Muang Ngoi Nua

General information, recreation, infrastructure

Muang Ngoi Nua (Muang Ngoi Neua or Ban Ngoi Kao) is a tiny village in northern Laos on the banks of the Wu River (Muang Ngoi Nua map of Laos). The population of the village is about 1000 people, it is located in a difficult place for land transport, while it is one of the most popular tourist places in this part of Laos.

In Russian there is no fixed name of this village, so we will use the spelling Muang Ngoi Nua, which in our opinion is closest to the pronunciation. Locals usually do not pronounce the full name of the village, limiting themselves to short variants of Muang Nua or Muang Ngoi.

Muang Ngoi Nua

Muang Ngoi Nua is an amazing place. It is quite difficult to get here: the only way for tourists is along the river by boat from the cities of Mueang Hua or Nong Khyau, and there are no ready-made tourist transfers with transfers from the more popular cities of Laos, the entire route to it will have to be done independently. On the ground, you can only get here on dirt roads on an SUV or motorcycle, overcoming many kilometers of wild jungle. But when you get here, it's hard to believe that there is such a well-developed tourist infrastructure. In this remote village there are many hostels, and of good quality, there is a currency exchange, travel agencies offer excursions, there are cafes and even restaurants. And the most important thing is that there are always a lot of tourists.

What is so attractive about this remote village? First of all-this is a real paradise for backpackers who travel to Laos and decided to stay for a few days in a pleasant and touristic place. Muang Ngoi is conveniently located on the route from North Vietnam to Luang Prabang, and therefore those who choose not a direct bus from Sapa or Dien Bien Phu to Luang Prabang, but go on their own with a change of bus to boat and again to bus, will certainly get here. And the atmosphere and conditions here are such that it is difficult to refuse a few days of stay in this secluded paradise.

In addition to a good infrastructure for tourists, there are still some very remarkable attractions. First of all, from Mueang Ngoi you can go on an easy one-day hiking trip through several ethnic villages. If this is not enough, then travel agencies offer trekking tours for 1-3 days with overnight stays in villages. There are also two excellent viewing platforms, caves, a waterfall, a temple. You can kayak, go hunting, do rafting on the river on an inflatable Camera (tubing). In general, for two or three days there are definitely enough classes, and the rest of the time you can spend just relaxing in the room and admiring the magnificent views of the surrounding mountains and the river from the balcony. The village is not rich in evening entertainment, and at 9 o'clock it is almost asleep, but given that there are many other tourists here, you can always find Company and chat over a bottle of Beer Lao with other travelers.

• Muang Ngoi Nua
• Muang Ngoi Nua
• Muang Ngoi Nua
• Muang Ngoi Nua
• Muang Ngoi Nua
• Muang Ngoi Nua

Hotels in Muang Ngoi Nua where to stay

The village is quite small, and consists of one main street and several alleys, on which there are a dozen hotels and hostels. Conditions in them are offered, although the simplest, nevertheless, for the most part these are clean and tidy rooms with everything you need. Almost everywhere there is WiFi, private bathroom and toilet, fan or air conditioning.

The best accommodation options are located on the river bank, since they can rent a room with a balcony and a view of the river, and it is definitely worth the extra 20,000 Kip. But even these options cost ridiculous money by the standards of Laos. For example, a spacious double room with a balcony and a view of the river, air conditioning, its own bathroom and toilet, WiFi, a separate entrance, and a central location near the pier in November 2018 cost us (the authors of the site) 70,000 Kip per day (3.24 USD, see Laos money and exchange rate). Accommodation in hostels without a view of the river is generally offered from 40,000 Kip (1.85 USD).

However, when choosing a place for accommodation, it is worth considering that in the very center, and indeed in the village, life begins very early. At 6 o'clock in the morning, the Roosters begin to sing, then the monks, and then Lao songs are turned on from the speaker installed in the center of the village on a pole. And if you like to sleep longer, you may want to choose a place on the outskirts, not in the center.

If you want to stay in a very exotic place, you can walk or drive to one of the nearest ethnic villages Huay Sen, Ban Na or Huay Bo, and stay there in one of the hostels for a completely unrealistic 20,000 Kip (0.93 USD). Of course, the conditions there are only walls and a roof over your head, but to spend the night – quite passable. Getting to these villages will not be difficult (see below in the attractions section how to do it), although with a heavy suitcase it is better to ask someone from the locals for a ride on a motorcycle for 10,000 Kip. You can directly come/come to any of these three villages, and immediately rest on the signs for Gesta, you do not need to book anything in advance.

If you decide to book accommodation in Muang Ngoi NUA in advance, you can do it on the sites:

• 🛌 Search for hotels in Mueang Ngoi Nua on Yandex.travel
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Mueang Ngoi Nua on Booking.com
• 🛌 Search for hotels in Mueang Ngoi Nua on Trip.com (💥 our choice)
• 🛌 Search for hotels on Ostrovok.ru

Map Of Muang Ngoi Nua

How to get to Mueang Ngoi Nua

Mueang Ngoi Nua is on the Nam Ou River and is the main way to get here. Until 2013, there was no road here at all, now there is a dirt route, but public transport does not go along it. This road can be reached by rented transport.

Along the river, the village is connected only by two settlements Muang Khua and Nong Khiaw.

• From Muang Khua

  Muang Khua is the city to which tourists most often get from the cities of northern Vietnam Sapa or Dien Bien Phu by bus. See for more information about Muang-Khua and how to get there.

  A boat departs from Muang Khua every day at 10:00, a journey of 4 hours. Cost from 110,00 Kip (5.09 depending on the number of passengers: with a full load of 12 people, the minimum price is taken, if there are no passengers, then the price is distributed to the rest. Also at any time you can hire a boat on the boat, but will have to pay 1 500 000 Kip.

  From Muang Ngoi Nua to Muang Khua, the boat leaves at 11:30,but costs 10,000 Kip more. Because he swims against the current.

  On the way, because of the dam, you will have to get off the boat, drive a little truck, and transfer to another boat.

• From Nong Khiaw

  Nong Khyau can be reached by bus from Lauang Prabang, or vice versa, it is sailed from Muang Ngoi Nua when moving from Vietnam to Luang Prabang. see for more information about Nong Khyau and how to get there.

  Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi Nua ply two boats daily, cost 25 00 Kip (1.16 USD), on the road a little more than an hour. From Nong Khiaw depart at 10:30 and 14:30, back at 09:00 and around 14:00.

Attractions

• Hiking in three villages

  Hiking in three villages

  There are three other ethnic villages near Mueang Ngoi that are easy to visit in a day on foot. True, you have to walk a lot, but it's worth it. These are the villages: Huay Sen, Ban Na, Huay Bo. All three are small and very poor, but each of them has a guesthouse worth 20,000 Kip, where you can stay for the night in very exotic conditions. The smallest and most undeveloped village, Huay Sen, consists of only a few houses on one street. And the most developed Ban Na, it even has a cafe where you can take a break along the way and drink cold drinks.

  Roads and trails everywhere are not difficult, but comfortable shoes will not be superfluous, it is better not to go on the route in beach slippers. Bring plenty of water, sunscreen, raincoat, and something to eat. Learn more about hiking in villages here...

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: for visiting all three villages and Tham Kang cave you need to pay 10,000 Kip (0.46 USD) at the checkpoint on the road in front of the cave

  🚶 How to get there: all three villages have one dirt road, which then diverges, there are signs. Huay Sen is 7 kilometers from the center of Muang Ngoi Nua (village on the map), Ban Na is 6 kilometers away (village on the map), Huay Bo-7 kilometers (village on the map). The route through all three villages in the sequence of Huay Sen-Ban Na-Huay Bo will be about 18 kilometers. It is best to have a navigator (smartphone) with OSM or Yandex map editor installed. Organic Maps where all trails are marked. Also at the very beginning of the route you can visit the Tham Kang cave.

  Roads and trails are clearly visible, even tractors and motorcycles drive on them, but there are still some difficulties: in two places you have to cross the river knee-deep in water, and if you go along one of the abandoned but marked on the map paths through rice fields, you will have to go waist-deep in water.

• Tham Kang Cave

  Tham Kang Cave

  There was a stream at the bottom of the cave, and to explore it, he would have to strip at least to the waist. There are bats inside. Next to it is a grotto with a pool, the water from which under the rock falls into the cave. There are large fish in the pool. If you go along the road a little further, then in the same rock there will be another shallow cave with a statue of Buddha. Learn more about the cave and photos here...

  🕐 Working hours: around the clock, it is better to visit during the day.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: for the entrance to the cave and access to the three villages you need to pay 10,000 Kip.

  🚶 How to get there: located 30 minutes walk from the center on the road to three villages (cave on the map).

• Wat Okadsayaram Temple

  Muang Ngoi Nua

  It is the only Buddhist temple and monastery in the village. During religious and other holidays, it turns into the main festive area, tables are set in front of the entrance and trade is going on. Once a year, at the end of October, the temple hosts an exorcism ceremony, during which homemade rockets and fireworks are launched from the courtyard of the temple, and firecrackers explode. You can explore the temple completely unhindered, you only need to take off your shoes before entering the premises, and do not go inside in shorts, mini-skirts, and open shoulders. Early in the morning every day you can watch the ceremony of sacrificing food to the monks.

  🕐 Working hours: during daytime.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: free, donations are welcome.

  🚶 How to get there: the temple is at the end of the Main Street (temple on the map).

• Trekking

  Muang Ngoi Nua

  There are several options for trekking tours with a group or an individual guide, but in practice, groups gather very rarely, so you should rather rely on an individual tour, or look for fellow travelers. There are options for 1-3 days with overnight stays in villages and the end of the route to Nong Khiaw or Muang Khua, where your belongings will be delivered by boat.

  🕐 Working hours: usually depart in the morning at 8 o'clock so that you can catch the bus to Luang Prabang

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: the price per tour is lower, the more people are recruited into the group. For a one-day track 300,000 (1 person in a group) / 180,000 (4 people in a group). For a two-day track 640,000 (1 person in a group) / 340,000 (4 people in a group).

  🚶 How to get there: tours are sold in hotels and travel agencies in the center of the village

• Kayaking

  Muang Ngoi Nua

  Kayaking is offered to go down the Wu River to the town of Nong Khiaw with a visit to the TAD Mork waterfall. Your belongings are hitchhiked by boat and they too arrive at Nong Khiaw, from where you can either continue by bus to Luang Prabang or stay there.

  🕐 Working hours: usually depart in the morning at 8 o'clock so that you can catch the bus to Luang Prabang

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 150,000 Kip (6.94 USD). You can also rent a kayak and swim yourself for 50,000 / 80,000 Kip half day / full day.

  🚶 How to get there: kayak tours are sold at a travel agency near the Marina

• Pha Noy cave and observation deck

  Muang Ngoi Nua

  It is the only Buddhist temple and monastery in the village. During religious and other holidays, it turns into the main festive area, tables are set in front of the entrance and trade is going on. Once a year, at the end of October, the temple hosts an exorcism ceremony, during which homemade rockets and fireworks are launched from the courtyard of the temple, and firecrackers explode. You can explore the temple completely unhindered, you only need to take off your shoes before entering the premises, and do not go inside in shorts, mini-skirts, and open shoulders. Early in the morning every day you can watch the ceremony of sacrificing food to the monks.

  🕐 Working hours: from 8:00 to 17:00.

  💵 Entrance fee / tickets price: 10 00 Kip.

  🚶 How to get there: the cave and Lookout are on the Sevre of the village on the road further behind the temple, there are signs (temple on the map)). Having rounded the temple on the right side, you need to walk another 5 minutes along the path.