Louang Namtha (Lao: ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ; ຫລວງ means large or vast referring to the large valley or park through which the Tha River runs. ນໍ້າທາ is the Tha River. The meaning of Tha is obscure. Locals describe it as meaning meandering which the river does as it traverses the large valley) is the capital of (...) (from Wikipedia)