Viengthong district, Houaphanh
 | This article is written like a travel guide. (May 2020) |
Viengthong district
ເມືອງວຽງທອງ | |
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| Country | Laos |
| Province | Houaphanh |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Viengthong district is a district (muang) of Houaphanh province in northeastern Laos.[1] It is the gateway to the Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park, which protects mountain forests which are home to a number of endangered species. The park headquarters is in the town.
History
[edit]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]
See also
[edit]- Viengthong district, Bolikhamsai, another Laos district by the same name
References
[edit]- ^ Maplandia world gazetteer
- ^ 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.[dead link]
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