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Laos, Xayaburi Province
Project gen by hotsia
Other trips of mine in Xayaburi: Lao-style papaya salad in Xayaburi is very delicious. Food and cuisine of the Xayaburi people. Traveling from Xayaburi to Luang Prabang. Stayed at Nok Noi Guesthouse, which has a kitchen and a friendly atmosphere. Supporting exciting AEC travel. Phou Du border crossing into Laos. Paklai Southern Bus Station. Food and cuisine of Paklai people. Khop and Chiang Hon towns. Stayed again at Nok Noi Guesthouse. International border at Huay Kon - Namngen. Homestay at Ban Tha Suang and Ban Pak Ngum. On my first trip to Xayaburi Province, I entered through the Huay Kon border checkpoint.
Nan Province: Entered Ngeun town, went to Hongsa, then took a bus to Xayaburi town, Xayaburi Province. On this second trip, I entered via the Phou Du international checkpoint in Uttaradit Province, got my stamp at Huay Kaew checkpoint in Paklai town. On this trip, I hitchhiked on a corn truck from the Thai checkpoint to Paklai town, about 30 kilometers apart. For traveling to Xayaburi, I recommend entering via Huay Kon first because it’s easier to find transport than Phou Du checkpoint.
A bit of history: Normally, I don’t mention history when writing like this because I focus on culture rather than countries. But mentioning it helps visualize and connect when traveling in Xayaburi. Xayaburi Province once belonged to Thailand and was the first territory lost to France over a hundred years ago when Chanthaburi was returned. Therefore, part of the lifestyle of Xayaburi people resembles that of Thais. When mr.hotsia travels, knowing the background helps understand local life better.
What makes Xayaburi stand out from other provinces is its abundant forests. The Xayaburi market is very interesting with many unique things to see. Personally, I love the Lao-style papaya salad sold in Xayaburi market; I find it very tasty. The key to delicious Lao papaya salad is the quality of the fermented fish sauce. Even if the ingredients are the same, different fermented fish sauces make the taste vary. I recommend the routes and culinary experiences when visiting Xayaburi. You might also visit Nan.
Traveling to Huay Kon, crossing the border to Ngeun, Hongsa, then taking a bus from Hongsa to Luang Prabang, or continuing by bus to take a boat is possible. Few people travel directly to Xayaburi, but I like it. I enjoy small towns like this, strolling and enjoying the view at Paklai by the Mekong River or the Xayaburi market, which is fantastic. Hongsa has a lignite power plant with many Thai workers. Goods deliveries happen there. Hongsa is currently busier than the capital Xayaburi. Thai workers spend money, spreading from Hongsa to Xayaburi.
Xayaburi hosts the World Elephant Festival annually in February. Previously, it alternated between Xayaburi town and Hongsa, but from now on, it will be held only in Xayaburi town. This is a major event I must attend. The Elephant Festival (Elephant Festival Xailabouli) is a cultural event showing the bond between people and Asian elephants, which are endangered. Around 50-60 elephants participate. It is believed tourists from Laos and abroad, especially Thailand, will attend.
For attending the Elephant Festival, you can enter via Phou Du or Tha Li border checkpoints. Tourists receive excellent border crossing assistance during this period. If coming from Bangkok, Tha Li checkpoint in Loei Province is common. A quick note on hotels in Xayaburi: In the town center, stay near the Hueng River. On my first visit, I stayed at Nok Noi Guesthouse; the second time at Chai Anan Hotel, probably the largest in the province. Staying in this area makes it easy to find food and walk to the market without much distance.
For accommodations, I recommend staying near the market. Hongsa town is small with limited lodging, around 400 baht per night. In Paklai, stay riverside for a beautiful view; I stayed at Jinny Guesthouse. In Ngeun, opposite Huay Kon checkpoint, stay near the market for convenience in the morning when catching transport. I stayed about 400 meters before the market and walked there. The food of Xayaburi people is similar to Northern Thailand. The most famous dish is papaya salad (Tam Bak Hung or Lao-style papaya salad).
Second favorite is Jin Som or fermented pork sausage. Third is various steamed dishes; I especially like steamed pork. I recommend buying Northern-style rice, fermented pork sausage, and steamed dishes to enjoy in your hotel. On my trip, I bought these to eat at Chai Anan Hotel—delicious! The bus from Xayaburi town to Luang Prabang departs at 9:00 AM. The bus station is 3 kilometers out of town. The songthaew fare asked inside town is 60 baht per person, but if booked from Xayaburi Southern Bus Station, it’s 40 baht per person. mr.hotsia May 2013 trip to Xayaburi Province.
Xayaburi town is not frequented much by tourists, making it the last province Mr.Hotsia visited in Laos. Laos has 17 provinces including the capital Vientiane. Visiting here means I have traveled all provinces of Laos, which I secretly feel proud of. Xayaburi Province is roughly 150 kilometers east from Phrae and Uttaradit. This town sees few tourists due to distance and difficult travel, especially from Ngeun town at Huay Kon checkpoint.
Traveling takes about 3 hours from Ngeun or alternatively from Paklai or Vientiane, which is a longer mountainous route. This makes the town rarely visited by tourists. The main tourist spots in Xayaburi Province are Ban Tha Suang or Ban Tha Chuang. Xayaburi is mountainous with forests and wild elephants. Elephants are used for labor in the forest. Unlike Thailand, there are no elephants roaming in town. There are several accommodations in Xayaburi town, but I recommend Nok Noi Guesthouse, costing less than 300 baht per night.
It has a kitchen for tourists to cook their own meals, is clean, and the owner is friendly. It is located near the Hueng River with beautiful views. This is where Mr.Hotsia stayed. The restaurant and lively area is not near the market but near Chai Anan Hotel and Nok Noi Guesthouse, opposite the Xayaburi provincial office. That area has a night market, dinner restaurants, Thai-style desserts, and is close to Wat Si Sawang Vas, making it the most attractive area to visit and stay. Main attractions besides Wat Si Sawang Vas include Wat Si Bun Rueang or Wat Ban Yai, 2 kilometers south of the provincial office.
Activities include visiting morning and evening markets, temple visits, observing local lifestyle, and enjoying delicious Lao papaya salad. The best Lao papaya salad in Xayaburi. Green papaya salad Chaiyaburi. Chaianan Hotel Chaiyaburi. Chaiyaburi fresh market. Xayaburi evening market. Iconic Xayaburi market. Water monitor (Varanus salvator). The best Jin Som pork in Xayaburi Province. Chaiyaburi local food.
mrhotsia Breakfast in Chaiyaburi at Chaianan Hotel. Lao-style breakfast in Xayaburi market, very delicious. GPS coordinates: 19°16'8.717"N, 101°42'29.52"E (POI). Workers at Chaianan Hotel: 19°15'43.817"N, 101°42'47.579"E. On the bridge over Hueng River: 19°16'8.67"N, 101°42'30.101"E; 19°15'43.295"N, 101°42'47.441"E; 19°15'43.193"N, 101°42'47.411"E. Xayaburi people bathing by Hueng River: 19°15'43.085"N, 101°42'47.513"E; 19°15'46.949"N, 101°42'33.455"E.