Historically, these two powerful neighbors – Siam and Vietnam – have vied for control of its soil.

The province shares borders with Huaphan, Luang Prabang, Vientiane, Xaisomboun and Bolikhamxai provinces, as well as an international border with Vietnam’s Nghe An province. Xieng Khouang has a long and rich history and is home to numerous ethnic groups, including Thai Phuan, Hmong, Khmu, Erdu, Phong and Tai.

Xieng Khouang is home to the Plain of Jars the World Heritage site, the prehistoric stone megaliths which attract more than a hundred thousand of tourists to the province each year. The area is of significant archaeological importance on account also of the standing stones in nearby Huaphan province.

Until briefly after World War II, the French used Xieng Khouang town, present-day Muang Khoun town, as their provincial capital. A few ruinous colonial public buildings remain to this day, such as the governor’s residence, church and French school.

A total of 145 tourist sites were recorded in Xieng Khouang in 2023, and 42 tourist sites were official open, consisting of 10 natural sites, 20 cultural sites and 12 historical sites (9 Months of 2023 Statistical Report on Tourism in xiengkhouang, published by the DICT Xkh ). The same publication reports that visitors to the province about 105,382 people (in 9 Month of 2023) and that the total number of hotels: 20, guesthouses:131, resorts: 3, restaurants: 157, entertainment 46, karaoke: 6, food gardens 3, Phattakan 3 and Travel Agents 7 (in 9 Month of 2023).

Phonsavan, the new provincial capital, is located in Peak district and caters to increasing numbers of national and international tourists, eager to experience Xieng Khouang’s natural, historical and archaeological attractions. The airport in Phonsavan is served by regular flights from Vientiane by Lao Airlines.

The Provincial Tourist Information Centre is located 3 km from Phonsavan town Centre, the way to the Xieng khouang Airport. The office is open daily from 8.00 to 16.00 and the English-speaking staff can be contacted on +856 (0)61 312 217 or +856 (0)20 5555 9760 and 59971788. Email: xkhtourism99@gmail.com (www: xiengkhouangtourism.org; www.tourismlaos.org).

The landscape is characterized by high green mountains, rugged karst formations and verdant valleys with plenty of rivers, caves and waterfalls. The Plain of Jar consists of grassland hills surrounded by steeper forested hills and higher mountains. Xieng Khouang is home to four of the five highest mountains in Laos with elevations up to 2,800 meters. The valley bottoms and plateau areas are converted into paddy fields, cattle and buffalo move around everywhere. Upper slope areas and mountain ridges are used for upland farming in a rotation of Sweden and fallows. The temperate highlands are dominated by extensive pine forests; oaks and chestnuts are the dominant tree species in moist evergreen and dry evergreen hill forests.