Muang Khoua Village

The small village of Muang Khoua forms the southern access point to Phongsali province. This is where the main highway crosses the Nam Ou River – the principal waterway of northern Laos. The river – a tributary of the Mekong – is the main route not only for goods coming into Phongsali province, but for passengers too. It’s the northernmost point, and the way the very few tourists to Phongsali arrive – with a few continuing to Phongsali itself.

The sparsely populated mountain province of Phongsali is enveloped in 70% forest coverage, and one of the very few places in the country where they still produce opium. 

It’s probably not a coincidence that there’s an advertising campaign going on in town, against the use of narcotics. 

They pan for gold in the Nam Ou River. Near Muang Khoua you can see floating dredgers of the gold industry. The locals here pan for gold by hand. If no technology is involved, they can do it legally. The sand is washed through wooden cones with water. Most of the success depends on knowing the right place to prospect – if the sand has a shine to it in the sunlight, it could be a good place to try. Once you’ve watched them doing it for a few minutes, you can try your hand at gold-panning yourself.