Pa Khoang Lake - A jade gem in the heart of the Northwest
In the past, bamboo grew here in abundance, Thai people had a funny saying that "Look up and see the sky, look down and see bamboo"... Once it was a commodity that played a strategic role in exported to European countries, Pa Khoang forest bamboo has been used to make fishing rods and ski stick. In 1974, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory, the first four companies of young volunteers with Dien Bien pride and youth entered Muong Phang and completed the road crossing several hundreds of mountains in less than 200 days, serving as the basis for the formation of Pa Khoang Lake six years later.
Located outside the Muong Thanh basin, the area spreads over the two communes of Pa Khoang and Muong Phang (Dien Bien district, Dien Bien province), Pa Khoang Lake is located about 5km east of Highway 279, far from the Historical Relic Area National history, especially the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Command, about 8km to the west. "Bamboo forest" (Thai name of Pa Khoang Lake), located at an altitude of nearly 900m above sea level, with a basin area of 2,400 hectares, is considered a "Ha Long Bay" of the Northwest, is an important highlight in eco-tourism of Dien Bien province.
To get to Pa Khoang Lake, visitors can travel from National Highway 279, passing through Na Nhan commune, Dien Bien district, then follow Provincial Highway 3 to Muong Phang commune or alternatively follow the route located southeast of Dien Bien Phu, through Ta Leng commune. Both of these routes take visitors to roads that are not very straight but extremely winding, winding along the bed of Pa Khoang Lake, sometimes hidden behind the green canopy of special-use forests, along with the clear air, peaceful and spacious natural scenery.
Above all, visitors will be able to "immerse themselves" in the "cultural sub-regions" of the ethnic communities of Kho Mu, Thai, Mong... that have existed and lived for decades under the great thousand, and at the same time be immersed in experiencing the life and activities of the ethnic people here.
More specifically, in the villages of Dong Met 1, Dong Met 2, Dong Met 3, visitors will be able to "cross" through long, wide and extremely sturdy hanging trees, which play a role in connecting the islands on the road tourism. On the other hand, Pa Khoang and Muong Phang communes are also home to ethnic communities, in which the Thai people are the majority with nearly 50 villages living interspersed in the forest. Above all, this place still retains the customs, traditions, and unique cultural features of the people of the Northwest region.
At Pa Khoang Lake, when visiting, visitors can feel the excitement of this place when rowing a dugout boat or floating with a small boat floating gently on the ripples. The boat will take tourists to the very corners of the forest islands, seeing many wonderful things of the natural world. Besides, visitors can also walk to visit the very pristine Thai or Kho Mu ethnic villages, through the forest, learn about many unique traditional cultures and enjoy relaxing in beautiful stilt houses beautiful... Friendliness and hospitality are one of the very valuable things of the villagers here. Visitors will be invited to attend art festivals, exchanges, and enjoy art or cuisine from local people. The local dishes include sticky rice served in coongs or rounds of sweet rice with the scent of upland rice, grilled fish skewers or smoked meats with the breath of the mountains and forests enhanced by tilting jars of wine.