Mini Guide to Houayxay (Huay Xai)

Ban Tom Lao is a village in Laos, where you can explore lush rice fields and try locally brewed alcohol. The village name roughly translates as ‘brew comes’ – appropriate since the villagers produce hooch or moonshine (it’s legal in Lao, but not for most countries). The alcohol level depends on the fermentation period, but it’s usually at 40%.

Thai Lue Tribe Village is made up of ban yong hin – mobile houses made of wood. The Thai Lue people use wooden stakes with stones as the base of their homes, which help prevent destructive termite and moisture erosion in the wood.

Fort Carnot is a French military structure dating back to the 1900s. After Laos gained independence in 1945, the fort was used by the Royal Lao Army as accommodation. Located on top of a hill, it’s best not to go inside as the structure isn’t exactly safe to enter.

Jom Khao Manilat Temple is a 19th-century shrine built entirely from teak. Its vibrant colours resemble many religious sites and structures in Jakarta. You can also explore a stele-house, which was donated by former Chaing Kong prince in 1548. Jom Khao Manilat Temple overlooks the Mekong River, making it a popular spot to watch the sunset.

The Gibbon Experience features wooden treehouses and a 15-km-long network of zipline within Nam Kan National Park. It’s about 3-hour drive from Houayxay (Huay Xai), plus a couple of hours of trekking on jungle trails to the canopy infrastructure. The Gibbon Experience’s treehouses are built on giant trees over 40 metres high – you can observe the wildlife below by gliding on zip lines.

You can get to Houayxay (Huay Xai) by taking a flight from Vientiane, though plan your holiday accordingly. Planes depart for the town only 3 times a week.

Getting to Houayxay (Huay Xai) by bus is usually the best way – there’s a bus that departs from Luang Namtha every morning at 9.30am. The journey takes around 5 hours and you’ll be dropped off at a stand 2 km away from the town centre.