Close by is Ban Phanom Village , famous for its weavings, which offers the opportunity to visit a traditional community and to purchase bargain priced silk and embroideries. 25km along the Mekong river lie the fascinating Pak Ou Caves , that can be easily reached by speedboat from Luang Prabang. The two caves, Tham Ting and Tham Phun , are full of Buddha images that have been left there over hundreds of years by worshippers. Further down river is the small village of Ban Xang Hai , famous for its production of rice whisky. Also worth seeing are the Kuang Si Waterfalls , situated 30km from Luang Prabang.
Visitors can swim in the lower pools.
Situated in the far north west of Laos, Luang Namtha province is a mountainous region, with areas of tropical rainforest and over 39 ethnic minority groups. Muang Xing is a small town on the river plains which used to be an outpost for an ancient southern Chinese empire. A number of guesthouses can offer hiking trips starting from here. Terms and Conditions apply.