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 ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ | |
|---|---|
| Namtha District | |
 | |
  Luang Namtha Location in Laos | |
| Coordinates: 20°57′N 101°24′E / 20.950°N 101.400°E | |
| Country |  Laos |
| Admin. division | Luang Namtha Province |
| Population (2015)[1] | |
| • Total | 54,100 |
| • Religions | Buddhism |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
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.[2]
Climate
| Climate data for Luang Namtha (1990–2019) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 26.2 (79.2) | 28.9 (84.0) | 31.0 (87.8) | 32.3 (90.1) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.1 (88.0) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.1 (86.2) | 30.5 (86.9) | 29.6 (85.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.5 (85.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.6 (58.3) | 18.4 (65.1) | 20.9 (69.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.8 (71.2) | 19.9 (67.8) | 16.4 (61.5) | 13.6 (56.5) | 18.2 (64.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 26 (1.0) | 24 (0.9) | 56 (2.2) | 108 (4.3) | 201 (7.9) | 190 (7.5) | 294 (11.6) | 307 (12.1) | 172 (6.8) | 94 (3.7) | 58 (2.3) | 31 (1.2) | 1,561 (61.5) |
| Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[3] | |||||||||||||
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)), the Chinese border at Boten-Mengla County (60 km (37 mi)), and the Burmese border at Xieng Kok-Kenglat.[4] Luang Namtha is also served by Louang Namtha Airport, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of the city.
Gallery
Day market
Night market
Luang Namtha stupa
Harvesting rice
Riverside guesthouse
References
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)
