Luang Namtha

Luang Namtha
ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ
District & municipality
Namtha District
Luang Namtha is located in Laos
Luang Namtha
Luang Namtha
Location in Laos
Coordinates: 20°57′N 101°24′E / 20.950°N 101.400°E / 20.950; 101.400
Country Laos
Admin. divisionLuang Namtha Province
Population
 (2015)[1]
 • Total
54,100
 • Religions
Buddhism
Time zoneUTC+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.[2]

Climate

Climate data for Luang Namtha, elevation 552 m (1,811 ft), (1990–2019)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 33.2
(91.8) 		35.0
(95.0) 		38.2
(100.8) 		39.7
(103.5) 		40.5
(104.9) 		37.3
(99.1) 		36.2
(97.2) 		34.8
(94.6) 		36.4
(97.5) 		35.0
(95.0) 		33.2
(91.8) 		31.3
(88.3) 		40.5
(104.9)
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)
Record low °C (°F) 2.8
(37.0) 		5.4
(41.7) 		6.8
(44.2) 		10.5
(50.9) 		14.5
(58.1) 		13.5
(56.3) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.8
(67.6) 		14.7
(58.5) 		11.9
(53.4) 		9.5
(49.1) 		0.4
(32.7) 		0.4
(32.7)
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 1: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations[3]
Source 2: NOAA (extremes)[4]

Transport

Waterway

In the rainy season, Luang Namtha can be reached by boat from the Mekong River.

Road

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.[5]

Air

Luang Namtha is also served by Louang Namtha Airport, 6 km (3.7 mi) south of the city.

Rail

Boten railway station

It has 2 railway stations which served by Boten-Vientiane railway: Nateuy railway station at Nateuy and Boten railway station at Boten.

Luang Namtha centre
  • Day market
    Day market
  • Night market
    Night market
  • Luang Namtha stupa
    Luang Namtha stupa
  • Harvesting rice
    Harvesting rice
  • Riverside guesthouse
    Riverside guesthouse

References

  1. ^ "Results of Population and Housing Census 2015" (PDF). Lao Statistics Bureau. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  2. ^ Conboy, Kenneth; Morrison, James (1995). Shadow War: The CIA's Secret War in Laos. Paladin Press. pp. 67–73. ISBN 0-87364-825-0. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Climatology and agroclimatology atlas of the Lao People's Democratic Republic" (PDF). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Global Surface Summary of the Day - GSOD". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  5. ^ Thu, Ei Ei (8 November 2018). "Myanmar-Laos border gate receives international status". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 2021-01-29. Retrieved 19 September 2020.