Xam Neua District

Province

Sam Neua ( lao.: ຊໍາ ເຫນືອ ), or Xamneua, is the capital of Houaphan, a province in the east of Laos.

Geography

Sam Neua is situated in a valley cut by the river Nam Sam at an altitude of 1200 meters.

Population

The population of the city is 46,800. ( As of 2000) Here mainly live Laotians, Vietnamese and Hmong. In addition, some members of the Thai Dam, Thai Daeng and Thai Lue.

Culture and sights

In Sam Neua, the Wat Pho Xai monastery is located. It is the only monastery of the city and is only inhabited by five monks permanently.

Another attraction is the built in 1979 Independence Monument. It stands on a hill in the northwest of the city.

Infrastructure

Three kilometers from the city center there is an airport which is irregularly fly from Vientiane.