Phongsaly is the northernmost Province of Laos. It borders China to the west and north, Vietnam to the east, Luang Prabang Province to the south, and Oudomxay Province to the southwest. Phongsaly has a total land area of 16,270 km² (6,280 sq. mi.). Its total population of approximately 178,000 people is made up of more than twenty minority ethnic groups who speak their own languages.

The province is rich in natural resources. Many parts of the land remain covered with dense forests.There are two national protected areas: Phou Dene Din National Biodiversity Conservation Area and Nam Lan Conservation Area.

The majority of Phongsaly people raise crops and livestock. It is also famous for tea plantation.

A 400-year-old tea plantation is about 18 kilometers away in the village of Ban Komaen, which according to some tea experts has some of the oldest tea trees in the world. The large root system of the old trees extends deep into the mineral-rich soil and gives the “Phongsali tea” a distinct aroma and taste.

There are foreign direct investments operating in Phongsaly, most of which are understandably Chinese. The top three investment sectors are agroforestry, hydropower, and mining.