Northeast Laos  

Regarded as the virtual museum of war in city scale, Xieng Khouang was razed by American bombing in the 60s and has been replaced by the new town of Phonsavan.

Located in the province of Luang Prabang, Nong Khiaw is known as a pretty village which lies on both banks of the Nam Ou River.

Stretching along the Nam Ou River, Muang Ngoi Neua is surrounded by majestic mountains which making is a picturesque landscape.

Vieng Xai (Vieng Xay or Vieng Sai) is an important tourist site of Hua Phan Province, about 30km from Sam Neua and 55km from the common border with Vietnam. Visiting there, tourists are fascinated with its beautiful natural scenery which consists of artificial lakes surrounded by limestone cliffs and numerous caves protecting the Revolutionary Communist officers during the Second World War.

Located in Phu Fha Mount, Phongsaly is the capital Phongsaly province. The town is a small maze with winding and bumpy streets.

Sam Neua, a small town at 1200 meters high, is the capital of Houaphan province in northeastern Laos.
Residents are mostly Lao, Vietnamese and Hmong, along with some Tai Dam, Tai Daeng and Tai Lu. The predominant language is Lao; French is still spoken by a minority of people as a legacy of the French colonial era and is learnt by younger populations and used in public works and government.