Asia

Sabai dee and welcome to this guide to Travel in Laos. Laos is a small country in South-East Asia, somewhat overshadowed by its neighbours Thailand and Cambodia, which has managed to develop without becoming tourism-dependent. This doesn’t in any way mean that it’s not worth visiting! Picture a landscape of rice paddies as far as the eye can see, where it’s not unusual to see water buffalo working the land. It’s a country where the beauty of the stormy skies mingles perfectly with the waters of the rivers. The people are unbelievably kind. Buddhism is omnipresent and governs every stage of life. It’s a country where you can switch off from normal life, chill out, take your time and just listen to the rice grow. It’s a country that’s simply a delight to travel in. You’re not imagining it: a stay in Laos is an exquisite and timeless experience. You will be charmed by the sublime Luang Prabang. The former capital houses magnificent temples and monasteries, interspersed with a wonderful natural landscape of hills and the waters of the Mekong. The Mekong, or ‘mother of water’ is sure to be the common thread that runs through your trip to Laos, as you follow its winding course by bus, by car and above all by boat, one of the best ways to immerse yourself in the ancient kingdom of a million elephants…

Laos

Xiengkhouang

Being on the other side of the Mekong than Pakse, it's a great departure point if you're heading to Wat Phou Champassak. The village itself is not void of interest, and you'll be enchanted by a short stay here.

Champassak

Khong

Muang Sing is a pretty village miles from anywhere, about 2 hours from Luang Nam Tha and lost in the countryside of northern Laos. 

Muang Sing

At 300km from Luang Prabang, close to the Chinese border, Luang Nam Tha is an important crossroad between northern towns such as Muang Sing and southern ones including Oudomxai.

Louang Namtha

Kazakhstan

Taiwan

Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Europe

Central America

Africa

North America

South America

Middle East

Oceania

The great thing about Luang Namtha is its nightlife... Apart from some pleasant walks along side streets that lead to the river, there's not much else to do during the day! You'll need to rent a moped if you want to get out and about...  When night falls the town springs to life with Luang Namtha's nighttime market, where a small square is filled with tables, chairs and foodstalls. The menu is impressive - kebabs, rice, fried noodles... You'll also be approached by 'grannies' selling crafts such as bracelets, hats, necklaces and - be forewarned!- drugs including weed and opium! There are also big Laotian restaurants where you can enjoy a karaoke session and get your fill from a Laotian style BBQ. The upside? The town remains traditional, despite the influx of tourists. There are also some easily accessible long mountain hikes. The downside? Not a lot to do in town - best hire a vehicle and explore the surroundings. The bus station is quite far from the town, so hop on a tuk-tuk!

The local capital of a province that bears the same name, Luang Namtha is bordered by mountains on the Chinese side and the Myanmar border on the other.

Arriving from Thailand via Houeisai, Luang Nam Tha was the first town I crossed during my <a href="/laos/">trip to Laos</a>. Don't make the same mistake a me - stay for a while, don't just stop to withdraw some cash. Although I just passed through on my first visit, I had a fun day when I returned from my trip to the northern mountains. At first sight you may think there's nothing to do in this little town, whereas there are, in fact, numerous walks and trails in the area. At the town's market, the sellers were friendly and welcoming. And you can eat there too! The local soup's called 'pho' and it's served with sticky rice; simply delcious. To end my day I played petanque (or boules to us Brits) at the police station with the local bobbies. It was an excellent way to feel at home! When it's time to leave Luang Nam Tha, depending on which direction you're heading, you can fly, catch a bus or hop on a boat.

At 300km from Luang Prabang, close to the Chinese border, Luang Nam Tha is an important crossroad between northern towns such as Muang Sing and southern ones including Oudomxai.

Louang Namtha Vacations

Louang Namtha: How to get there?

Louang Namtha: See when to go ?

Louang Namtha: For how long?

Louang Namtha: What to see nearby?