People of Vieng Phouka, northern Laos

In Jan 2006 I joined the European caving expedition to northern Laos. The area we were working in was Vieng Phouka. Vieng Phoukha is in the Luang Nam Tha province, and close to the Chinese and Myanmar borders. It lies on route 3, between Luang Nam Tha to the north and the border town of Huay Xai in Bokeo province, which is the border crossing to Chiang Khong (Chiang Rai) in Thailand.

Vieng Phouka is 120 km NW of Houay Xai and lies at 667 m. In VP 90% of the people are Khmu and are farmers or mine workers. There is a large opencast coal (lignite) mine to the south. In the hilly areas people build their houses right on the ridge alongside the road.

The Khmu traditional clothes are quite colourful. We visited plenty of villages when we went caving, as we would have to get permission from the headman and get a local guide. Some of the locals would come into the caves with us.

houses on hill ridge

food stall -

market stall, and chicken transporter -

local lasses

kids playing

spinning cotton -

local smithy

© Liz Price
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