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Luang Nam Tha




























 
 

Luang Nam Tha

Travel guide

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Nestled in the north of mountainous Laos, just a hop, skip and a jump from the Chinese border, dusty Luang Nam Tha has a remote, cowboy town feel to it but makes an excellent base for exploring the many natural wonders of the province of which it is capital.

Formed by three long, straight and flat roads, the town and its life centres around its two markets. Tourism infrastructure is in its infancy here, but the excellent Boat Landing Guesthouse is helping to open up the region to curious and more intrepid travellers.

Trekking, mountain-biking, rafting and kayaking are among the growing number of ways to enjoy the stunning scenery surrounding Luang Nam Tha. As Boat Landing Guesthouse argues, tourism here can help send a message to locals that their culture and forests are important and valuable in their own right. Cash you spend on access permits goes to wildlife and forest conservation projects.

Luang Nam Tha itself is home to an ethnic museum, which is worth a pop in, as well as a small selection of places to buy handicrafts, though you can also explore the surrounding villages for unique finds.


 
















Rent a bicycle to get around town and also to explore the outlying areas. The waterfall at Ban Nam Dee is just a few kilometres outside town and an easy trip using pedal power. More serious explorers should head to the Nam Ha Protected Area, reputed to be home to large mammals such as tigers and elephants as well as a myriad of colourful birds and frightening reptiles (if you ask us, anyway).

You can take a trip by boat along the Nam Tha River to see some of the area. Guided trips can be arranged by the tourism office. Green Discovery also offers one- or two-day trips along the Nam Tha. For advice and the very latest information, head to the Boat Landing Guesthouse.

Text and/or map last updated on 5th September, 2010.
Further reading
 » The Gibbon Experience

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Work Tool - Luang Namtha, Laos Traditional House outside of Muang Sing - Luang Namtha, Laos Lady - Luang Namtha, Laos Culture - Luang Namtha, Laos Hilltop Village around Muang Sing - Luang Namtha, Laos Paddy Fields - Luang Namtha, Laos Local Food - Luang Namtha, Laos Muang Sing Vista - Luang Namtha, Laos Sifting Rice for the Day in Muang Sing - Luang Namtha, Laos Mountain village near Muang Sing - Luang Namtha, Laos
Workers - Luang Namtha, Laos Sunset Over Paddy Fields - Luang Namtha, Laos Ethnic Minorities - Luang Namtha, Laos That Chomsi Stupa - Luang Namtha, Laos Paddy Culture - Luang Namtha, Laos Eating BBQ pig ears in Luang Prabang The morning view at the Gibbon Experience The People's complaint box at Luang Nam Tha Crossing a river in the Nam Ha protected area in northern Laos Campsite, Nam Ha protected area

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Fresh off our Asia travel forum

Here are some discussions off the Travelfish forum, perhaps related to Luang Nam Tha. You can find the full forum here.

Topic Replies  Views 
Huayxay to Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by pumpkin80, last reply by LaoNow		 4 587
Quickest way to Luang Nam Tha from Luang Prabang 
In Laos: by callarda, last reply by callarda		 4 561
Zuela Guesthouse, luang nam tha 
In Laos additions: by ClaireM, last reply by danibek		 7 3398
Luang Nam Tha + moto 
In Laos: by brucemoon, last reply by brucemoon		 3 1333
Boat from Huay Xi to Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by martha2727, last reply by martha2727		 1 1382
Huai Xai to Muang Sing Via Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by thainel, last reply by thainel		 3 2187
Transport Luang Prabang to Luang Nam Tha (Namtha) - Bus VIP Minivan 
In Laos: by travelmike, last reply by silverwool		 6 2810
Trekking - Luang Prabang or Luang Nam Tha? 
In Laos: by svichy, last reply by the_tundraman		 2 3142
Which trek in Luang Nam Tha? 
In Laos: by erinzita, last reply by the_tundraman		 2 2429
Luang Prabang to Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by 73Chip, last reply by somsai		 4 2881
Phongsali - Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by fishtails04, last reply by Lam_merison		 2 1818
Phongsali - Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by fishtails04, last reply by Lam_merison		 2 1419
Huay Xai to Luang Nam Tha 
In Laos: by pauljaymes, last reply by pauljaymes		 3 1457

Luang Nam Tha reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

Nam Tha and more
By BruceMoon (dabbler - 5 reviews)
Written on 20th May, 2009 after a visit to Luang Nam Tha in April, 2009
 Luang Nam Tha - or Nam Tha to those that have enjoyed the hospitality - is much more than the city. While it's off the mainstream tourist trail, it provides more than a welcome rest stop for those choosing not to take the Mekong boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang.

Nam Tha is ranked highly as a great trekking destination. Yes, but. Yes, to understand the trekking available in the area. The English speaking Laos EcoTourism office at Nam Tha (or the nearby, but more expensive Green Discovery) will put you right. But, the trekking 'enjoyment' depends on what takes your fancy: from walks with local guides through their rural village areas, to treks through the Luang Nam Tha National Protected Area (NPA).

The Luang Nam Tha National Protected Area almost encircles Luang Nam Tha and is accessible from Vieng Phoukha (65km south of Luang Nam Tha on the road to Huay Xai), Nam Tha itself and the road to Muang Sing. You can see a good map of the Luang Nam Tha National Protected Area here.

Nam Tha town (where westerners stay) is some 10km from the bus station in 'old' Nam Tha (both towns have been rebuilt since the mid-1970's) and the 'attractions' of the area are rather spread out. Generally, the facilities in Nam Tha meet those expected by (most) western tourists.

We liked that the night market provided great Lao food options, and that most people we encountered in Nam Tha were really friendly and only too willing to assist.

We hired a small motorbike so that we could experience the array of enjoyments around Nam Tha. We motored south beside the Nam Tha (river Tha) through several welcoming ethnic communities before resting at Nalia (apparently a road less travelled).

The Nam Tha area holds some 39 different ethnic tribal groups: some with highly visible costumes, others more westernised.

We also visited Muang Sing: definitely a frontier town and well worth the effort.

YouTube has a contribution that captures the essence of Nam Tha better than these words can indicate:



We found the surrounding scenery to be energising, the ethnic villagers (generally further away from the town) to be very welcoming, and the ambience of the place refreshingly relaxed. It's very easy to lose time in Nam Tha.

We'll be back in the near future.


  Sights & activities
  History & culture
  Scenery & environment
  Eat & drink
  Traveller's scene
  Romance
  Value for money
  I'll be back (or not)
Also reviewed by BruceMoon: Mai Chau, Pai, Umphang,

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