Viengthong District, Houaphanh

Viengthong ເມືອງວຽງທອງ
Muang (district)
Country	Laos
Province	Houaphanh
Time zone	UTC + 7 (UTC+7)

Viengthong is a district (muang) of Houaphanh Province in north-eastern Laos.^[1] It is the gatway for the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (NPA), which is home to a number of endangered species including tiger. The park headquarters are located in the town.

History

Before the Laotian Civil War, Viengthong District was under the same jurisdiction as Pak Xeng District, Luang Prabang Province and was a Buddhist settlement called Muang Hiem, which means "beware of the tiger", alluding to tiger attacks in the area.

There was a temple called Vat Hiem on a nearby hill where the district government administration building sits today, but this was destroyed by American bombing during the Laotian Civil War. The only remnants are a stupa and an unexploded bomb lodged deep inside the earth, deemed not to be dangerous.^[2]

Sights and activities

There is an early morning market visited by villagers from outside the town. Its speciality is bamboo shoots. A short walk or cycle from the town there are some hot springs, with some Khmu villages nearby. There are also cycle rides to the Nam Khan River and a wooden Buddhist temple in Poung Hai village.^[2]

References

1. Maplandia world gazetteer
2. Viengthong Office of Information & Culture and Nam EtPhou Louey NPA. "Biking and Walking Around Viengthong" (PDF). Retrieved 22 November 2011.