Best Things to Do in Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu
The best things to do in Loei and Nong Bua Lamphu mix mountains, Mekong river life, temples and dinosaurs — sometimes all in the same day. This is not a province of big-ticket attractions with queues. It is a province of dawn viewpoints, small museums, riverside cycling and festivals that still belong to local people first. Plan around the early morning: most of the magic happens before 8 a.m., when fog is on the hills and monks are walking in Chiang Khan. Chiang Khan: Walking Street and Morning Alms Start in Chiang Khan, the old Mekong trading town in the north of Loei province. The heart of town is Chai Khong Road, a walking street of dark wooden shophouses, guesthouses, cafés and small shops running parallel to the Mekong River promenade. Come at dusk, when the stalls open, the river turns gold, and Laos is clearly visible on the far bank. The essential Chiang Khan experience happens at about 6 a.m. Guesthouses lay out woven mats along the street and sell sticky-rice alms sets fo...