Things to Do Around Here

  • Take a walk along the Nam Ou up to Ban Had Sao and following villages. This is a very interesting 1-2 hours walk between each village, easy in some places, a bit difficult in others. As the way back is the same as the way out, you can turn around whenever you feel like. Each village will have a number of boats that you can hireto take you back.
  • Rent a bicycle and ride east. The landscape is stunning and a number of K’hmu and Hmong villages can be found along the road. Bring lunch and drinking water as little can be bought along the road.
  • Visit the famous Pha Toke Cave 2 km east of town. This is where the Pathet Lao forces had their provincial headquarter during the war in the sixties and early seventies. Two km west of town you will find another strategic cave which functioned as a weapon storage until it took a hit by an American plane.
  • Watch the sunset from the bridge or various restaurants along the river.
  • Play a game of petanque with the local patriots across from the post office.
  • Hire a small fishing boat for an extraordinary view of the sunset.
  • Go fishing. Ask your guesthouse to help you with a fishing pole.
  • Tube rafting. Places organizing tubes and boats upstream advertise with signboards.
  • Take a late afternoon swim in the river.
  • Visit the local temples and have a chat with the monks.
  • Give an English class at the local school or to anyone around you.
  • Watch a movie at the local cinema.
  • Do a trek with a local guide. There are a few good ones that you can’t do on your own. Look around for advertisement signboards.
  • Stay another day just to chill out and read a good book. The surroundings couldn’t be better.