Nong Khiaw, Laos
Dit is een heel klein plekje, dus gaat vooral hier om uitstapjes naar de rest
van de omgeving.
-
It is a transit hub for travelers entering Laos. From Muang Khua, you can take a
boat to Nong Khiaw, which also stops in Muang Ngoi.
TO DO
* Explore the Pha Tok caves. The caves themselves aren’t that impressive and
you mainly come here for the history behind the caves and the beautiful rice
paddies and mountains that surround the caves.The entrance fee was 15 000
kips at the time of my visit (Jan 2023).
* Have a herbal steam bath For a traditional Lao experience and to relax after
a long day of hiking and cycling. There is a little place on the main road
that is called Traditional Lao massage & herbal steam sauna
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Traditional+Lao+massage+%26+Herbal+steam+sauna/@20.5710138,102.6133267,18.56z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x312e9d8e4870f2cb:0x3bb22f9bb3aac66!8m2!3d20.570707!4d102.6130111!16s%2Fg%2F11tmp_bvq3] on
Google Maps. It’s very local but you are warmly welcomed and the place is
cozy and clean. Herbal steam baths are possible every evening between 6 and 8
P.M. and only cost 15 000 kips. A good Lao massage costs 80 000 kips.
* Go bamboo rafting
* Visit Yensabai organic farm. Travelers who want to visit Yensabai farm can
participate in a variety of ways. You can just pop in for a coffee after
visiting Tad Mook at the café but also contribute as a volunteer, sleep at
the farm or camping site, or take a cooking class!
* Check out local broom making. As you walk through the streets of Nong Khiaw
and also in the surrounding villages you can witness broom making, one of the
main livelihoods of the local Hmong villages. The brooms are made from local
wild grasses that are first dried before they get attached to a stick.
Afterward, they are distributed all over Laos!
* Climb Phadeng Peak. Climbing up the peak takes one and a half hours if you
have a normal level of fitness and the entrance fee is 20 000 kips. There are
a few resting areas on the way with benches and bins. Bring enough water en
maybe a snack because there’s no possibility to buy this on the way!
* Visit Muang ngoi. The friendly village of Muang Ngoi is located on the Nam Ou
River upstream from Nong Khiaw. The isolated fishing village can be reached
by a 1 hour boat ride from Nong Khiaw. Once arrived, there are a number of
activities which can be arranged. For a scenic hike, a trail leads out of the
village through lush rice paddies to the authentic Lao Loum village of Ban
Na, which is only accessible on foot. After lunch in the village continue to
the Thai Daeng village of Huay Sen, before trekking back to Muang Ngoi
through a mixture of forest and paddy fields, and journeying back to Nong
Khiaw by boat.
* The small village of Ban Na Ngan is located near Nong Khiaw (30 minutes
drive) after couple of kilometers of dusty road. The village, Thai Lu ethnic
group, specializes in the making of cotton products. The cotton grows in
neighbouring fields, and all the spinning, dyeing, including natural indigo
is home-made, handmade, and natural. The village itself is beautiful and
should be noted as a Must see village.
* The small village of Ban Na Ngan is located near Nong Khiaw (30 minutes
drive) after couple of kilometers of dusty road. The village, Thai Lu ethnic
group, specializes in the making of cotton products. The cotton grows in
neighbouring fields, and all the spinning, dyeing, including natural indigo
is home-made, handmade, and natural. The village itself is beautiful and
should be noted as a Must see village.
*
ETEN
* Mama Alex
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ma+Ma+Alex+Restaurant/@20.5688023,102.6169348,-7a,54.2y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipPwkVu8Xd5DiuBMwt9LSFJnMj91kjmGt1Q1YpPZ!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPwkVu8Xd5DiuBMwt9LSFJnMj91kjmGt1Q1YpPZ%3Dw203-h270-k-no!7i3024!8i4032!4m18!1m8!3m7!1s0x31318edaf926a3e5:0xed6e2f12fb230265!2sBus+Station!8m2!3d20.4090248!4d104.0447646!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c1rvmzfc!3m8!1s0x312e9ccdf137009d:0x753286063988e758!8m2!3d20.5688023!4d102.6169348!10e5!14m1!1BCgIYIQ!16s%2Fg%2F11cn0ywhlq]:
Mama Alex is a lovely old but very fit lady running a small restaurant in the
tourist center of Nong Khiaw. The food here was great and the prices were
small. Aside from delicious Lao dishes, you can also find some Western food
like pizza baguettes and spaghetti.
* Vongmany Guesthouse & Restaurant
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vongmany+Guest+House+Restaurant/@20.5698414,102.6170032,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipMnOCtrFOnn-GitKQJDNAAQjhWyWd6H4_SP9ZPj!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMnOCtrFOnn-GitKQJDNAAQjhWyWd6H4_SP9ZPj%3Dw203-h114-k-no!7i3840!8i2160!4m18!1m8!3m7!1s0x31318edaf926a3e5:0xed6e2f12fb230265!2sBus+Station!8m2!3d20.4090248!4d104.0447646!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c1rvmzfc!3m8!1s0x312e9cd20cdbdfc5:0x968f21ed347e325f!8m2!3d20.5698414!4d102.6170032!10e5!14m1!1BCgIYIQ!16s%2Fg%2F11g6bwpswd]:
Second in place comes this family-owned guesthouse and restaurant with a
great selection of Lao dishes on the menu. Be sure to try the fried seaweed
here!
* Couleur Cafe Restaurant
[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Couleur+Cafe+Restaurant/@20.5710717,102.6137386,20z/data=!4m15!1m8!3m7!1s0x31318edaf926a3e5:0xed6e2f12fb230265!2sBus+Station!8m2!3d20.4090248!4d104.0447646!10e5!16s%2Fg%2F11c1rvmzfc!3m5!1s0x312e9df7ac53167f:0x52c8743228484c73!8m2!3d20.5710717!4d102.6140122!16s%2Fg%2F11h_vtvdzl]:
This restaurant is run by a chef from Luang Prabang who got sick of city life
and is now cooking up great dishes in Nong Khiaw, his birthplace! There are
not that many options here but the fried rice
[https://travelersanddreamers.com/is-fried-rice-vegan/] and vegetable curry
is great!
- Pha Deng Peak
- Phatok Cave