Bokèo (
Laotian: ບໍ່ແກ້ວ ; literally "gem mine"; previously,
Hua Khong, meaning "Head of the Mekong") is a northern
province of
Laos. It is the smallest and least populous province in the country. Bokeo Province is the smallest of the country's provinces, covering an area of . Bokeo Province borders
Luang Namtha Province to the northeast,
Oudomxai Province to the east,
Xaignabouli Province to the south, and
Thailand to the southwest and
Burma to the west and northwest. The province has five districts (
Houay Xay,
Tonpheung,
Meung,
Phaodom and
Paktha) and is rich in deposits of precious and semiprecious stones. Bokeo's provincial capital is
Houayxay on the
Mekong river. The province is part of the “Golden Triangle”, at the crossing with
Myanmar and
Thailand. There are 34 ethnic groups in the province.
Houay Xay is the border town with Thailand and regional economic centre.