Name Sec1: | Literacy |
| Blank4 Info Sec1: | 98.06% |
Vaphai is a village at the extreme east of Champhai district of Mizoram.[2]
Vaphai, with an average altitude of 5,686 feet (1,733 m) above sea level, lies about 11 km east of Tehsil Main Town Khawbung.
Its original name was "Ivaphai", which literally means "Plains of the river Iva", referring to its original location in the river valley slightly west of its present location. The first syllable got dropped probably by elision in course of time. It is situated at an average altitude of 5,686 feet (1,733 m) above sea level.[3]
The village was established by Pu Mitinlianan in 1876 who started ruling the village for 45 years till his death in 1921. It was then ruled by Pu Chawnghleithanga in 1922 (1 year), who then passed it on to his son Pu Tlangtinchhuma who ruled till 1937 (14 years). The last chieftainship was held by Pu Lalrokhama (17 years) until the abolition of chieftainship in 1954.[4]
According to the 2011 census of India, Vaphai has 454 households. The effective literacy rate (i.e. the literacy rate of population excluding children aged 6 and below) is 95.25%.[1]
| Population | 2252 | 1144 | 1108 | |
| Children aged below 6 years | 419 | 198 | 221 | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2203 | 1109 | 1094 | ||
| Literates | 1746 | 911 | 835 | |
| Workers (all) | 1123 | 621 | 502 | |
| Main workers (total) | 1108 | 618 | 490 | |
| Main workers: Cultivators | 821 | 431 | 390 | |
| Main workers: Agricultural labourers | 109 | 58 | 51 | |
| Main workers: Household industry workers | 9 | 7 | 2 | |
| Main workers: Other | 169 | 122 | 47 | |
| Marginal workers (total) | 15 | 3 | 12 | |
| Marginal workers: Cultivators | 5 | 1 | 4 | |
| Marginal workers: Agricultural labourers | 3 | 1 | 2 | |
| Marginal workers: Household industry workers | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Marginal workers: Others | 7 | 1 | 6 | |
| Non-workers | 1129 | 523 | 606 |
Since the Mizos moved into Mizoram from the east, most historical monuments and places of cultural importance are to be found in eastern Mizoram and Burma.[5]
Ṭan tláng, lit. Ṭan mountain, with a height of 6,027 feet (1,837 m) is the fifth-tallest mountain in Mizoram.[6]
Vaphai (Saikhumphai) is one of the 4 Border Haats (markets) in Mizoram, others being at Sangau (Pangkhua), Hnahlan and Zote, all of which boost the local trade and economy.[7]
Zokhawthar (88 km north) provides connectivity to India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway (IMT),[8] and Asian Highway Network and Asian Highway 1 (AH1).[9]