Pakbeng is a very small town upriver of
Luang Prabang at the junction of the Mekong
and its smaller tributary the Beng River. It is a good place for an overnight stop
on the boat trip from Luang Phabang to Houei Xai. It is very quiet and electricity
goes out at 10.30pm, when the generator is shut down for the night.
What to do?
Pakbeng on the Mekong River is a famous stop-over place for tourists traveling in
slow boats between Luang Prabang and
Houei Xai (border with Thailand's Chiang Khong
over the river). It also offers eco- tours to the nearby tribal villages. There
are several accommodations available there. The road from Pak Beng to Muang Xai
is good in the dry season, and can be passable by tough vehicles in the wet months.
Getting there:
Most visitors will have to stop here over-night on the slow-boat
trip to/from Luang Prabang. It is also possible to arrive by speedboat en route
to the north. Much more uncomfortable than the slow boat, however you will arrive
before the slow boat so you have the option of choosing a guesthouse and showering
with no lines. You also get to see the town as the only Westerner. Another possibility
is to reach the place by bus-- this is a rough and long option.
Travel Tips: Pakbeng is in the Golden Triangle, and in the midst of one of the world’s drugs
production areas. From the moment you set your foot in Pakbeng, you will be offered
weed and opium, plus cocaine and amphetamines, the latter usually Burmese in origin.
If you buy anything, you are highly likely to soon be approached by a different
guy with a more or less fake police badge, who apparently will give you in to the
police if you don't pay, usually USD 20-50. It cannot be said often enough; when
in Asia, stay away from drugs!!
