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Voykit pocket guide · Laos
Nong Khiaw
Spend 2 days: day 1 explore Phadaeng Viewpoint and nearby caves; day 2 do the 100‑waterfalls trek or a boat trip to Muang Ngoi.
Nong Khiaw is a small riverside town in northern Laos, reachable by road from Luang Prabang (3‑4 h). Its limestone cliffs host several viewpoints and treks, the most popular being the 100‑waterfalls hike. Two nights let you see the main viewpoints and take a day‑trip to Muang Ngoi.
- Country
- Laos
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Oct (rainy season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LAK
- Money
- Lao kip (LAK) in small notes for markets, tuk-tuks and food stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget 30,000–50,000 LAK excl. bed · Mid 50,000–80,000 LAK excl. bed · High 80,000+ LAK excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Unitel, Lao Telecom and ETL sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport registration required.
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire 190 · Ambulance 195
- Plugs
- Types A, B, C, E, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · Most sockets take flat US and round European pins.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up or leave LAK 10,000–20,000.; Guides and drivers: LAK 50,000–100,000 a day.; Massage: LAK 20,000–30,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill water everywhere.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop at bus stops and markets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | 2,000–3,000 kip |
| Beer (local) | 3,000–4,000 kip |
| Tuk‑tuk ride 2 km (1.2 mi)Tuk‑tuk ride 1.2 mi (2 km) | 10,000 kip |
| Entrance to Phadaeng Viewpoint | 50,000 kip |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LPQ · Luang Prabang International Airport
- About 3–4 h by road to Nong Khiaw
Typical fares
- Luang Prabang → Nong Khiaw (minivan)
- ≈50,000 kip, 3.5–4 h (check times)
- Boat to Muang Ngoi
- ≈25,000 kip, 1 h (check availability)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is walkable; rent a bike (≈10,000 kip) from Riverside Bungalows or Delilah’s to reach trails and the east‑side villages.
See and do
Known for
- Phadaeng Viewpoint
- 100‑waterfalls trek
- Pha Tok Caves
- River‑side bungalows
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Muang Ngoi | Boat from Nong Khiaw landing, departs 10:30 or 14:30Boat from Nong Khiaw landing, departs 10:30 AM or 2:30 PM | ≈1 h |
| 100‑Waterfalls trek | Guided trek organized by local agencies, start from town edge | Full‑day (≈8 h) |
| Pha Tok Caves | Walk or bike 2 km (1.2 mi) east of town, then climb stepsWalk or bike 1.2 mi (2 km) east of town, then climb steps | ≈30 min each way |
Sleep
- Bamboo Paradise
- Budget bamboo bungalows, river view, 30,000 kip low‑season.
- Nam Houn Guesthouse
- Mid‑range bamboo bungalows with private bath, 60,000 kip.
- Nong Kiau Riverside
- Up‑market riverside bungalows, 240,000 kip single, 350,000 kip double, breakfast included.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | ຂໍອະໄພkho a-pai |
| How much is this? | ເປັນບໍ່?pen bo? |
| Where is the bus station? | ສະຖານີກະດານແມ່ນໃສ?sa-tha-ki-gan mae nai? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Nop (palms together) and 'sabaidee'; avoid: Loud greetings and hugs
- Temples: Covered shoulders and knees, shoes off; avoid: Pointing feet at images; women touching monks
- Keeping calm: Stay relaxed; 'bor pen nyang'; avoid: Anger in public
- Baci ceremony: Keep the white strings on your wrist for three days; avoid: Cutting them off
- Head and feet: Keep feet down; avoid: Touching heads
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus and minivan schedules are approximate; allow extra time for delays.
- Boat services to Muang Ngoi run only when enough passengers gather; may require extra fee.
Generally safe for tourists; keep an eye on belongings, especially in crowded buses, and verify boat schedules in advance.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Nong Khiaw yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Phadaeng Viewpoint
- 100‑waterfalls trek
- Pha Tok Caves
- River‑side bungalows
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Nong Khiaw coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1234567
- Wikivoyage: Nong Khiaw, revision 5226981 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5226981
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/nong-khiaw). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.