Muang Khua
Travel Guide
The northern town of Muang Khua sits on the bank of the Nam Ou River, near the mouth of the Nam Phak. It is a beautiful, peaceful spot halfway up the river between Nong Kiaow and Hat Sa (for Phongsali) in northern Laos.
This half-way house status is the main reason foreigners visit: to experience the beauty and serenity of the spectacular journey from Nong Kiaow and Hat Sa. Muang Khua itself is rarely a destination in its own right but nevertheless quite a few things can be seen and done locally.
While few travellers linger longer than a night or two, the town is becoming a true travellers' destination and over the years we have witnessed an ever growing number of tourists stopping in town.
For those interested in trekking, the region is a great place to explore for a few days. Untouched and rarely visited mountains were heavily bombed during the US war as the US believed there to be significant Pathet Lao activity in the area -- today all that remain are the scattered villages. Expect terrific scenery coupled with a bit of a "rough and ready" trekking experience.
Some find the town to be a little cold and unfriendly, particularly compared with the rest of Laos, and the mounds of rubbish that have been dumped by the river's edge are off-putting.
That said, if you stick around and wander the small side alleys, or trek through the mountains, you may discover a side to Muang Khua not easily visible at first glance. This is a great place to go if you want to step off the road well-travelled, without going too far off the track.
Text and/or map last updated on 10th August, 2009.
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Muang Ngoi
Muang La
Nong Kiaow
Dien Bien Phu (Vietnam)
Udomxai
Boun Neua
Phongsali
Hat Sa
Tuan Giao (Vietnam)
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The above are all within 200km of Muang Khua.
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