Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ
District & municipality
Namtha District
Luang Namtha Location in Laos
Coordinates: 20°57′N 101°24′E
Country	Laos
Admin. division	Luang Namtha Province
Population  (2015)
• Total	28,551
• Religions	Buddhism
Time zone	UTC+7 (ICT)

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.

Transport

In the rainy season, Luang Namtha can be reached by boat from the Mekong River. It is connected by Highway 3 to both the Thai border at Houayxay-Chiang Khong (197 km (122 mi)) and the Chinese border at Boten-Mengla County (60 km (37 mi)). Luang Namtha is also served by Louang Namtha Airport, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of the city.

Gallery

Luang Namtha centre

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  Day market
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  Night market
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  Luang Namtha stupa
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  Harvesting rice
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  Riverside guesthouse

External links

• Media related to Luang Namtha at Wikimedia Commons
• Luang Namtha travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Biodiversity Profile for Luang Namtha Province, 2003(subscription required)
• Ethnic diversity in Luang Namtha - Laos
• Facebook photo gallery(subscription required)