The least populous province of Laos is moderately mountainous and it is difficult to travel due to the lack of all-weather roads. Many diferent ethnic tribe people live in the low lands and in the hills of the province. The economy of the province is one of the worse in the country.

Xe Sap NBCA is located in the far north-east of the province at the Vietnamese border. The travel is almost impossible in the rainy season. Accommodations, medication, telephones, etc. are very rare in the eastern hilly parts. Major mode of transport is in a truck.

The province was heavily bombed during the last Indochina war. Remains of the bombs are still found along the former Ho Chi Minh trail.