Bokeo province Facts for Kids

Bokeo (pronounced 'baw-kaew', meaning 'gem mine') is a small province in northern Laos. It's the second least populated province in the country. Bokeo covers an area of 6,196 square kilometers. It shares borders with Luang Namtha province to the northeast, Oudomxai province to the east, Xaignabouli province to the south, Thailand to the southwest, and Burma (also known as Myanmar) to the west and northwest.

The province has five main areas called districts: Houay Xay, Tonpheung, Meung, Phaodom, and Paktha. Bokeo is known for its valuable and semi-valuable stones. The capital city of Bokeo province is Houayxay, which is located on the Mekong River. The province is part of the famous Golden Triangle area, where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet. Many different ethnic groups, about 34 in total, live in Bokeo province. Houayxay is an important border town and a center for business.

History of Bokeo
Geography of Bokeo
Protected Nature Areas
Administrative Divisions
People of Bokeo
Economy of Bokeo
Landmarks
Images for kids
See also

History of Bokeo

Bokeo got its name because of the beautiful sapphires that were mined in the Houayxay area. An old stone marker from 1458 can be found at Wat Jom Kao Manilat, which is a temple built in 1880 from teak wood in a special Shan style. There's also an old French fort called Fort Carnot, which is now used by the Lao Army.

Bokeo province was officially created in 1983. Before that, it was part of Luang Namtha province. Later, in 1992, the Paktha and Pha Oudom Districts became part of Bokeo, moving from Oudomxay province. In the past, Houayxay town was a busy trading spot, especially for goods coming from Yunnan province in China and going to Thailand.

Geography of Bokeo

Bokeo province is the smallest province in Laos, covering about 6,196 square kilometers. It borders Luang Namtha province to the northeast, Oudomxay province to the east, Sainyabuli province to the south, Thailand to the southwest, and Burma (Myanmar) to the west and northwest. Some important towns and villages include Houayxay, Mong Lin, Ban Thakate, and Ban Nam Kueng.

The Nam Nga River flows through the province's Bokeo Nature Reserve. The province is located between the Mekong River, which forms a border with Thailand and Burma, and is also on a trade route with China. Don Sao is an island in Tonpheung District. It is connected to the mainland for most of the year, except during the rainy season.

Protected Nature Areas

The Bokeo Nature Reserve was created to protect animals, especially the black crested gibbon. This type of gibbon was thought to be extinct until it was rediscovered in 1997! Other animals like elephants and wild water buffalo travel through the reserve. You can also find bears and tigers there.

This protected area has a mix of different types of forests and mountains, with heights from 500 to 1500 meters. The reserve covers a huge area of 136,000 hectares. The main goal is to protect the critically endangered western black crested gibbon. Early studies show there are many gibbons, especially near the Nam Kan River. A project called the Gibbon Experience helps with this conservation effort.

The Gibbon Experience lets people see the rainforest from high up in special tree huts, which helps support the conservation work. There's also a Waterfall Gibbon Experience, which involves a three-hour hike deep into the reserve along the Nam Nga River.

Besides gibbons, other wildlife in the reserve includes:

Great barbet (a colorful bird)
Grey-headed parakeet (another bird)
Grey leaf monkeys
Crab-eating mongoose
Tigers
Smaller cats
Dhole (wild dogs)
Two types of bears
Otters
Sambar deer
Wild cattle called gaur

Another important area for birds is the Upper Lao Mekong Important Bird Area (IBA). It covers parts of Bokeo, Oudomxay, and Sainyabuli provinces. This area has river channels, sandbars, islands, and rocky spots. Some of the birds found here include the black-bellied tern, great cormorant, and swan goose.

Administrative Divisions

Bokeo province is divided into smaller areas called districts. Here are the districts:

Code	Name	Lao script	Population (2015)

5-01	Houayxay	ເມືອງຫ້ວຍຊາຍ	70,170
5–02	Ton Pheung	ເມືອງຕົ້ນເຜິ້ງ	34,476
5–03	Meung	ເມືອງເມິງ	14,506
5–04	Pha Oudom	ເມືອງຜາອຸດົມ	40,909
5–05	Pak Tha	ເມືອງປາກທາ	19,182

People of Bokeo

In 2015, Bokeo province had a population of 179,243 people living in 36 townships and over 400 villages. Bokeo is very diverse, with 34 different ethnic groups living there. This makes it the second most diverse province in Laos, after Luang Namtha province.

Some of the many ethnic groups include the Akha, Hmong, Khamu, Lanten, Lahu, Yao, and Tai Lue peoples. The Lahu, who speak a language from the Tibeto-Burman family, also live in large numbers in this province.

Economy of Bokeo

The economy of Bokeo province is largely influenced by the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GT SEZ). This zone is a special business area. In 2007, a company called Kings Romans Group started a long-term lease for a large area of land along the Mekong River. Part of this area became a duty-free zone, which is now the SEZ.

Houayxay, the capital city, is also a major center for business in the province. Bokeo is one of the main areas in Laos where maize (corn) is grown. Mining for valuable stones and gold is a big part of the economy. Ban Nam Khok and Ban Houi Sala are well-known mining areas. A company called Buhae Industrial Corp. mines for sapphires in Houayxay District. Many villages of the Lantaen ethnic group are famous for making traditional paper from the saa plant and other crafts.

The Paa beuk, a type of catfish, is the largest freshwater fish in the world and lives in the Mekong River. It can grow up to 3 meters long and weigh as much as 300 kilograms. This fish is an important economic resource because it sells for a high price. However, it is an endangered species.

Landmarks

There are several interesting temples in Houayxay, the capital city. These include Wat Chamkao Manilat, Wat Jom Khao Manilat (built in 1880), Wat Thadsuvanna Pkakham (which has eight golden Buddha statues), Wat Khonekeo Xaiyaram (with colorful doors and pillars), and Wat Keophone Savanthanaram (which has a reclining Buddha statue). The old French Fort Carnot used to have buildings and barracks, but they are now gone.