The village of Muong Khoua itself lay at the western foot of the Mousetrap , protected from the river by a large sandbank .
The village of Muong Khoua itself straddling the road to Phong Saly , another French outpost 50 miles ( 80 km ) to the north .
The village of Muong Khoua itself lay at the western foot of the Mousetrap , protected from the river by a large sandbank , and straddling the road to Phong Saly , another French outpost 50 miles ( 80 km ) to the north .