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A rugged, three-hour drive from Luang Namtha Town to Nalae District in the province's southeast can now end with a refreshing 90-minute boat ride down the Nam Tha River to Ban Khone Kham and its newly opened village lodge.
Integrated into the hillside village of 64 Tai Lue homes sitting on tiers supported by cobblestones, the two-storey lodge, constructed by the community, rises right on the riverside. The upper floor holds three bedrooms, though the sizeable veranda, surrounded by lattice, offers a more open-air, yet still comfortable sleeping quarters. Balconies on both sides present peaceful perches to take in the surrounding nature or read a book.
Ban Khone Kham's English-speaking guide, Mr Boraphan, will walk you around the village, where almost every home on stilts sports several looms underneath. The number of looms depends on how many women live in the household, though they all churn out cotton sins (traditional skirts) sold in Luang Namtha Town. Villagers also produce lao lao rice alcohol and lao hai jar wine.
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