Dong Amphan
National Protected Area
Park Type
National Protected Area
Year Established
1993
Total Area
200,000 ha
Provinces
Attapeu and Sekong
Map
Things to See & Do
Important Visitor Information
Access
Dong Amphan National Protected Area is located in the north-east of Attapeu Province, and the south-east of Sekong province. It is very remote and mountainous. Access is mainly limited to dry season only although this can still be hazardous and time consuming.
Tours
It is recommended that visitors arrange their tour to Nong Fa Lake and other park attractions with a licensed tour company and tour guide. There are no services available inside the park, so visitors should come prepared with the help of a tour company and guide.
Fees
There are no currently no official fees for entering the park, although local villages and districts may charge small entry fees for individual attractions. Please coordinate with a licensed tour operator to arrange for related fees.
Biodiversity Values
The biodiversity values in Dong Amphan is great due to the remote location, rugged terrain and broad suite of habitats. Numerous key species (species of high conservation value) of birds and mammals are found in Dong Amphan with 84 mammal species and 280 bird species confirmed or provisionally identified. In 1994-1995 a biological study of the Xe Kaman and Xe Xou found them to support a very high fish diversity, possibly as many as 300-400 species, including several threatened taxa. This may place the two rivers amongst the most important in Indochina in terms of fish diversity. There have also been numerous villager reports of Siamese Crocodile, a critically endangered reptile, from both the Xe Kaman and Xe Xou river systems.
Red-shanked Douc Langur
Pygathrix nemaeus
Red-shanked Douc Langurs are a primate species that are endemic to Laos, Vietnam and Cambodian. They are iconic species for their red legs and beautiful, bright colors.
Status:
Critically Endangered
Southern White-cheeked Gibbon
Nomascus siki
South-white cheeked gibbons are a primate species found in the Southern Annamites and live in high canopy jungles. The male is black and female has a light yellow color.
Status:
Critically Endangered
Large-antlered Muntjac
Muntiacus vuquangensis
This species of deer was discovered in 1994 and is the largest muntjac species. It is found only in the Annamite mountains.
Status:
Critically endangered
Black-hooded laughingthrush
Garrulax milleti
Dong Ampham is designated as an important bird sanctuary with many unique species found in the Southern Annamite Range.
Status:
Least Concern
Topography, Climate & Forests
Topography: Dong Amphan National Protected Area is situated in the Annamite Range Mountains which runs along the Lao PDR and Vietnamese border. These mountains are steep and rugged and give rise to numerous streams and rivers, which create small floodplain areas. A crater-lake (Nong Fa) is situated within the boundaries of the National Protected Area. The geology of the region is composed of clays, sandstone and limestone.Elevation ranges from ca.120m in Attapeu lowlands to 2,052 m at Phou Pengmun, in the north-east of the protected area in the Annamite Chain bordering Vietnam.
Forests & Other Habitat: According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, there are a wide variety of habitat types found in Dong Amphan. These habitats include:
– Lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests;
– Hill evergreen and semi-evergreen and fagaceous forests;
– Dry, temperate-like upland coniferous and broadleaf woodland;
– A mosaic of secondary forest and shifting cultivation.
Other Habitat Features Due to extensive bombing during the Indochina war (Two main trails through the National Protected Area, acting as main arteries of the Ho Chi Minh trail), Dong Amphan contains some bomb craters and UXO.
People & Culture
Attapeu province has a majority of Lao Theung people, with Lao Loum making up only 34% of the population. In the mountainous areas, the Lao Theung represent almost 100% of the population.
| Ethnic group | Nos. of villages | Main Location |
| Lao Loum | 40 | Plains |
| Lave (Laway – Brau) | 44 | Phouvong Mountains |
| Talieng | 34 | Xanxai Mountains |
| Oy | 23 | near Phou Louang |
| Alak | 17 | Xanxai Mountains |
| Sou | 14 | Plains |
| Nge | 9 | Xanxai Mountains |
| Cheng | 3 | Plains |
| Loven | 3 | Bolaven Plateau |
| Nya Hon | 2 | Bolaven Plateau |
| Ta Oy | 1 | Plains |
Conservation & Management
Dong Amphan National Protected Area has no clear management structure, as the field staff rotate between Dong Amphan National Protected Area, Xe Pian National Protected Area and Nam Gong National Protection Forest. A total of 27 staff are working for the Provincial Forest Resource Management office. Six staff are largely office-based, while the remaining 20 staff rotate around the protected areas on rotation. The PFRM headquarters is situated in Attapeu provincial town centre. Sub-station 52 was constructed on Route 18b in 2014. Another sub-station at Phou Yang, in Phouvong district in 2014. Phou Ha in Phouvong District in 2014. Funded by provincial authorities.
Contact Information
+856-021-215000
laosnationalparks@gmail.com
Locations
📍Address: Protected Area Management Division, Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Khouvieng Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR
📞 +856-021-215000
📩 laosnationalparks@gmail.com
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