Houaphanh Province
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Houaphanh ແຂວງ ຫົວພັນ |
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|---|---|
| Province | |
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 Map of Houaphan Province |
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 Location of Houaphanh Province in Laos |
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| Coordinates: 20°20′00″N 103°49′59″E / 20.3333°N 103.833°ECoordinates: 20°20′00″N 103°49′59″E / 20.3333°N 103.833°E | |
| Country |
 Laos
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| Capital | Xam Neua |
| Area | |
| • Total | 16,500 km2 (6,400 sq mi) |
| Population (2015 census) | |
| • Total | 289,393 |
| • Density | 18/km2 (45/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+07 |
| ISO 3166 code | LA-HO |
Houaphanh province (Laotian: ແຂວງ ຫົວພັນ [kʰwɛ̌ːŋ hwǎː pʰán]) is a province of eastern Laos. As of 2015 it had a population of 289,393 people. Its capital lies at Sam Neua.
Houaphanh Province covers an area of 16,500 square kilometres (6,400 sq mi). The province is bordered by Vietnam to the north, east and southeast, Xiangkhouang Province to the south and southwest, and Luang Prabang Province to the west. The terrain is rugged, with dense mountainous forest forming much of the province, particularly on the western side. The main road running through the province is Route 6. The principal rivers are the Song Ma, which flows from and into Vietnam, passing the village of Ban Muang-Et, and the Nam Sam, which the towns of Sam Neua and Sam Tai lie on.
The province is the home to the Viengxay caves, an extensive network of caves used by the Pathet Lao, and the Hintang Archaeological Park, one of the most important pre-historic sites in northern Laos, dotted with standing megaliths.
Houaphanh is one of the poorest areas of Laos but has dramatic scenery and fine textile traditions.
The province was home of the Bồn Man Kingdom (Muang Phuan Kingdom) since the 14th century. Following a Vietnamese invasion in 1478 led by Vietnamese King Lê Thánh Tông, it became of the Đại Việt Kingdom with the capital at Sam Chau (present-day Sam Neua). The area was known as Hua Phan Tang Ha Tang Hok, "the fifth and the sixth province," and listed by Auguste Pavie as "Hua Panh, Tang-Ha, Tang-Hoc."
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