Districts: Muong Te, Phong Tho, Muong Lay, Tua Chua, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien

Economic potentialities: forestry

Lai Chau is located in northwest Vietnam and shares borders with China, Laos, and Lao Cai and Son La. The population consists mainly of the Thai, Si La, and La Chi minority groups.

The  tropical monsoon climate brings a rainy summer and a short winter. The annual average temperature is 23°C and the average rainfall is 2,500 mm.

Lai Chau’s historical vestiges are known worldwide as the site of the victory of Dien Bien Phu by the Vietnamese Army over the French in 1954. This is where various minority people first settled down.