Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
A short mapping trip to the north of Laos
About two weeks ago I made a short trip to Laos to update the Laos GPS map. The Main target area this time was road 2E from Oudomxay to the Vietnam border as well as Rd. 17 from Luang Nam Tha to Mueang Sing. The original plan was to include Mueang Long and the Laos to Myanmar bridge as well but, as I got an urgent message from the printer who is printing my Laos map, I had to cut my trip short.
While in Mueang Khua I met up with Bob and he asked me to have a look at a potential new "shortcut" to road 1C in the Mueang Mai area as he and Pounce may want to try that out later this year. Not sure if that shortcut works out but it looks promising - unfortunately I could not completely check it out as there had been landslides along this newly made track and my truck was a bit to wide although the local farm tractors could make it past the landslides. Just some pictures I took during the trip.
Late afternoon crossing from Chiangkhong to Huaixay.
Stayed the night at the Oudomphone 2 GH which has added a few new rooms - Coordinates N20.27814 E100.41122
The next morning it was of to Mueang Khua. Highway 3 is still OK but it starts showing its age with deep ruts in the pavement (from kilometer marker 172 - 168 - about 40-50 km. from Houayxay) as well as quite a few potholes here and there.
Along Road 2E from Sinxai (the junction of Rd. 2E with Rd. 1B to Phongsali) there several new suspension bridges over the Nam Phak river. At one of them I picked up a few passengers who were walking along the road on their way to their village.
Overnight in Mueang Khua at the Sansabay Guest House (80.000 Kip) - Coordinates N21.08049 E102.50467
The next day it was of to the border with Vietnam - initially slow moving due to the fog but once out of the fog I was rewarded with beautiful views.
The Panghok (Sop Houn) to Tay Trang Laos to Vietnam border crossing with lots of Vietnamese trucks waiting to cross the border
A panorama shot of the construction site
On the way back from the border I had a quick look at one of the seven Nam Ou hydropower projects - in this case the Nam Ou 4 near Mueang Khua
The next day I visited the Nam Kat Yor La Pa resort north of Oudomxay (https://www.namkatyorlapa.com/ - coordinates N20.71704 E102.09742). Not a cheap place though with rooms starting at 4000 Baht a night but it is a beautiful place which offers many activities like Zip lining, Abseiling the Houay Soum waterfall, etc. During weekdays it is very quiet but during weekemds it is busy with visitor from Vientiane.
Some pictures of the resort - there are much better pictures on the website of the resort
On my way to Luang Namtha the farmers are busy with the rice harvest and the burning has started already
Some pictures of places around Luang Namtha
French tourists at the Panghai (local only) border crossing between Laos and China north-east of Mueang Sing
That Chieng Teung (Thai Lue) - Coordinates N21.14523 E101.17292 - one of the most important temples in Laos for the Thai Lue people
The next day it was back home but with a quick visit to the Golden Triangle and the Chinese Casino and a few local tourist attractions.
Chinese influence at the casino located in Laos opposite the Golden Triangle in Thailand
Picture of the Golden Triangle on the Thai side
Phra Ong Luang Buddha Statue - one of the very few if not the only Buddha statue left from the Souvanna Khom Kham era (Coordinates - N20.24967 E100.16441)
Pha Phra along the Mekong river (Coordinates - N20.38157 E100.35247)
To late to make it to Chiangmai as I don't like driving in the dark so a night in the Thamilla Guesthouse in Chiangkong (coordinates N20.26858 E100.40632) with a nice sunrise from the balcony of my room
About two weeks ago I made a short trip to Laos to update the Laos GPS map. The Main target area this time was road 2E from Oudomxay to the Vietnam border as well as Rd. 17 from Luang Nam Tha to Mueang Sing. The original plan was to include Mueang Long and the Laos to Myanmar bridge as well but, as I got an urgent message from the printer who is printing my Laos map, I had to cut my trip short.
While in Mueang Khua I met up with Bob and he asked me to have a look at a potential new "shortcut" to road 1C in the Mueang Mai area as he and Pounce may want to try that out later this year. Not sure if that shortcut works out but it looks promising - unfortunately I could not completely check it out as there had been landslides along this newly made track and my truck was a bit to wide although the local farm tractors could make it past the landslides. Just some pictures I took during the trip.
Late afternoon crossing from Chiangkhong to Huaixay.
Stayed the night at the Oudomphone 2 GH which has added a few new rooms - Coordinates N20.27814 E100.41122
The next morning it was of to Mueang Khua. Highway 3 is still OK but it starts showing its age with deep ruts in the pavement (from kilometer marker 172 - 168 - about 40-50 km. from Houayxay) as well as quite a few potholes here and there.
Along Road 2E from Sinxai (the junction of Rd. 2E with Rd. 1B to Phongsali) there several new suspension bridges over the Nam Phak river. At one of them I picked up a few passengers who were walking along the road on their way to their village.
Overnight in Mueang Khua at the Sansabay Guest House (80.000 Kip) - Coordinates N21.08049 E102.50467
The next day it was of to the border with Vietnam - initially slow moving due to the fog but once out of the fog I was rewarded with beautiful views.
The Panghok (Sop Houn) to Tay Trang Laos to Vietnam border crossing with lots of Vietnamese trucks waiting to cross the border
A panorama shot of the construction site
On the way back from the border I had a quick look at one of the seven Nam Ou hydropower projects - in this case the Nam Ou 4 near Mueang Khua
The next day I visited the Nam Kat Yor La Pa resort north of Oudomxay (https://www.namkatyorlapa.com/ - coordinates N20.71704 E102.09742). Not a cheap place though with rooms starting at 4000 Baht a night but it is a beautiful place which offers many activities like Zip lining, Abseiling the Houay Soum waterfall, etc. During weekdays it is very quiet but during weekemds it is busy with visitor from Vientiane.
Some pictures of the resort - there are much better pictures on the website of the resort
On my way to Luang Namtha the farmers are busy with the rice harvest and the burning has started already
Some pictures of places around Luang Namtha
French tourists at the Panghai (local only) border crossing between Laos and China north-east of Mueang Sing
That Chieng Teung (Thai Lue) - Coordinates N21.14523 E101.17292 - one of the most important temples in Laos for the Thai Lue people
The next day it was back home but with a quick visit to the Golden Triangle and the Chinese Casino and a few local tourist attractions.
Chinese influence at the casino located in Laos opposite the Golden Triangle in Thailand
Picture of the Golden Triangle on the Thai side
Phra Ong Luang Buddha Statue - one of the very few if not the only Buddha statue left from the Souvanna Khom Kham era (Coordinates - N20.24967 E100.16441)
Pha Phra along the Mekong river (Coordinates - N20.38157 E100.35247)
To late to make it to Chiangmai as I don't like driving in the dark so a night in the Thamilla Guesthouse in Chiangkong (coordinates N20.26858 E100.40632) with a nice sunrise from the balcony of my room
