Carbon Neutral 100%
Destinations
Our most popular destinations in Asia
  • Tour Ideas
Holiday Ideas
  • Travel Style
  • Interests and Activities
  • Tour Ideas by Month
  • Continents and Regions
An update from Evaneos
Houay Sai

Houay Sai (Laos)

Practical information about Houay Sai

  • Encounters with locals
  • Port
  • River
  • Handicraft
  • Sustainable Tourism
  • Off the beaten track
2 / 5 - 2 reviews
How to get there
1 day boat or bus ride from Luang Prabang / 200 km from Luang Nam Tha, or 6 hours by bus
When to go
From October to March
Minimum stay
One day

Reviews of Houay Sai

David Debrincat Travel writer
459 travel articles

Houesai is on the banks of the Mekong, on the path between China and Luang Prabang, about 200 km from Luang Nom Tha, or 6 hours by bus.

My suggestion:
If you get you visa for Laos here when you arrive from Thailand, you can pay the customs officers in Dollars or Kip. Be careful with the conversion because there is an astonishingly large difference between them.
Summary:

During my trip to Laos, I came into the country at Houesai, arriving from Thailand which is just opposite it.

At that point there are two options for travellers. Either travel down the Mekong for two days to get to Luang Prabang, or do as I did and take a bus to the northern mountains. Much more interesting because sailing on the river can also be organised from the villages in that part of the country.  

Apart from being a frontier town with a pretty craft market, Houesai isn't very interesting. There are lots of cheap hotels to use while you are waiting for your delayed bus or boat. Apart from that, there are too many marvellous things to see in Laos to stay for long in Houesai.

A view of Houesai from the Mekong
Travel writer
20 travel articles

Houay Xay, a Laotian/Thai border town, is an almost obligatory stopover if you're heading to Thailand.

My suggestion:
It's best to travel in groups so you can better negotiate the guesthouse and tuk-tuk prices!
Summary:

It was a short visit but, nonetheless, a learning curve when it comes to tourism in the region! I'd spent 2 days on a boat heading up the Mekong from the amazing Luang Prabang, my aim being to cross the Thai border by nightfall. On arriving, however, I found myself caught up with locals negotiating room prices and hearing tales of border officials demanding bribes at certain times of day.

Whatever you do, you need to negotiate hard and check things out as much as possible before crossing the border! Houay Xai is a town where you can live 'Lao-style': karaoke, beerlao and barbecues abound!

The morning market is interesting as local ethnic villagers come here to sell their wares, which include a lot of crafts.

The upside? The view of the Mekong at sunrise and the morning market.

The downside? Neverending negotiations with locals when planning to cross the border.

Cruise boats at Houay Xai