Hua Phan
Because Hua Phan Province is not easy to get to, and it takes a long bus ride from neighboring provinces, it is not on the tourist trail, and few visitors make it to this part of Laos. It is in the far northeast on the border with Vietnam. Not many travelers explore this region, and what few there are, usually come from Vietnam. This is unfortunate because the province does have a lot to offer, and those intrepid travelers who do venture here, are rewarded with spectacular mountains looking down on oceans of clouds and emerald green valleys.
At various times during the last 500 years, Hua Phan has been an independent Thai Neua kingdom, or part of a Vietnam vassal state called Ai Lao. It became a part of Laos under French colonial rule of Indochina with Xam Neua as the provincial capital. The province has a small population, and is home to some twenty-two ethnic groups. Being more accessible from Vietnam than from other parts of Laos, the Vietnamese presence here is very strong. Textiles are an important part of the economy in the Xam Neua area, and ethnic tribal styles are popular. 
Vieng Xai
In addition to the town of Vieng Xai and the surrounding area being incredibly beautiful, the other main reason to visit the province is to see the former headquarters of the Pathet Lao. There are about 100 caves in the area of Vieng Xai, and to avoid being bombed, many of these caves were used by the Pathet Lao during the Vietnam War. There is a small tourist industry here, and you can tour caves that were used for housing, hospitals, offices, markets, temples, and more. The caves are quite impressive, and are of historic importance. You can also visit the house of Prince Soupanouvong, built at the mouth of his cave in 1975 after the bombing had stopped.
When To Visit
The most exhilarating time to visit is after the rainy season when the vegetation and the village rice fields are most verdant and green.
Cambodia
