Muang Xay



Muang Xay (ເມືອງໄຊ) (also ອຸດົມໄຊ Oudomxay, Udomxai, etc.) is the capital of the multi-ethnic Oudomxay Province, in the Nam Ko River Basin and surrounded by scenic mountains. It's the largest city in Northern Laos and, if you're traveling by land, you'll probably end up here at some point.

Understand
The town is formed by small villages at an important intersection between China and Vietnam, and the city has a multicultural atmosphere.

A free city map can be obtained in the bus station or tourist information centre; the map includes basic information and "things to do". You can get maps online from the Provincial Tourism Department website.

By plane
Lao Airlines has three flights a week from Vientiane (1 hr, full fare US$98). The local ticket reseller is in Litthavixay Guesthouse in the town centre on the main street.

By bus
Muang Xay has a (approx. 6 km down south). The old one in town is now abandoned. Tuktuks from the new one to the city center are 50,000 kip, or the walk takes about an hour. Departure from Luang Namtha to Muang Xay are at 10:00 and 14:00. Bus tickets can be bought in every guest house for 70,000 kip (might be out-of-date as of January 2023, tickets are 80,000 at the terminal). Price includes transportation to the new bus station, a couple of kilometers south of the town.
 * Buses from Luang Namtha cost 80,000 kip and take up to 4 hours. Departures from Muang Xay are at 08:30, 11:30 and 15:00.


 * Buses from Nong Khiaw cost 45,000 kip and take up to 4.5 hours. Departure from Nong Khiaw at 11:00. Departure from Muang Xay (New Bus Terminal) at 10:00.
 * Buses from Luang Prabang cost 120,000 kip, leave three times a day and take about 6 hours.
 * Buses from Kunming cost 350,000 kip (for a sleeper), take up to 15 hours. Departure at 12:00.
 * Other daily buses come from Vientiane, Phongsali, Pak Beng, Muang Khua, and Bokeo. Buses to China also.
 * Schedules can be found here.

By train
Four high speed trains run daily from Vientiane via Phonhong, Vang Vieng, Muang Kasi and Luang Prabang to Muang Xay (3 hours), with two continuing to Luang Namtha and Boten on the border with China. One train per day crosses the border and continues to Kunming, but as of April 2023 this doesn't stop in Muang Xay, you need to travel to Boten to join it.

is 3 km west of town centre.

In town








Nature






Buy
The Thai Ly Handicraft Shop opposite the airport street has some very nice traditional fabrics, bags and clothes.



Sleep
There are a number of decent guesthouses in town. Basic rooms with showers and hot water should cost around 40,000 kip. General room prices in the town centre including TV are around 40,000-70,000 kip. A few minutes from the bus station are places for 50,000 kip including TV and en suite baths. Be sure to bargain if they claim no TV or hot water is 50,000 kip or more.

Then again, as of September 2015 all the cheapest places seem to be asking 70,000 kip even in low season and whether or not they provide Wi-Fi. Haggling the price down by 10,000 is possible in some.


 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000
 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000
 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000
 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000
 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000
 * December 2023 - hard to find anything under 150,000

Connect
The Tourist Information Centre two doors from the bridge in the middle of town has free Wi-Fi. They also offer a motorbike and bicycle for rent. Open Monday-Friday 8:00-17:00. Most but not all hotels and guesthouses were providing Wi-Fi as of September 2015. There were several Internet shops in the city, all charging 400 kip/minute. Wi-Fi is available at Lithavixay Guesthouse, quite cheap if you bring your own notebook.



Go next

 * There is a provincial bus station in the town offering bus service to Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw, Pak Beng, Meuang La, Phongsaly, Vientiane. Buy your ticket an hour in advance.
 * Beside that, just opposite the Sinphet Restaurant, there are international buses from China serving the Kunming to Luang Prabang and Luang Prabang to Kunming route. The international bus will stop around 15 minutes for lunch at the Chinese restaurant just opposite Sinphet Restaurant. A bus all the way to Kunming leaves at about 11:30 and takes 3 hours to the border and, after immigration, another 11 hours. 350,000 kip.