Mongla

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Mong La (Burmese: မိုင်းလား, Māing Lā, Shan: မိူင်းလႃး, Mêung Lâ, Chinese: 勐拉, Mẻng Lā) is a small city in the far east of Myanmar, in Shan State. It is situated next to the border with China and is a popular trade town.

Although located within Kengtung District of Shan State, it is governed by a local Shan ethnic armed group, the National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) in an area officially known as ‘Shan State Special Region 4’, which is centered around Mongla.

Due to the lack of regulation and laws from the central government, it is a hub for gambling and illegal animal and timber trading.

It is connected by road to Kengtung to the west, but a special permit is required to enter the area.