Luang Namtha Province
Located: Northwestern Laos
Total area: 9,391 square kilometers
Population: 195,753 (2024)
5 Districts: Namtha, Muang Sing, Muang Long, Viengphoukha & Nalae
Capital of the province: Namtha
Website: www.luangnamthatourism.org
Tel/WhatsApp: 020 5703 2099, 020 5519 7666
Luang Namtha, literally “Royal Sugar Palm” or “Royal Green River”, is located in the north of the country. The Mekong River constitutes the northwest border of the province. From 1966 to 1976 it formed, together with Bokeo, the province of Houakhong. The province borders Yunnan, China to the north, Oudomxay Province to the east and southeast, Bokeo Province to the southwest, and Shan State, Myanmar to the northwest.
Best known as a stopover point for trekking and Kayaking in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, This NPA consists mainly of evergreen forest and wildlife including wild cattle such as guar and banteng, Asian wild dogs, tigers, clouded leopards, bears, monkeys and gibbons and also muntjac, more information about Nam Ha www.namha-npa.org
The province is one of the main sugar cane and rubber-producing areas of Laos with numerous plantations.
There are some 20 temples in Muang Sing, including Wat Chiang Jai and Wat Namkeo Louang. The anthropological Luang Namtha Museum is located in Luang Namtha.
Archaeological evidence, including stone tools and cliff paintings, suggests that Luang Namtha Province was inhabited as early as 6,000 years ago.
Beginning in the first half of the 19th century, the area fell under Siamese domination and suffered from numerous conflicts. From the mid-16th until the early 19th century it came under the control of Burma. In the first half of the 19th century, it was under Siamese rule and was involved in many battles
In 1894, the French, British and Siamese colonists, decided that this province will be administered by the French. The border was also redrawn, with the Mekong River serving as the northern border between the French colony of Indochina and the British colony of Burma until France withdrew from Indochina in the late 1950s.
MUST CHECK IN SITES
Nam Ha NPA
The Nam Ha National Protected Area is well known for jungle trekking, kayaking, rafting, mountain-biking, and meeting remote ethnic communities. Day and overnight trips are available. At 244,000 ha the park covers about 24% of Luang Namtha Province. In 2003 it was designated as an ASEAN Heritage Site. In 2001 the United National Development Award for “ Nam Ha Eco-tourism Project ”, in 2002 the British Airways “Tourism for Tomorrow”, in 2007 the Equator Prize for “ Nam Ha Eco-guide Service ”, and in 2019 the ASEAN Community-based Tourism Award in 2019-2021, visit Website: www.namha-npa.org
Luang Namtha Musuem
The provincial museum opens since 8:30 am – 4 Pm from Monday to Friday, has a variety of artifacts made by multi-ethnic communities. Of particular interest is the extensive collection of indigenous clothing, as well as agricultural tools and household equipment. There is an excellent collection of Buddha images, bronze drums, ceramics and textiles. Also, of interest are the traditional handmade weapons that were once used for hunting and national defense.
Luang Namtha Night Market
Enjoy local food and drinks You cannot leave Luang Namtha without spending at least one evening at Luang Namtha Night Market. If you want to experience an authentic local night out, this is the place to be. The market opens every single day. Tightly thronged with tribeswomen and locals hawking freshly made broths, noodles, and chicken on spits, with everything veiled in a stratosphere of smoke. Great for cheap quick eats. If you’re feeling brave try the rhinoceros beetles, duck chicks in embryos, grilled intestines, and bile soup! open every evening since 4 pm – 10:00 pm
Nam Dee Waterfall
Namdee Village where are the waterfall, bamboo paper making and well known of indigo dying. Certainly, this is a natural color producing by Lanten ethnic, it’s very colorful crafting and strong cotton. The travelers can see Lanten women wear a distinctive dark blue/black indigo-dyed tunic with matching knee length tightly fitting trousers. You can see the process of dying and drying outside houses and along the river.
Luang Namtha Stupa
To discover the place of Buddhist’s worship is Luang Luang Namtha Stupa, the stupa is hidden up to the mountain, built in December 2004, it’s easy to access from the north end of town along the valley route by bicycle or motorbike. In December on 15th of lunar moths is yearly celebration. Behind the stupa has the big buddha and in front of the stupa is a gazebo for relax and take photo of the town.
Phouphetphoukham Waterfall
Phouphetphoukham is in your interest to stop here for lunch. The food is fresh and delicious, with such treats as Luang Prabang salad and golden fried fish with vegetables. Located in Ban Prang, Vieng Phoukha District, it is 30 kilometers from Luang Namtha town. The area boasts orchards and vegetable gardens, a camping area, a waterway for paddle boats as well as organically fed fish, which you can feed yourself. There is also a deer enclosure, as well as a small amount of birds and animals who are well looked after.
Muang Sing Morning Market
Muang Sing Market is still the heart of the town and attracts people from the entire region to buy fresh foods and products for daily use imported from local people. The best time to visit the market is between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning: retailers from all ethnic groups arrive to sell vegetables, fruits, and meat, and Tai Lue women present their famous noodles. It’s also a great place to look for local handicrafts purchased by Tai Dam, Tai Lue, and other ethnic groups. Try local food such as soybean paste, waffles, and local sweets (‘Kainom’) often made from sticky rice and coconut.
Kao Rao Cave
Vieng Phoukha District is surrounded by karst Limestone Mountains that have many interesting and beautiful caves. Formed by centuries of weathering that has gradually carved huge caverns out of the porous limestone, Vieng Phoukha’s caves have some of the most beautiful underground formations in northern Laos. During prehistoric times many of the caves might have been inhabited by people, but today they primarily support nesting swifts and thousands of roosting bats of over a dozen species. Some of the most accessible are the caves near Nam Eng Village (Tham Kao Rao) and the network of caverns at the base of the Phou Prasat limestone formation near Tha Luang Village.
PoumPouk Stupa
Poum Pouk is a Buddhist stupa that is highly revered by local Buddhists and is one of the oldest in the province. The original stupa was constructed in 1628 to demarcate neutral territory between the Kingdoms of Lane Xang (centered in Luang Prabang) and Lane Na (centered in Chang Mai). On 28 October 1966, the old stupa was damaged during intense American bombing of the Valley during the Secret War. The new monument was constructed in 2003, as a show of local people’s religious faith. An annual festival is held at the stupa (3rd Lao month, 15th day of lunar calendar, typically February).
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Trekking
Trekkers began turning up in Luang Namtha in the 1990s. They used untrained local guides to take them to remote ethnic villages and this often led to adverse impacts on the traditional ways of life. There are multiple days to explore the Nam Ha Biodiversity Conservation Area, one of the most popular trekking locations in Laos. Day and overnight treks are available. Book through local tour companies on the main street in Luang Namtha Town. Stay in jungle camps, eco-lodge, or village homestays. Meet with remote ethnic minorities in the protected area. Trek programs are available in Nam Ha National protected Area.
Hiking on Nalan Trail
One of the popular trails is the Nalan Trail, taking you to a remote Khmu village on the banks of the Nam Ha River where you can stay overnight. This trail also can be coordinated with a day of kayaking down the Nam Ha River. At first, through a cooler forest, your guide will show you the diversity and uses of many plants you pass by. Lunchtime is always interesting on a trek in Laos. Guides seem to be able to pull together the most amazingly presented meal with just a knife! After lunch, you descend to follow the stream. Here you are way below the canopy of grand old trees – it is a beautiful area. Your final stop is at Nalan Village where locals have built small houses for you to stay and they benefit from your visit.
Kayaking
Book your kayak trip through one of the qualified tour companies in Luang Namtha. Day and overnight experiences are possible on the Nam Ha and Nam Tha rivers. This is a great way to enjoy the Nam Ha National Protected Area, ethnic villages, wildlife, and forested landscape. Low water levels from December to June can make access to some parts of the rivers difficult. The trip to the Nam Ha River is only available in Luang Namtha district.
Visiting Ethnic Village
There are more than 20 different ethnic groups living inside and around the Nam Ha NPA. You can meet some of these people by chance on your own or better still, hire a local guide. You’ll discover so much more! There are authentic cultures which involve you being a part of their lives, you can learn the local language, culture, tradition, and culture show in the village you visit, for some special show such as local dance or local singing, please ask for your local guide for booking these activities, if there is event or festival in the village, it is free for you to see their performance.
Mountain Bike
Enjoy a ride through the Nam Ha National Protected Area with beautiful views of evergreen forest and hill country. There are many different villages and ethnic communities along the way. Please ask for information and take the map from Tourism Information Center. The motorbike journeys are Muang Sing, Muang Long, Nalae Town, and Viengphoukha District. Rent your motorbike from the center of town for your own trip, we recommend you have a local guide with you, it would be better for your trip.
See Caves and Falls
The most accessible are the caves near the road (R3A) “Kao Rao Cave”. To buy a ticket before the entrance. One of the well-known waterfalls is “Nam Dee Waterfall”, Hire a bike or tuk-tuk and head 5.5 km out of town to the Lanten ethnic village of Ban Nam Dee (meaning: good water) – Buy an entrance ticket. Another waterfall is “Pha Yueang Waterfall” located in the Nam Ha National Protected Area, this can be found 38 km from Luang Namtha Town. For this, you can go by yourself, rent a motorbike, and follow the map you take from the Luang Namtha Tourism Information Center.
