Vietnam Botanical Conservation Program Viet Nam Home | Introduction | Study Sites & Images | Viet Nam Links STUDY SITES - Northern Vietnam - LAI CHAU Total Area: 17,133 sq.km Population: 588,666 Provincial Capital: Dien Bien Districts: Muong Te, Phong Tho, Muong Lay, Tua Chua, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien Economic potentialities: forestry. ETHNIC DIVERSITY The population consists mainly of the Thai, Si La, and La Chi minority groups. CLIMATE 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.