Huaphan? province is teaming up with neighbouring Son La province in Vietnam to host a joint tourism fair in Huaphan province on March 21-22.

The event will feature literary and cultural events that reflect the close ties between the two provinces, through a theme song about the enduring affection between the people of Huaphan and Son La, and will include an exhibition? of photos, tourism products, cultural and other local products.

Visitors will learn about the special tourist attractions and services on offer in each province and can also arrange package tours to the two provinces. There will also be meetings that offer opportunities to create stronger tourism links between Huaphan and Son La.

The event will serve to enhance the friendly relations between Laos and Vietnam, especially between these two provinces, by bolstering the promotion of tourism and building closer relations in the shared border area.

The fair will be a useful source of information for foreign tourists wishing to explore the area and it is hoped there will be a surge in cross-border tourism which will generate more income for local people.

?Huaphan province is located in the far north of Laos, about 600km from Vientiane, and has many visitor attractions.

It is renowned for its stunning waterfalls, including Sa Lery, Tadloun and Phavang, rice terraces, Tham Hang cave and the Hiem and Nam Meuang hot springs, the Hintang archaeological site, and the Nam Et-Phouleuy National Protected Area.

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Huaphan is also home to Pha Thee Mountain and has a striking city pillar in the provincial capital.

Travel to Huaphan is much easier than in the past since Nongkhang airport, which is located in the provincial capital Xamneua? district, opened last year.

Before the airport opened, most people travelled to Huaphan by road which, although passing through stunningly beautiful scenery, was a long and tedious journey because of the mountainous terrain. But now the new airport has put the province within easy reach of people wanting to travel from Vientiane.

In the future, Nongkhang airport is expected to accommodate international flights, enabling more foreign tourists to visit Huaphan and also providing easier access for businesspeople considering setting up operations in the province.