Xaisomboun province, Laos’ 18th and newest province, was established on 13 December, 2013. Previously it had been a special administrative zone. It covers an area of 8,300 Km².   

The province is extremely mountainous, as seen in Laos’ highest peak at Phou Bia (2,820 m), and the jungle thick. This presented strategic locations and hideouts during the revolution in the 1960s-70s, and holds historical significance.

Xaysomboun’s sparse population of 80,000 is home to a few ethnic minorities such as Hmong, Khmu, Tai Dam and Tai Phuan known for their craftsmanship, jar alcohol, Lao khao rice alcohol, fine silk and cotton textiles as well as non-timber forest products.

Xaisomboun’s top potential is tourism as it is thickly forested mountains hide natural, cultural, and historical sites.   

When the time it was part of Vientiane province (as a special administrative zone), the area of land holdings is 10,653 Ha.

Phou Khao Khouay National Biodiversity Conservation Area is a protected area located 40 kilometres (25 mi) northeast of Vientiane. It was established on 29 October 1993 covering an area of 2,000 km² extending into Xaisomboun Province, Vientiane prefecture, Vientiane Province, and Bolikhamxay Province. Its mountainous topography, with elevation varying from 200 m to 1761 m, emerged from “uplifting and exposure of the underlying sedimentary (Indosinias schist-clay-sandstone) complex”. Extensive Flat uplands with sandstones with hardly any soil cover are also part of the topography of the park. It has a large stretch of mountain range with sandstone cliffs, river gorges and three large rivers with tributaries which flow into the Mekong River. The forests are evergreen, Shorea mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp and pine type; particularly coniferous forest, of mono specific stands, and fire-climax grasslands. Animals found here include elephants, tigers, bears, 13 pairs of white-cheeked gibbons, and langurs and many species of reptiles, amphibians and birds. The green peafowl has been reported here, near Ban Nakhay and Ban Nakhan Thoung, although it was generally considered to be extinct in Laos; conservation management has increased its population.  

Xaisomboun is known as the root of Laos.

References:

1. We are Lao: https://wearelao.com/destinations-northern-laos/xaysomboun%E2%80%A6-roof-laos
2. Wikipedia ‘Xaisomboun province’: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xaisomboun_Province
3. la: http://www.decide.la/agricensus-tabulations/10_Vientiane/Files/Land_D4_10_En.pdf