A simple map of Muang Khua

Muang Khua is a small town in Phongsali Province of northern Laos. Most people use it as a transit town (the halfway point between several other places), but it has its own charm.

Get in

Muang Khua can be reached from four directions: the Nam Ou river crosses through it from north to south, while the roads head east and west.

By road

To the west, lies the transit hub of Muang Xay. In the east, the road connects Muang Khua to the northernmost border crossing with Vietnam, near the Vietnamese city of Dien Bien Phu. Buses leave daily from Dien Bien Phu's bus station early in the morning. Travel time is around 5 hours, including customs.

Buses from Muang Xay stop 2km away on the west side (35,000 kip for the bus and 5,000 kip for a collective tuk-tuk to the town centre).

By boat

Muang Khua is about halfway between Phongsali in the north and the backpacker-popular village of Muang Ngoi Neua, with connections further south to Luang Prabang.

Tickets can be bought from the boat dock, half an hour before the boat leaves. From the visitors centre, with the market in front of you, turn left and take the first street right. It is at the end of this road (you will have walked past three guesthouses and be on a downward slope). The boat to Muang Ngoi Neua and Nong Kiaw leaves at 09:30. Tickets to Muang Ngoi Neua (written Muang Ngoy on the boat dock sign) are 100,000 kip. Tickets to Nong Kiaw (an hour south of Muang Ngoy) are 120,000 kip. Boats may not leave if there are not enough people (~12 people per boat) (Oct 2013).

Get around

Muang Khua can be covered by foot.

See

Bridge to the Khmu section of town

• The old suspension bridge

Do

Pétanque court next to the restaurant

Buy

• There are two ATMs in town. The tourist centre said this was new. (Nov 2013). It is possible to change dollars and baht. There are two places in town that change money at reasonable rates (Jun 2012). The banks may close at 15:30 and not be open on weekends.
• The market is opposite tourist info in a curved roof shed. There are stalls with toiletries, clothes and food.

Eat

There are three restaurants on the road to the boat ramp. Drinks, 7-15,000 kip, Meals, 25-35,000 kip.

There are at least two stalls selling tasty bowls of noodle soup across from the market. 10,000 kip.

Sleep

• There are a few guesthouses on the road to the boat ramp. The tourist office also has a map of the area with others.
• Chalernsouk Guesthouse. Large double room with fan, TV, desk, private bathroom. good free Wi-Fi, computers with Internet downstairs, 10,000 kip per hour. (as of March 2015) 70,000 kip. 

Connect

• Internet is available in town (Jun 2012).
• Wi-Fi not available at most guesthouses, but computers are available.

Go next

• Muang Ngoi Neua by boat, 5 hours, 100,000 kip
• Muang Xay
• Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam