A Pa Chai

A Pa Chai belongs to Dien Bien Province, it is the westernmost point of Vietnam Territory, this is the meeting point of 3 country Vietnam, Laos and China. When the Muong Nhe district, Dien Bien province was not established, to reach the border cross-road people had to go to Muong Te district, cross over the "heaven gate" Ta Tong, slopes after slopes and after about one week of walking people arrived at the A Pa Chai village, the last village in the westernmost part of Vietnam.

In the local language, A Pa Chai means a flat and large land, people in the village belong to Ha Nhi people. Not long ago, A Pa Chai was the hot spot of drug abusing, almost everybody were addicts. Officials, children, adults saw opium as a joy against the wild and desolate of a border area. Forests, rivers were left unattended, even the head of police were also an addict. Since the military officers of Leng Su Sin started a policy to help villagers kick their habit, in less than a year, drug was swept out of the village.

Ta Mieu village is a new village separated from A Pa Chai, at the moment Ta Mieu is the final village in the border cross-roads. The path from A Pa Chai to Ta Mieu is only treeless hills. A teacher of Thai people came to teach in the village school, only 1 teacher and 8 pupils in a basic hut.

RELATED INFORMATION

• Dien Bien travel guide 

  • Dien Bien Phu

• Tours to Dien Bien Phu 

  • Northwest Loop 6 days

  • Northwest Exposure 9 days

  • Tribal Trails 16 days