Muang Ngoi Neua

Muang Ngoi Neua is a small riverside village in Northern Laos wedged in between karst mountains at the confluence of the Nam Ngoi and the Nam Ou rivers. It's a low-key destination in a stunning location. Interesting hikes can be made to tribal villages in the area.

One of the tribal villages Sop Chem is easily accessible by private boat from Muang Ngoi (150k Nov 2022), 45 minutes upstream. There is a guesthouse there with a beautiful garden area and stunning views which was renovated during the CoViD lockdowns.

From the south
Three minivans per day travel from Luang Prabang to Nong Khiaw [Nov22](3½ hours, 09:00 & 11:00 (70,000 kip when bought at the North bus station, 125,000, including tuk tuk, when bought from your hotel, tuk-tuk 35-50k pp). From there, take the connecting 1-hour boatride (daily, 11:30 & 13:30, 50,000 kip).

From the north
Grab the 5-hour boatride from Muang Khua (200-350k kip Nov 2022). The price depends on the number of people travelling and their haggling skills (starting price for whole boat was quoted as 2.5m Nov 2022 but can be had much cheaper).

See




Eat
All restaurants on the main road of the village cater pretty much exclusively to tourists, hence menus are in English only. Perhaps surprisingly, prices are (so far) mostly on par with what you would pay in Northern Laos' towns, maybe a bit more for certain dishes. Most guesthouses also run a restaurant. Lao and Western favourites are readily available, but service is often slow - consider it part of the overall atmosphere.



Sleep

 * Now also have four rooms in a concrete building with a veranda, with nice views. In low season 50,000 kip for concrete bungalows, 40,000 for wooden ones.
 * Aloune guesthouse. Offers bungalows with river view, mosquito net, fan, attached bathroom, balcony with hammock, 60,000 kip, not to be confused with Aloune Mai above.
 * Now also have four rooms in a concrete building with a veranda, with nice views. In low season 50,000 kip for concrete bungalows, 40,000 for wooden ones.
 * Aloune guesthouse. Offers bungalows with river view, mosquito net, fan, attached bathroom, balcony with hammock, 60,000 kip, not to be confused with Aloune Mai above.
 * Now also have four rooms in a concrete building with a veranda, with nice views. In low season 50,000 kip for concrete bungalows, 40,000 for wooden ones.
 * Aloune guesthouse. Offers bungalows with river view, mosquito net, fan, attached bathroom, balcony with hammock, 60,000 kip, not to be confused with Aloune Mai above.
 * Now also have four rooms in a concrete building with a veranda, with nice views. In low season 50,000 kip for concrete bungalows, 40,000 for wooden ones.
 * Aloune guesthouse. Offers bungalows with river view, mosquito net, fan, attached bathroom, balcony with hammock, 60,000 kip, not to be confused with Aloune Mai above.
 * Now also have four rooms in a concrete building with a veranda, with nice views. In low season 50,000 kip for concrete bungalows, 40,000 for wooden ones.
 * Aloune guesthouse. Offers bungalows with river view, mosquito net, fan, attached bathroom, balcony with hammock, 60,000 kip, not to be confused with Aloune Mai above.

In the off season the number of empty guest houses can see prices fall as low as 30,000 kip/night.

Cope

 * As of June 2018, there are still no ATMs in Muang Ngoi. Make sure to bring enough cash with you. If you run out of money, you will have to take the 09:30 boat to Nong Khiaw and return on the 11:00 boat. As of August 2019, you can get cash with a credit card and 5% fee at Riverside Bungalows.
 * Bring a torch with you at night  as there are little to no street lights and most of the town goes to bed after sunset.
 * Bring boots/old shoes if you arrive in rainy season, as roads are unpaved and can get muddy.
 * Wi-Fi is available in most guesthouses and restaurants, but is generally slow to painfully slow.

Go next
Take the public boat south to Nong Khiaw (daily, 09:30, 25,000 kip) the onward boat service from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang has been discontinued due to the construction of a dam, or north to Muang Khua (1.2m to 2m kip (Nov 2022) to charter a boat for up to 8 people. The cheaper prices available when they already have a group of people coming south from Muang Khua, so they can charge a fare in both directions) for further overland connections to Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam, and the northernmost Phongsali province. It is also possible to make a one-day hike or kayak trip back to Nong Khiaw.