Nong Khiaw

Nong Khiaw is a picturesque town in northern Laos. It’s famous for its stunning limestone mountains, the Nam Ou River, and peaceful village life. It is a gateway for treks, caves, and traditional Lao village visits. We stayed four nights at this beautiful and quiet place, three nights at the newly opened Amanda Boutique Hotel (no homepage) and one night at the Nong Khiaw Floating House (https://nongkhiaw-the-float-house.luangprabangh…). During our stay in Nong Khiaw, we visited the village, went on a boat trip to Muang Ngoi and stayed one whole day in our beautiful floating house to relax.

Our day trip by boat on the Nam Ou River from Nong Khiaw to the charming village of Muang Ngoi was very nice. From there, we hiked to the Phanoi Viewpoint, where we had great views over the village Muang Ngoi and the surrounding mountains. Continuing onward, we reached Sop Keng, a peaceful village surrounded by rice fields. Walking through the fields, we arrived at Yensabai Organic Farm, a tranquil oasis where we enjoyed the simplicity of rural life. On the way back to Nong Khiaw our boat’s propeller suddenly decided to go swimming on its own, leaving us adrift on the river. Just as we began to wonder what to do, another boat appeared, and by luck, the guy on the boat had a spare propeller onboard. Within moments, the new propeller was installed, and we were back on track right on time to watch the sunset.
In hindsight, we think that it would be worth spending some more time in Nong Khiaw as there are really nice tours available including hikes or motorbike trips, including camping in a tent up on a mountain. Maybe next time…

Going back to Luang Prabang by bus was again an experience in itself. Along the way, we noticed that some locals casually tossed trash out of the windows, a habit that left us reflecting on cultural differences. Sitting at the very back of the bus (thankfully not a minivan this time), we were in for a bumpy ride. The uneven roads caused the bus to sway and bounced so much that we were occasionally lifted right out of our seats.

Here are some restaurants, cafés and bars we can recommend in Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi:
- Mr. Wan (Great Massaman Curry)
- Gustoso Cantina (Delicious food)
- Ping Moo (Traditional Laotian food)
- Home Coffee (Cheap and delicious drinks)
- Muang Ngoi → Cheu Lola (Try the Vegetarian Laab)Read more