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Best Tourist Places to Visit in Muang Xai, Laos, Asia

Best Tourist Places to Visit in Muang Xai, Laos, Asia

Muang Xai also known as Oudomxai is the capital city of Oudomxai Province in northwestern Laos placed on the Nam Ko River Basin at the coordinates 20°42′ N 101°49′ E. Muang Xay is the largest city in Northern Laos situated about 532 kms from the national capital Vientiane.

Muang Xai province ‘Oudomxai’ occupies an area of 15,370 sq. km. and is bordered by Phongsali Province in the northeast, China on the north, Luang Prabang Province towards east and southeast, Xaignabouli Province on the south and Bokeo Province in the west.

Muang Xai has rich mineral resources of bronze, zinc, antimony, brown coal, kaolin and iron. The higher majority of Muang Xai farmers grow agricultural products like corn, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, cassava, sugarcane, tobacco and tea, apart from the rice.

History of Muang Xai:

Earlier, Muang Xai was known as Takka Sil and formed as a capital of Oudomxay Province in the year 1987 instead of Ban Nahin.

Culture, shopping and food in Muang Xai:

Muang Xai hosts one famous handicraft shop with products of traditional fabrics, bags and clothes situated opposite of the Airport Street. Luxay Market is the popular shop, One can pick products from daily usable to branded cloths and shoes here. The Baci festival is one of the famous festivals among the regions of Muang Xai celebrated with great fervor by the natives.

Chinese Market located beside Luxay Market and it has a variety of specialties of Chinese clothes and food. Tin market, Nonmengda Market and Phoukhaiw Market are the three markets of Muang Xai.

The famous restaurant of Muang Xai ‘Souphailin’s Restaurant’ serves tourists with delicious food from European and Chinese at low price. Siso Bakery is placed on the opposite of bus station provides homemade breads and excellent quality sandwiches. Tourists can reach Muang Neua Restaurant in the heart of Muang Xai Town for international dishes and cocktails.

How to reach Muang Xai?

National Road 1 is the most important highway passing through Muang Xai connects it with one of the major cities of the country Luang Prabang. There are daily bus services accessible to Vientiane, Phongsali, Pak Beng, Muang Khua and Bokeo from the town of Muang Xai. Muang Xai has its own airport with weekly three time services to national capital Vientiane.

Places to see in Muang Xai:

Chom Ong Cave:

Chom Ong Cave is the biggest cave in northern Laos situated about 44 kms from Muang Xai City centre. It is located at a height of 50 meters and is visited by more than lakhs of tourists from the different regions of country and foreign as well. Monsoon season is not a good time to visit cave.

Saymoungkhoune Rattana Stupa:

It is believed that, Saymoungkhoune Rattana Stupa is more than 400 year old and this major holy place of Theravada Buddhists located in Muang La Village.

The list of other tourist attractions located near Muang Xai is as follows:

Tad Sae Waterfalls
Vipassana Temple and Park
Bear Rescue Centre
Phou Si
Tad Thong Waterfall and Nature Trail
Vat Xieng Toung
The Kuang Si Falls

Best time to visit Muang Xai:

From October to March is the ideal time to visit Muang Xai to trip the historical places and Buddhist worship centres.

Accommodation Options in Muang Xai:

The prominent hotels and guest houses located in Muang Xai town are listed below:

Vila Keo Seum Sack
Vivanh Guesthouse
Lithavixay Guesthouse
Surinphone Hotel Oudomxay
Phanmixay Guesthouse
Vilavong Guest House
Chraming Lao Hotel
Dokchampa Hotel
Namtha River Side Guest House
Royal Hotel
Udomsin Hotel

Tourist Places to Visit in Luang Prabang, Laos, Asia

Tourist Places to Visit in Luang Prabang, Laos, Asia

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage city situated in Luang Prabang Province in north central Laos. It is located about 300 kms north of national capital Vientiane on the convergence of Mekong River and Nam Khan River. Luang Prabang is placed between 28°18′ N latitude and 74°58′ E longitude.

Luang Prabang is a popular tourist destination well known for several Buddhist temples and monasteries. Luang Prabang experiences a tropical wet and dry climate and December and January are very cool months in Luang Prabang. The tourist landmarks of Luang Prabang include Haw Kham and Vat Xieng Toung.

History of Luang Prabang:

Luang Prabang was earlier known as Muang Sua. It was the regal capital and the administrative headquarter of Lao Kingdom before communism started in 1975.

Cuisine, Shopping and Culture in Luang Prabang:

Luang Prabang is home to three class cultural centres like Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Centre, Lenou’s Library and The Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. Ock Pop Tok Living Craft Centre is located just 2 kms away from the city and it offers classes of bamboo and textile weaving.

The restaurants of Luang Prabang serves with French and South Eastern Asia countries food in variety flavor at different costs. Vegetarian fry spring roll is very famous among the regions of Luang and it costs 3,000 kip and the same item in pork flavor costs 5,000 kip per piece. Grilled fish, chicken legs and buffalo sausages are other popular dishes in Luang Prabang.

It has become little easy to Thailand and USA tourists to shopping in Luang Prabang, because Thai baht and US$ are well working all around the city. Most of the ATMs of the city are located in Sisavangvong Road. The Night Market located on Sisavangvong Road offers different handcraft products, ornaments, clothes, duvet covers, cushion covers, and pillow sets.

How to reach Luang Prabang?

Route 13 which connects Luang Prabang with Vang Vieng and Vientian. There are regular buses available to reach nearby cities at Luang Prabang and the months of monsoon season are not good to travel Luang Prabang because of its undeveloped road infrastructure.

Luang Prabang is served by Luang Prabang International Airport with flights to nearby countries like Thailand and China. The airport is situated 4 kms away from the midpoint of Luang Prabang City. One can use taxi and buses to arrive airport.

Tourist Attractions in Luang Prabang:

The Kuang Si Falls:

The Kuang Si Falls is one of the must visit place in Luang Prabang, located about 29 kms from Luang Prabang city. The middle of rainy season is the ideal time to visit this marvelous waterfall.

Buddhist Temple at Haw Kham:

The external structure of Buddhist Temple is designed with golden royal paintings and its stunning wooden carvings supplies unforgettable feel to first time visitors.

Vat Xieng Toung:

Vat Xieng Toung is one of the most beautiful ancient monasteries, open from morning 6 AM to evening 6 PM.

Other tourist attractions near Luang Prabang include:

Phou Si
Tad Sae Waterfalls
Vipassana Temple and Park
Bear Rescue Centre
Tad Thong Waterfall and Nature Trail

Best time to visit Luang Prabang:

From November to February is the best time to holiday Luang Prabang.

Accommodation Options in Luang Prabang:

Most of the hotels located at Luang Prabang have Free Wi-Fi option and air ticket booking facility. The prominent budgeted guest houses and luxury hotels of Luang Prabang are:

Chitlathda Guesthouse
Cold River Guesthouse
Halolao Backpackers
Luang Prabang Backpackers Guesthouse
Levady Guesthouse
Mala Dressmaker & Watthat Guesthouse
Merry Guesthouse
Phasith Guesthouse
Prasith Guest house
Hotel De Lyon
The Apsara
Les 3 Nagas Hotel

Houei Say Tourist Places to Visit in Houei Say, Laos, Asia

Houei Say Tourist Places to Visit in Houei Say, Laos, Asia

Houeisay also known as Houay Xai or Ban Houayxay is the capital city of Bokeo Province of Laos, located at a coordinates 20° 16′ N 100° 24′ E. It is located on the banks of River Mekong, about 926 km northeast of national capital Vientiane. Houeisay has an agriculture based economy and houses several good educational institutions and top tourist destinations as well.

Culture, Cuisine and shopping in Ban Houayxay:

More than 95% of people living in Houayxay are Buddhists and the people speak Lao along with Chinese and Thai. The natives are the great lover of music and dance and they organize cultural events every month at major cultural centres of the city.

The commonly used staple food in the regions of Houayxay include fish, meat, pork and poultry, papaya salad, a spicy mix of green papaya, lime juice and fish sauce, and chicken tikka is very famous dish among the natives of Houayxay.

Houayxay houses the food corners from Thai, Chinese and Vietnam and also home to handicrafts and archeological items, wool cloth shops, juice corners and jewelry. The famous food corners in Houayxay are as follows:

Daauw Home
Dream Bakery
Khongvab Duck BBQ
The Latsuly Return

Connectivity to Houeisay:

Houeisay is well connected by all the major transport facilities like road, air and boat with surrounding regions. Houeisay is served by ‘Houeisay Airport’ with weekly services to national capital Vientiane on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

There are buses accessible at around 9-10 am to Kunming and also one can board buses of nearby regions at Houeisay Town Bus Stand and other nearby bus junctions. Slow boat and speedboat services are accessible to Chiang Khong, Thailand from Houay Xai. Bike and Taxi are available for rent to move within the city and to reach surrounding areas.

Places to see in Houeisay:

Wat Jom Khao Manilat:

Wat Jom Khao Manilat is a very famous historical temple in Houayxay and it is believed that, the temple was built in the year 1880.

Wat Khonekeo Xaiyaram:

Wat Khonekeo Xaiyaram is prime temple famous for its red, gold, and green doors and pillars situated in Houayxay.

Wat Thadsuvanna Pkakham:

Wat Thadsuvanna Pkakham is one of the holy places of Buddhists placed in Houayxay and eight gilded Buddhas is the main attraction of the temple.

Bokeo Nature Reserve:

Bokeo Nature Reserve is major reserves of black-cheeked gibbon in Laos located near Houayxay Town. Apart from black-cheeked gibbon, the reserve is home to wild water buffalo, bears and elephants. The reserve is positioned at a height of about 1000 meters from the mean level of sea and occupies an area of 1,230 sq. km.

Other tourist attractions near Houeisay include:

Donesao Hill Tribe Cultural Garden
Wat Keophone Savanthanaram
Fort Carnot

Best time to visit Houeisay:

October to May is the best time to travel around Houayxay.

Accommodation options in Houeisay:

Houayxay is home to several famous hotels and guest houses, provide food from the different regions of the globe. Other specialties include hot water bath, laundry, air ticket booking, vehicle parking, conference hall, garden area, doctor on call, free Wi-Fi, pick up and drop to airport and security service. The prominent hotels and guest houses in and around Houeisay are as follows:

Thaveesinh Hotel
Khopchai Guesth House
Mittaphab Guesthouse
Oudompone Hotel
Daauw Home
Sabaydee Guest House
Oudomphone Guesthouse 2
Gateway Villa Hotel
Manirath Guesthouse
Friendship Guesthouse

Tourist Places to Visit in Attapeu, Laos, Asia

Tourist Places to Visit in Attapeu, Laos, Asia

Attapeu also spelled as Attopu or Attapu is the capital city of Attapeu Province located in southeastern part of Laos. It is placed between latitude 14.8° in the north and longitude 106.833° in the east and is positioned about 571 kms from national capital Vientiane. Attapeu Province is spread over an area of 10,320 sq. km. Attapeu was earlier known as ‘the land of heroism’.

Attapeu Province shares its borders with Sekong Province in the north, Champasak Province to the west, Kon Tum province, Vietnam on the east, Ratanakiri Province and Stung Treng Province, Cambodia to the south and southwest respectively.

Dong Ampham Forest and Xepaine Forest are the two biodiversity areas of Attapeu. The famous landmarks of Attapeu include Wat Sakae Temple, Xaysetha Stupa, Wat Luang Muang Temple and Wat Pha Saysettha.

History of Attapeu:

During the rule of King Saysethathirath, Attapeu was one of the divisions of Lane Xang Kingdom. Attapeu played a major role in independence war against French Government.

Food, Culture and shopping in Attapeu:

The population of Attapeu comprises of different tribes such as Lao, Alak, Katang, Kaleum, Suay, Oy, Taoy, Sadang, Nge, Lavea, Lavenh and Katou. Lao is a widely spoken language in Attapeu. The natives celebrate all Buddhist festivals with great enthusiasm.

The natives of Attapeu have different cooking and serving methods. The higher majority of Attapeu natives the lovers of non vegetarian dishes like Larb Ngua, Larb Gai, tam som, tam mak hoong , tam kow phun, kaeng nor mai, tom padaek, tom jeaw pa, ping ped, ping huwah, pedmok khai and ua dok kae. Also the city of Attapeu houses the food corners from Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Indian, Indonesian, Nepalese, and Vietnam.

The people of Attapeu have special talent in producing handicraft products of wood, cloth and ornaments. Other than handicraft shops, Attapeu hosts several modern shopping centres of clothes, shoes, watch and electrical and electronic centres.

Connectivity to Attapeu:

Attapeu is served by Pakse Airport. It takes 5-6 hour to reach Pakse from Attapeu. Currently airport is under construction in Attapeu. Attapeu has bus station, located couple of miles out of the town and due to this, tourists can hire taxi to reach bus station. Buses are accessible at regular intervals at Attapeu Bus Stand to reach other main cities of the country.

Tourist Attractions in Attapeu:

Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area:

Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area covers an area of Attapeu Province and Sekong Province of Laos located on the boundary of Vietnam. The park is spread over an area of 200,000 hectares and was established in the year 1993. Xe Kaman River and Xe Xou River are the major rivers flowing through Dong Ampham National Biodiversity. The park is home to siamese crocodiles, large cats and elephants.

Nong Fa Lake:

The volcanic lake Nong Fa Lake is located within the Dong Ampham National Biodiversity in the mountains of Sanxay District, Attapeu Province. It is one of the beautiful lakes in Laos at the depth of 78 meters, situated 12 kms away from Vietnam border.

Wat Sakae Temple:

Wat Sakae Temple is a Buddhist worship place situated in Attapeu of Laos. It is visited by most numbers of Buddhist pilgrims during Lao’s New Year.

Other tourist attractions in Attapeu include: