Muang Xay

Muang Xay (, ), also referred to as Oudomxai or Oudomxay, is the capital city of Oudomxai Province, Laos.

Naming

Legend has it that in the year 1323, the inhabitants of the village Ban Luang Cheng in "Takka Sila" town were in the forest to cut bamboo. While they were making some bamboo fishing utensils, they saw a monk coming from the forest walking towards them. He had gone to the forest before to meditate. The monk asked the villagers what they were doing and they replied that they were making a fishing basket. They offered him food. Because of that experience, the villagers changed the town's name from "Takka Sila" to "Muang Xay", as the monk's name was "Paxay".Khana Sinam Gaan Khon Khua Hiabhiang (Provincial Government Leader Group of Research and Data Collection): ''"Phavatsaat Muunsya Khweeng Oudomxay" (History of Oudomxay Province)'', 2004, p. 19-28

Infrastructure

The town is served by Oudomsay Airport, about a 10 minute walk from town center.

It has a station on the Boten–Vientiane railway.

Demography

The residents of the town are mainly Lao Loum, along with the presence of the ethnic group Khmu, 60% of the province's population.

Geography and climate

Oudomxay Province has a moderate monsoon climate. Due to its higher elevation, there are more variations in temperature during the year and a colder dry season in northern Laos than in the rest of the country.Leek 2007: ''Rural Livelihood Strategies and Natural Resources in Oudomxay, Lao PDR'' p.1

Yearly precipitation is about 1,900–2,600 mm. Temperatures in February and March average between 18 and 19 °C, from April to May temperatures climb over 31 °C.W. Roder ''Slash and Burn Rice Systems in the Hills of Northern Lao P.D.R.: Description, Challenges, and Opportunities.'' 2001

Tourism

For some years, efforts have been made to encourage tourism in Muang Xay in order to ameliorate the region's poverty. Since 1997 there has been a tourism office in Muang Xay, supported by the German Development Service (DED) since 2005. The support of DED aims to raise the incomes of the rural population and small-scale enterprises via tourism and thereby protect natural resources.

Development

Oudomxay is seen as a province in which discovering "authentic" Laos is possible, especially in terms of ecotourism. The tourism office offers guided trekking tours, a Lao cookery course, and a workshop on traditional paper making.

According to the ''Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos 2008'' by the Lao National Tourism Administration, the number of tourists has increased from approximately 18,600 to 102,000 between 2001 and 2008. According to the statistics, approximately 17% of all 1.7 million tourists visiting Laos in 2008 came to Oudomxay. Oudomxay has eight hotels and approximately 52 guesthouses.Lao National Tourism Administration; Planning and Cooperation Department; Statistics Unit: ''2008 Statistical Report on Tourism in Laos''

Potential

Overall, about 1,286 beds were available in Oudomxay in 2006. In 2008, their occupancy rate was approximately 60% compared to 73% in Luang Prabang.

There is a discovered Chom Ong Cave, about 45 km from Oudomxay, the largest known cave in northern Laos. It has a length of more than 16 km, ceiling heights up to 50 m, a stream course flowing in the caveBritish Cave Research Association: ''Speleology'', 13 May 2009, p.34 and is rated "exceptional"Michael Laumanns/Francois Brouiquisse, ''La nouvelle plus longe grotte du Nord Laos'' in ''Spelunca'' No. 113, 2009, p. 9. and "the most significant find and the biggest highlight" in northern Laos by some speleological magazines.

References

External links

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{{Districts of North Laos

Populated places in Oudomxay Province