Xam Neua (Lao: ຊຳເໜືອ, romanized:Sam Nư̄a, pronounced [sámnɯ̌a], sometimes transcribed as Sam Nuea or Samneua, literally 'northern swamp'; French: Xam-Nua), is the capital of Houaphanh Province, Laos.

History

After fleeing from Phrae, deposed king Phiriya Thepphawong escaped from Northern Thailand to Luang Prabang, residing in Xam Neua from 1903-1909.

Climate

Climate data for Xam Neua, elevation 1,000 m (3,300 ft), (1990–2019 normals, extremes 2002–2025)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)30.8 (87.4)34.0 (93.2)37.6 (99.7)38.2 (100.8)37.5 (99.5)36.0 (96.8)36.8 (98.2)33.9 (93.0)34.0 (93.2)32.0 (89.6)32.4 (90.3)32.0 (89.6)38.2 (100.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)20.3 (68.5)22.9 (73.2)26.2 (79.2)28.6 (83.5)29.1 (84.4)29.1 (84.4)28.7 (83.7)28.3 (82.9)27.2 (81.0)24.9 (76.8)23.0 (73.4)20.0 (68.0)25.7 (78.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)15.0 (59.0)16.8 (62.2)19.9 (67.8)22.7 (72.9)24.2 (75.6)24.9 (76.8)24.7 (76.5)24.4 (75.9)23.2 (73.8)21.1 (70.0)18.4 (65.1)15.2 (59.4)20.9 (69.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)9.7 (49.5)10.7 (51.3)13.5 (56.3)16.8 (62.2)19.2 (66.6)20.7 (69.3)20.7 (69.3)20.4 (68.7)19.2 (66.6)17.2 (63.0)13.8 (56.8)10.4 (50.7)16.0 (60.9)
Record low °C (°F)−1.1 (30.0)0.2 (32.4)3.6 (38.5)7.9 (46.2)7.0 (44.6)13.5 (56.3)16.5 (61.7)15.0 (59.0)10.9 (51.6)8.4 (47.1)2.0 (35.6)−0.4 (31.3)−1.1 (30.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)20 (0.8)8 (0.3)47 (1.9)111 (4.4)190 (7.5)198 (7.8)283 (11.1)284 (11.2)210 (8.3)95 (3.7)28 (1.1)13 (0.5)1,487 (58.6)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)2.11.14.78.611.210.614.915.610.57.22.71.891
Average relative humidity (%)79.475.173.171.672.973.078.379.980.381.379.979.377.0
Source 1: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Source 2: Meteomanz (precipitation days 2002–2020)SeaDelt (humidity 2016–2022)

Daily life

It is said that there is a communist re-education camp in Xam Neua and that it was the Pathet Lao capital during the Laotian Civil War Battle of Lima Site 85 (LS-85), 11 March 1968. It is near the Pathet Lao refuges in the Viengxay Caves, which the Lao government hopes to promote as a tourism destination similar to the Củ Chi tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and the Killing Fields Memorial near Phnom Penh in Cambodia. It is near Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area (pronounced "naam et poo loo-ee").

External links

  • Sam Neua travel guide from Wikivoyage