 The mountain, which is about high, is located within the former Royal Lao Army's Military Region 2, and about from the border of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and away from Sam Neua, the Pathet Lao capital.For the local Hmong and Yao tribes that lived in the area, Phou Pha Thi was a place of religious significance.They believed it was inhabited by spirits possessing supernatural powers to exercise control over their lives.