Viengthong District, Houaphanh

Viengthong District is a district (muang) of Houaphanh Province in northeastern Laos.[1] It is the gateway to the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (NPA), which is home to a number of endangered species including tigers. The park headquarters is in the town.

Viengthong District

ເມືອງວຽງທອງ
District
CountryLaos
ProvinceHouaphanh
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)

History

Before the Laotian Civil War, Viengthong District was under the same jurisdiction as Pak Seng 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 US bombing during the Laotian Civil War. The only remnants are a stupa and an unexploded bomb lodged deep in the ground, deemed not to be dangerous.[2]

References
  1. Maplandia world gazetteer
  2. Viengthong Office of Information & Culture and Nam EtPhou Louey NPA. "Biking and Walking Around Viengthong" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.

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