Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area is a national park in Champasak Province in southern Laos . This forested park rises from the Mekong river lowlands eastwards into the Bolaven Plateau . It is an ecotourism destination.
15-456: Dong Hua Sao National Park is located about 30 kilometres (20 mi) east of Pakse and about 10 kilometres (10 mi) south of the town of Paksong in Paksong , Pathoumphone and Bachiangchaleunsouk districts. The park's area is 1,100 square kilometres (420 sq mi) including 300 square kilometres (120 sq mi) of wetlands. Elevations range from 100 metres (300 ft) in
30-820: Is Cathedral of the Sacred Heart , in Pakse . The vicariate was established on 12 June 1967 as Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse / Paksé (French) / 巴色 (正體中文) / Paksen(sis) (Latin adjective), when it was split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Savannakhet . The vicariate covers the Laotian provinces of Champasak , Salavan , Xekong and Attapu , but most of the Catholics live in Champasak and Saravan. Covering an area of 45,000 km² of southern Laos,
45-576: Is a Latin rite missionary territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Laos . As an apostolic vicariate , it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop . It covers southern Laos . It is exempt, i.e., not part of any ecclesiastical province but directly dependent on the Holy See and notably its missionary Dicastery for Evangelization . Its cathedral episcopal see
60-733: Is the second largest in Laos, but many citizens travel across the border to Thailand as Thai hospitals are better equipped. There is a high risk of malaria and dengue fever during the monsoon season. Pakse is on National Road 13, the main transportation highway of Laos. It has bridges over the Xe Don, the French and the Russian Bridges, and one bridge over the Mekong River, the Lao Nippon Bridge, one of only five bridges over
75-761: The French protectorate of Cambodia , as well as the part of Champasak Province located on the other side of the Mekong river from Pakse, which had been part of Laos , to Thailand . The city served as the primary seat and residence to Prince Boun Oum Na Champassak , an important figure in the Laotian Civil War . The prince began the construction of Champasak Palace , but fled in 1974 before it could be completed. The town fell to Pathet Lao forces in May 1975. After 1975, Pakse acquired substantial economic importance in
90-574: The grey-faced tit-babbler , found only in Indochina , and rare hornbills . The wetlands are home to the Siamese crocodile , hog deer and green peafowl , all endangered. Dong Hua Sao faces a number of environmental threats. The most significant is forest conversion for coffee plantations. Other threats include destructive fishing practices, hunting, overcollection of forest products and use of wetlands for agriculture and fisheries. The crocodiles of
105-626: The 2015 Laotian census . Pakse was the capital of the Kingdom of Champasak until it was unified with the rest of Laos in 1946. The French established an administrative outpost in Pakse in 1905. The city was the capital of the Lao Kingdom of Champasak until 1946 when the Kingdom of Laos was formed. After the Franco-Thai war the French ceded Preah Vihear Province , formerly belonging to
120-569: The Mekong in Laos. Pakse is the gateway to the Bolaven Plateau , as well as to the southern provinces of Salavan , Sekong , and Attapeu . It is served by Pakse International Airport . Pakse Airport construction was completed on 2 November 2009, resuming flights to Vientiane , Siem Reap , Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok . Pakse has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen climate classification Aw ) with very warm temperatures throughout
135-723: The Vicariate is the smallest of the apostolic vicariates in Laos . As of 2016, only about 15,000 (1.3%) of approximately 1.3 million people living in the area are members of the Catholic Church, half of them belonging to ethnic minorities. It is subdivided into 46 parishes served by only 7 priests. There are also 19 sisters from the Soeurs de la Charite (Sisters of Charity) and the Filles Marie de la Croix (Daughters of Mary of
150-473: The region. The construction of a bridge over the Mekong, built with Japanese aid, allows road traffic with Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand and has further connected the city to neighbouring countries. In 1943, 62% of the population of Pakse were Vietnamese. Today, Pakse is home to many ethnic Chinese. The population is predominantly Buddhist and the city has several temples. These include: Wat Luang, which
165-626: The west to about 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) on the Bolaven Plateau. Coffee growing was introduced to this area in the 1940s. In 1950 the Dong Hua Sao Forest Reserve was declared, covering 260 square kilometres (100 sq mi). Wartime migration of ethnic minorities from highland to lowland areas took place in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s there was extensive logging in the area, some to establish coffee plantations. In 1993 Dong Hua Sao National Reserved Forest
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#1732783972908180-466: The wetlands face threats to their prey base from hunting and fishing. Pakse Pakse (or Pakxe ; French : Paksé ; Laotian : ປາກເຊ [pȁːk séː] 'mouth of the river'; Thai : ปากเซ ) is the capital and most populous city of the southern Laotian province of Champasak . Located at the confluence of the Xe Don and Mekong Rivers , the district had a population of approximately 77,900 at
195-578: The year. Temperatures are especially high in the months before the monsoon season (March–April). There is a distinct wet season (April–October) and dry season (November–March). Pakse is growing as a tourist destination. Visitors to Pakse's Champasak Province have grown from 113,684 in 2006 to 493,180 in 2013. Sites of interest include: 15°07′N 105°47′E / 15.117°N 105.783°E / 15.117; 105.783 Apostolic Vicariate of Paks%C3%A9 The Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse ( Latin : Vicariatus Apostolicus Paksensis )
210-628: Was built in 1935 and is the largest temple in Pakse, and the Chinese temple Wat Sopsé. Pakse is also the seat of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Paksé led by Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun . The city is the location of the Champasak Provincial Museum , which is a repository of historical documents and artifacts from the province. There are two hospitals in the city. One
225-450: Was declared, later renamed to Dong Hua Sao National Protected Area, covering an area of 1,100 square kilometres (420 sq mi). It was declared a national park in 2021. The park's main forest type is semidry evergreen forest. Upland forest is considered moist evergreen forest. Animal species include the endangered yellow-cheeked gibbon . Wild elephants once roamed the area, but now only domesticated ones are found. Bird life includes
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