Where am I again?
Region: Northern Laos> Province: Luang Nam Tha>Location: Muang Sing
Muang Sing sights and attractions
The Tourism and Information Office - Certainly worth a look
Description
The Nam Ha Ecotourism Project has set up the Tourism and Information Office, including a guiding association for all treks led out of Muang Sing. The office is a terrific resource for visitors to the town, chock-full of detailed information about the town and its history, the ethnic minority groups in the area, their dress, cultural beliefs and history. They also have travel information and suggestions for a multitude of things to do in Muang Sing and surrounds. Their speciality is trekking trips through the mountains, visiting scenic spots and villages from different ethnic groups. They have a number of trips for a range of ability levels, for one, two or three days. Information about what to take, what to expect on the trip are all clearly displayed, and questions are answered in a briefing session the night before the trip departs. Group sizes are limited to between three and six to ensure minimum impact on the villages visited. For the same reason they also limit the number of weekly departures for each trip. It’s best to get in early to book to ensure a place, particularly in the busy season.
A one day trek costs $10, two days costs $24 and three days costs $34. A display in the office details exactly where the money you pay goes. Any left over cash goes into a community development fund.
Even if you’re not interested in doing a trek, it is worth stopping in at the office to read the local information, browse the pictures and learn about the efforts being made in the area to develop culturally sensitive tourism.
The Morning Market - Goes all day, but the morning is best
Description
Despite running all day, the Morning Market in Muang Sing is at its most exiting first thing in the morning, not long after the sun has risen. People of all local ethnicities flock to snap up the freshest produce, the plumpest bird, the juiciest lizard, many resplendent in their colourful traditional dress.
The produce covers the familiar and the unexpected, varying with the seasons: stuffed grilled frogs on a stick; dried buffalo skin to chew on; stuffed intestines; brightly coloured, sweet coconut jellies; and fried donuts, Lao-style – savoury and sweet. Wildlife is often available ready-to-cook. Some of them are endangered species: wild meer cats, large rodents, rare birds, snails and other insects. Often, when a pig or a buffalo has been slaughtered, every part of its anatomy is for sale – the skin, the face, the ears, the teeth, the hoofs, the blood, the internal organs… even the juice that comes out of its intestines are all used for cooking.
Muang Sing Exhibitions - Worth a look when open
Description
The Exhibitions are held in an ornate wooden building in the Tai Lue style which sits on the corner of a crossroads in the centre of town. They regularly show different temporary exhibits such as professional photographs taken in the region.
Of the permanent exhibition, on the ground floor there is clothing and implements from local ethnic minority villages. On the second floor is historical information, artifacts, photos of royalty and some Buddha images.
Cost of entry is 5,000 kip. Official hours are supposed to be 8-11am and 1.30-4pm daily but in fact it is rarely open. To view the exhibition when the doors are closed during the official open hours, head around the side of the building to the office and ask to be let in. It doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a try.
Phou That Lodge and Chiang Tung Stupa - Home to Budha's adam's apple
Description
Six kilometres out of Muang Sing on the road to Luang Nam Tha a large hill rises up out of the rice paddies crowned with a golden stupa called Chieng Tung, built in the style of Vientiane's That Luang. It is said to contain Buddha's Adam's apple.
The large open space surrounding the stupa is the site of a full moon festival in November, when people come from near and far to celebrate. Stalls are set up with games and food for sale and everyone sits around drinking Beerlao and rice whisky. Many people camp overnight. The rest of the year the grounds around the stupa are inhabited only by cows and a few deserted buildings. From the top of the mountain there is no view of the surrounding countryside, but a little further down is Phou That Lodge, which has fabulous views. A series of wooden bungalows perched on the side of the mountain, each has individual balconies that face out over rice fields, small local towns and Muang Sing itself in the distance. A large balcony restaurant has the same prospect.
The guesthouse has been designed to harmonise with the environment using local architecture. Rooms are very clean and nicely done, although there is no fan. Each room has a private bathroom with western toilet and hot water shower.
Other things to see in the area include a waterfall, ethnic villages, lao rice whisky production and tours through agricultural plantations, all of which can be organised at the guesthouse. To get there, take a songthaew between Luang Nam Tha and Muang Sing and ask to be dropped off at the lodge, which is near Ban That Tin, just before Muang Sing. Unless you have private transport, you'll be dropped at the base of the hill and will have to walk the short distance up to the Lodge.