Muang Sing Travel Guide

Muang Sing Travel Guide

Muang Sing, 58 km northwest of Luang Namtha, is a charming little town nestled in a valley. It is home to Laos most colorful hill tribe people as well as several opium dens. There are two banks and a rather nice museum with tribal costumes and artifacts on display. There are also many new guest houses and many good restaurants.

What to do?

Muang Sing still has several temples and historical sites to see such as That Xieng Teung stupa and traditional Tai Lue houses and from here you can make arrangements to travel to and stay in tribal villages. The morning market, one of the most colorful in the region, attracts a great variety of tribal minorities, including the Akha with their short skirts and their headdress decorated with old Bank of Indochina coins. Many of the dirt roads in Muang Sing are excellent for mountain biking. Closer to town and accessible by foot or bicycle are Tai Dam and Hmong villages that produce various textiles.

When to go?

The best time to visit overall is the cool season, between November and February. Don't forget to bring warm clothes as it does get a wee chilly. The rainy season begins in May and ends in October. It is a beautiful time of the year to visit with every thing so lush and green. However, it does make travel a bit uncomfortable with muddy roads and land leeches.

Travel Tips

To prepare for trekking, wear suitable teva-type sandals or amphibious shoes as you will cross many streams, go through mud and take your shoes off and on when visiting the local houses. Also, in rainy seasons, nylon stockings are recommended as a barrier that leeches cannot penetrate.