Sunday, June 26, 2022

Discover Luang Namtha ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ

See the locations on Discover Luang Namtha ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ Google Map

Nam Ha National Protected Area

Picture by Axel Drainville Jungle trek in Nam Ha Protected Area



Nam Ha National Protected Area covers over 2,000 km², and reaches a height of more than 2 kilometers above sea level, this protected area in Luang Namtha province is home to a multitude of animal species. It is especially popular with bird enthusiasts as there are more than 300 species that have been recorded here.
The park counts three rivers which drain into the Mekong: the Nam Tha, Nam Fa and Nam Long.

To visit the Protected Area you have to book tours in Phonxai Village in Luang Namtha. You can also book tours in XiengChai Village, Singchalern Village, Xiengchai Village, Dongvieng Village, Theo Village and Chomcheng Village. Find the tour operators. Examples:
The tours of ecotourismlaos.com.
Elephant Trail on Facebook
Discovering Laos
Ethnic Travel Laos
Forest Retreat Laos

How to get there: There is an airport in Luang Namtha with flights daily from Vientiane via Lao Airlines and Lao Skyway. Buses run regularly from all towns nearby and from Luang Prabang and Vientiane. The bus station is on Route 3, locate 10 km from the town center. A smaller bus station near the town services to Muang Sing, Muanglong, Viengphoukha, Nalae. With the High Speed Train from Vientiane you travel to Natuey Train Station, then take ataxi to Luang Namtha Province for 30 minutes.







See more Instagram Pictures of Nam Ha Protected Area



Nam Dee Waterfall near Luang Namtha

Nam Dee Waterfall is 6km from Luang Namtha town, you can access it on foot or on two wheels. There you can watch villagers make bamboo paper and clothes, which they dye with indigo, a natural dye method traditionally used.




Read also:
China-Laos-Railway operating for 6 months - what happened so far. With informations about timetables and tickets.
Luang Nam Tha: Jungle Trekkings, Homestays with Hilltribe People and Rivertrips
Boten: A Ghost Town at the Lao/China border waits to be waked up by China-Laos-Railway

Read background about Chinese influence in Luang Namtha:
The Response of Lao government to Chinese Investments in the Service Sectors of Namtha District


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Saturday, June 25, 2022

Laos is open for International Tourists again: The Entry Requirements

Since May 2022 Laos is open for international tourists again. Evisa and Visa on Arrival are available. Citizens of some countries can enter Laos without a Visa for 15 to 30 days. For example: Cambodia, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam. For details choose your country here. The Visa now costs around 40 USD for 30 days.

It's recommended to have a travel insurance which covers Covid-19.

You do not have to be vaccinated for entering Laos. But if you are not vaccinated you have to show a PCR test, which is maximum 48 hours old. If vaccinated you have to show your vaccination pass.

See also the informations by The Laotian Times
Due to the fuel crises in Laos it's not recommended to travel with the own car or motorbike.

Informations about Laos: tourismlaos.org/.


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Location: Vientiane, Laos

Thursday, June 23, 2022

China-Laos Railway operating for 6 Months: What happened so far?

See stations and tunnels of Boten-Vientiane-Railway on Google Map by #treasuresoflaos


Trip in a local train (green train) from Vang Vieng to Kasi with sights

Just in these days the blogger Nomadic Notes has published his review of the operations of China-Laos-Railway inside Laos: A review of the Vientiane to Boten train. The first thing that stood out for him was in Vientiane "the station name is only shown in Lao and Chinese". But he found signs and announcements inside the station in Lao, Chinese and English. He discovered no food shops inside, just some food vendors outside the station and a vending machine inside. At the toilets he discovered the absence of toilet paper.
Vientiane City 2 Bus Service has startet a bus route from Morning Market to the Vientiane Railway Station of #chinalaosrailway. It leaves Morning Market at 6.30 am.

@jorgeuef on instagram shows us this video, starting at Vientiane station:



#chinalaosrailway right now operates two kinds of services: Express trains, which serve only the following stations: Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Xai, Na Teuy and Boten. And local trains stopping at all stations, which are in service for the moment. Laos-China Railway Info has published the timetable. Here we learn, that the local trains serve the stations of Phonhong, Kasi, Muang Nga and Na Mor. Here we can also find the chart of the ticket prices. Tickets are only sold at the stations or at offices in Vientiane and Luang Prabang, notes futuresoutheastasia.com.

Ride the Laos China Rail (Vientiane to Nateuy) on Youtube:




@miwmiw.05 on instagram shows Phonhong Railway Station (Lao: ສະຖານີລົດໄຟຄວາມໄວສູງໂພນໂຮງ):



@joy_sonyotha is posing in front of Vang Vieng Railway Station:



@deechai_1982 on instagram shows Luang Prabang Railway station:



On June 1 the Namor Railway station in Oudomxay province has been opened.

Since its launch in December 2021, the China-Laos Railway has handled over 3.09 million passenger trips as of May 23, the Chinese state agency Xinhua reported. Some 2.71 million passenger trips were registered in the railway's China section starting from Kunming, provincial capital of the country's Southwest Yunnan province, in which 23.5 pairs of passenger trains were operated per day on average, according to the China Railway Kunming Group Co Ltd. The amount of passenger trips on the railway's Laos section has increased steadily to reach 380,000, with nearly 5,000 recorded on the peak day.
The China-Laos-Railway has been built to connect Kunming in China with Vientiane in Laos. But due to the Covid-19-pandemic passengers can still not travel across the border from and to China. So Laos still misses the income from Chinese tourists. Only freight trains can use the whole railway line.

To improve convenience in freight transportation Thabok Thanaleng Co. Ltd has invested in the construction of a 1.2 kilometer rail line from the Laos-Thai Railway to Thabok Thanaleng, while the Laos-China Railway Company has constructed a new line from Vientiane Southern Station to Thanaleng, covering a distance of 2.8 kilometers. From 26 June, after both routes have completed construction, freight will be moved from the Thai line to the Laos-China Railway line at the Thanaleng Dry Port. Freight stations have opened at South Vientiane, Nateuy, Vangvieng, Luang Prabang and Phonhong to facilitate the shipment of goods.


For Laos rising debts are the consequence of the investment in the China-Laos-Railway. The annual amount of debt-service payment has risen from US$1.2 billion in 2018 to US$1.4 billion this year. This has been revealed by Minister of Finance Bounchom Ubonpaseuth, addressing National Assembly members on June 20. He assured that the government would not allow the country to slide into default.
Lately Laos has not only been strucked by Covid-19-Pandemic but also by rising fuel prizes due to the Russian war in Ukraine. Therefore Asia Times has published an article with the title Perfect storm of turbulence for indebted little Laos. It said: "Slow Covid recovery, rampant inflation and unsustainable debts are shaking the credibility of nation’s communist rulers."


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Location: Vientiane, Laos

Monday, June 20, 2022

Luang Nam Tha: Jungle Trekkings, Homestays with Hilltribe People and Rivertrips

See the locations on Luang Nam Tha Google Map

See Map of Luang Nam Tha Town by Hobomaps and Map of Luang Nam Tha area by Hobomaps


Luang Nam Tha

Picture by Sergi Hill
Picture by from the north country

Picture by Le photo à Go-Go

Picture by Sergi Hill

Picture by Pondspider
Valley near Luang Nam Tha

Luang Nam Tha in the mountains of northern Laos counts around 3500 inhabitants. The old town lies near the airport, the new town 6 km apart in the north. Here you find most guesthouses and tour agencies. It's a starting point for trekkings to the hilltribes.

What can you do here? For example visit Luang Namtha’s morning market, where people from Luang Namtha and nearby villages sell and buy fruits, vegetables (spring onion, coriander and cabbages), jungle meat and junge plants.
The nightmarket is the spot, were people hang out in the night. It opens from 5 pm. Here you can try traditional dishes with vegetables, herbs and spices from the jungle.
You can go kajaking on Nam Tha River and visit Lanten, Khmu, Khmu Rok, Tai or Tai Lue villages. Visit the Luang Namtha Museum, rent a bicycle or a mountain bike at one of the guesthouses, shop for handicrafts, explore the waterfall at Ban Nam Dee, see Wat Luang Kone (7 km from city center), Wat Ban Vieng Tai or That Phoum Phouk (Phoum Phouk Pagoda), go for guided boat trips on Nam Ha River and along Nam Ha Protected Area (with tigers, bears, elephants and wild buffalos) or visit the markets (one near the bus station and one near the airport). Read more about the Nam Ha Protected Area. You gan also go trekking into the jungle-mountains and visit villages of Akha, Khmu and Yao (Dzao) people, especially to Luang Nam Tha National Protected Area.

There are several herbal saunas in Luang Namtha, the most popular being the one next to the Panda Restaurant.

Picture by intothegreen
At Luang Nam Tha nightmarket

Picture by John Pavelka
That Phum Phuk

Picture by Sergi Hill



Where to stay in Luang Nam Tha

Adounsiri Guesthouse: Mixed reviews von tripadvisor.com. Good review on travelfish.org.


Amandra Villa: Very good reviews on agoda.com. Quite good ones on tripadvisor.com. Some say the rooms upstairs are better.




The Boat Landing Guesthouse and Restaurant From 40 USD. At Nam Tha River, outside the town. Older bungalows, rooms are described as basic by reviewers on tripadvisor.com. In the evening it is difficult to get a tuktuk from the town to the guesthouse.

Picture by John Pavelka

Picture by John Pavelka


Dokchampa Hotel: Chinese hotel in the centre of Luang Namtha, on the main street. Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Khamking Guesthouse: Near nightmarket, therefore a bit noisy according to a reviewer on tripadvisor.com.


Kingmala Guest House: Quite good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Nam Tha Riverside Guesthouse: Critical reviews on agoda.com.

Picture by crosby_cj


Phou Iu III Bungalows: Mixed reviews on agoda.com.


Pou Villa Resort ພູວີລ່າ ຣີສອດ: On a hill overlooking the town and the valley. Very good reviews on agoda.com. Excellent reviews on tripadvisor.com.




Royal Hotel, also called Houngching Hotel, also Huang Jing Hotel: With 95 rooms one of the biggest hotels in Luang Namtha, an investment of a Chinese company and mostly visited by Chinese people. It has a pub outside of the hotel.




Tai Dam Guesthouse: A main building and wooden bungalwos set around a scenic garden. Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, alst one dating from 2017.


The Phou lu III Guest House: Bungalows with balconies, with thin walls according to reviews on tripadvisor.com, which are quite good.


Toulasith Guesthouse: Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


Homestays: You can book tours with homestay for one night. Homestay in Ban Vieng Neua with Tai Youn people; homestay in Ban Chaleurnsouk with Khmu people; homestay in Ban Nam Dee with Akha people.


Zuela Guesthouse: Very good reviews on tripadvisor.com. See video on youtube.com.





Eat in Luang Nam Tha

Forest Retreat Bamboo Lounge:


How to arrive in Luang Nam Tha

By airplane: Lao Airlines flies from Vientiane to Luang Nam Tha.

Boat Pak Tha - Luang Nam Tha: During two days you travel in an open boat along Nam Tha river where large sections can only be reached by boat, past riverside villages of the Khmu and Leu ethnic people. On the way you pass a Buddha image in a cliff face. You'll stay in the village of the boatsmen. Before you arrange your boat trip in Pak Tha you should know, that most boatmen on the lower Namtha will only go as far as Muang Nalae. This because they are not experienced in navigating the rapids between Nalae and Namtha. Also during the low water months (Feb- May) the boats may only run as far as Nalae. But there you find a bus to Luang Nam Tha or boatsmen, who go up with you.

Picture by John Pavelka
Nam Tha River

Picture by Mat Honan

Picture by immu

Bus: Bus to Muang Sing takes 2 hours. Songthaews going in the morning. See bustimetables for Luang Nam Tha province. Bus to Huay Xai needs around 4 hours, to Luang Prabang between 8 and 12 hours, There are buses to Bokeo International bus station in HUay Xai, from where you cross the Mekong by the new Friendship Bridge and go on to Chiang Rai or Chiang Nai by Vip buses. There are also buses from Luang Nam Tha via Boten to Mengla and to Jinghong (both (Yunnan province in China).



Akha Village Ban Nam Hee

Situated at the confluence of the Nam Hee and the Nam Fa. Nam Hee is the name of a small river that flows to the Nam Fa that flows to the Mekong. An interesting story about the gates on the way to the village has been written by Lao Bumpkin. The gates are about keeping the spirits out. Nam Nam Hee ist also mentioned on dailykos.com

Picture by johntrathome
Spirit houses

Picture by Pondspider
Akha women, returning from the market

Picture by Pondspider
Looking up the Akha village

Picture by Pondspider
Looking down to the Akha Village

Picture by John Pavelka


Nalan Tai Khmu village:

Picture by Alexandra Moss
Guestroom at the Khmu village

Picture by Alexandra Moss

Picture by Alexandra Moss



Vieng Phouka Trekking Centre

Vieng Phoukha Guide Service Unit, and supported by the EU. The guide unit offers
treks to ethnic Khmu, Lahu, Akha and Tai Lue villages. Mountain Guesthouse:

Buses from Luang Prabang drop you off at Vieng Poukha.
Buses from Luang Nam Tha and Huayxai pass through Vieng Phoukha



Muang Sing

Muang Sing Historical Centre
Map of Muang Sing town
Map of Muang Sing area
In Muang Sing District, treks to Akha, Hmong and Tai Lue villages are offered by
the Muang Sing Guide Association.

Chantimieng Guesthouse: From the balcony you overlook the rice paddies. Guite good reviews on tripadvisor.com.


See Luang Nam Tha on Youtube.


Read also:
Discover Luang Namtha ຫລວງນໍ້າທາ
China-Laos-Railway operating for 6 months - what happened so far. With informations about timetables and tickets.
Boten: A Ghost Town at the Lao/China border waits to be waked up by China-Laos-Railway
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Location: Luang Namtha, Laos
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