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Region: Northern Laos> Province: Phongsali>Location: Muang Khua

Muang Khua sights and attractions

Overview - A mix of bombs and lao lao

Description
Across the bamboo suspension bridge over the Nam Phak and on for 300m there are some remnants from the War, including a bomb that was dropped in 1972 by the Americans and exploded, burning the village. There were others also dropped at this time, as the town is directly on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, but these are buried underground. There is at least one that has not exploded, so don't wander off any paths.

Next to the post office is a school, which is on the site of an old wat which was bombed and razed to the ground in 1968. Now the only wat in Muang Ngoi, built in 1979, is next to this site. It's interesting more for the history of the area than for any aesthetic reasons.

In the hot season, a small stall just up from the Nam Ou Guesthouse sells delicious icecream.

A village across the Nam Ou produces lao lao, the local rice whisky. To see this potent brew in production you can cross the river in one of the small boats down in the port. They take loads of people across for 1,000 kip each, and depart whenever there are enough passengers. Once on the other side, the village is 2km downstream along the only road.