Pha Nang Mon hill is spectacular

Situated more than 200 metres above the sleepy village of Nakay, the scene that greets those with enough energy to climb the newly installed staircase to the top of Pha Nang Mon hill in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, is spectacular, and well worth the effort.

A tranquil village nestled below mountains makes up part of the view from the Pha Nang Mon viewpoint.

Pha Nang Mon provides panoramic views of the town, farmlands, caves and mountains that dominate the lush countryside. Before the staircase was built, it was impossible to climb up Pha Nang Mon because of the steep incline.
Now, 300 steps zigzag their way up the cliff face providing views of the area rarely seen before.
The views become more stunning the higher you climb. The top of the stairway also makes for an excellent spot for a selfie with a gorgeous landscape as background.
Cooler temperatures at the top of Pha Nang Mon mean it is it easier for visitors to cool down after their climb.
However, anyone planning to make the climb might wish to take a warm jacket with them, and wear thicker clothes too, as it can become quite cold in the later months of the year.
Pha Nang Mon is within walking distance of the town centre, or vehicles can be hired to take you there.
Even though the staircase has handrails, the climb is steep and could be dangerous for older people, very young children or those with existing health conditions.  Care should be taken by all who decide to attempt the climb.
Pha Nang Mon is a relatively new visitor attraction but it has already achieved renown amongst locals and visitors to the area.
A local official said this is just one among many places of natural beauty in the district.
“Everyone should try and climb Pha Nang Mon, not just because it’s new, but because it’s something out of the ordinary,” he spoke softly.
Right now, development of the Pha Nang Mon site, there are parking places and some toilets available at the bottom. In the future there will be huts placed at intervals along the path all the way to the top. There will also be more facilities for vendors to sell local products and other goods.
The staircase was officially built about four years ago. It was jointly funded by the Lao Revolutionary Youth Union and the Vietnamese Youth Union to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Viengxay district’s liberation forces’ command centre.
Viengxay district in the northeast of Laos is famous for being the stronghold of the nation’s revolutionary movement.
Many caves which housed the offices of the revolutionary leaders as they devised strategies that resulted in the defeat of their enemies.
For many years, Laos battled oppressive foreign powers who sought to subjugate the country, but in collaboration with its Indochinese neighbours, Laos repelled all enemies and achieved liberation in 1975.
Nowadays, many visitors toured the caves inhabited by presidents Kaysone Phomvihane, Souphanouvong and Nouhak Phomsavanh, Khamtay Siphandone, and Xanglort.
The province also shares a border with the Vietnamese provinces of Thanh Hoa, Son La and Nghe An. It is home to about 22 ethnicities, predominantly Tai Khao, as well as Tai Daeng, Tai Meuang, Tai Neua, Phou Noi, Hmong, Khmu and Vietnamese.
Now, many people in Vientiane and the southern provinces have switched to using the road through Borikhamxay as it is much shorter than travelling via the winding and mountainous Road 13 North through Phoukhoun.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update September 8, 2022)