Pa Khoang Lake is located in the Pa Khoang tourist complex in Muong Phang commune, Dien Bien district, Dien Bien province, with a total area of ​​2,400 hectares. Photo: https://www.thiennhien.net/

The Muong Phang Historical Relic Forest and Environmental Landscape, approved by the Prime Minister, is an essential upstream special-use forest protecting the water source of Pa Khoang Lake – an important water source for the Muong Thanh basin and Dien Bien Phu city.

Muong Phang forest grows on hilly and mountainous terrain with an average altitude of over 1,000m above sea level, with Pu Huot mountain being the highest peak.

Climatic conditions are within the threshold of adaptation and quite suitable for human health, favorable for outdoor tourism activities and research on tropical primeval forest landscapes.

The survey results of scientists of the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment clearly show that Muong Phang and Pa Khoang Lake have high biodiversity, with many rare species of animals and plants. Regarding plants, statistics show 1,005 species belonging to 614 genera, 198 families of six phyla of vascular plants, accounting for 9.86% of the total number of species, 27.31% of the total number of genera and 69.23% of the total number of families of the flora of Vietnam. Among them, some rare plant species are Vu diep tam that, Ngu gia bi gai, Bat giac lien, Trai ly, Pơ mu, Lat hoa.

The terrestrial vertebrate fauna in Pa Khoang-Muong Phang area has recorded 228 species of wild animals belonging to 31 orders, 84 families, 174 genera, including 42 species of mammals, 109 species of birds, 18 species of reptiles and 12 species of amphibians. Some rare species have been identified such as Golden Pangolin, Little Loris, Common Otter, Flower Monitor, King Cobra, and Serow.

Source: Department of Natural Resources and Environment