19°28′N 103°11′E / 19.46°N 103.18°E
Phonsavan
ໂພນສະຫວັນ | |
---|---|
Pek District | |
Coordinates: 19°25′N 103°10′E / 19.417°N 103.167°E | |
Country | Laos |
Admin. division | Xiangkhouang Province |
Elevation | 3,600 ft (1,100 m) |
Population (2015)[1] | |
• Total | 75,600 |
• Religions | Buddhism |
Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Area code | 061 |
Climate | Cwa |
Phonsavan (also spelled Phonesavanh, Lao: ໂພນສະຫວັນ, pronounced [pʰóːn sā.wǎn]), population 37,507, is the capital of Xiangkhouang Province.[2] Phonsavan was built in the late-1970s and replaced old Xiang Khouang (today known as Muang Khoune), which was destroyed during the Second Indochina War.
Phonsavan is known for the nearby Plain of Jars, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.[3] The main economic activities in Phonsavan are based on governmental administration, mining by Chinese and Australian companies, tourism, and the work of non-governmental organizations clearing unexploded ordnance (UXO).