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.
