Bokèo is a northern province of Laos. The literal translation of Bokeo is "gem mine". The province is rich in deposits of precious and semiprecious stones. Bokeo's provincial capital is Houayxay on the Mekong river. The province was created in 1983, when it was split off from Louang Namtha Province.In 1992, the districts Paktha and Pha Oudom were reassigned from Oudomxay province.