Muang Khua--This Must Mean Sh#%thole in Lao

View of the Nam Ou River From Above Town

Hard to find any redeeming value in this town, beyond the necessary stop for tourists from Northern Vietnam and those of us Laotian visitors who want to experience the boat trip to Muang Ngoi.  While the Rough Guide encourages people to spend a few days to check the place out, I seriously doubt any of their authors made the effort.  Because of its location in a narrow river valley, there isn't much trekking of any value from town, though it may be possible to tuk tuk back towards Oudemxai and find a few trekking spots.  Suffice it to say this ain't no Luang Nam Tha.  To further make things worse, the locals are the least friendly I've encountered in Laos, the rooms rates the poorest value and ditto the restaurants.  After walking through the fly infested market, I chose fried rice for dinner since there was no way I'd touch any of the meat or fish I found on display.  I've been through a lot of third world markets and this one ranks amongst the worst.  At least I found one well-insulated cooler with reasonably cold beer.

The good parts:  100+ meter long suspension bridge was fun to walk across.  The non-merchant locals seem friendly.  Nice view from the hills above the town.  I get to leave tomorrow for Muang Ngoi.

This Means Don't Grow Opium Anymore

Town Highlight, The Suspension Bridge