Nong Khiaw
ນອງຂຽວ
Luang Prabang Province, Laos · 20°34′24″N 102°37′00″E
A village on the Nam Ou river hemmed in by limestone karst towers, where the view from the Pha Daeng peak trail takes in the whole valley.
Nong Khiaw straddles a bridge over the Nam Ou at the point where the river squeezes between karst cliffs. It grew as a stop on the boat route north but has kept to a single street of guesthouses on each bank. The Pha Daeng viewpoint, a 90-minute climb, and the Nang None peak further along the road are the reasons to stay a couple of nights.
Muang Ngoi, an hour upriver by boat, has no road access at all and is smaller and quieter still.
Why it stays quiet
Luang Prabang absorbs nearly all of northern Laos' visitors. Nong Khiaw gets backpackers heading to the Chinese border and few others; outside December to February the village is very quiet.
Where it is
Before you go
Boat schedules change with water level. Bring a torch for the Pathok caves. Limited ATMs.
Updated 2026-09-06 · Suggest a correction
