Nice video. I was in Muang Ngoi overnight in the beginning of December 2023, having cruised down the Nam Ou River from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw (about 5-1/2 hours on the river, with a change of boats required at the dam midway between Muang Khua and Muang Ngoi. The river was silt-free and greenish clear versus cafe latte brown. My guide and I had a private boat & driver and arrived in the early afternoon. After checking into my guest house at the corner of the main (dirt) road and the one from the boat landing, we did the trek to the Tham Kaang shelter cave that the locals used as a bomb shelter during the Indochina War, and then continued onto the ethnic T’ai Deng village of Ban Na (a non-stop/one way 1 hour and 20 minute trek from my guest house). The village temple was at the end of the main road to the right of my guest house, so the temple drum announcing the start of the morning alms procession woke me up, and the sound of conversations in Lao nearby tip me off to monk offerings right near my bungalow, so I threw on clothes and went out to take photos and video clips on the offerings, following the monks all the way to the far end of the main road, then walking back to take photos and videos of the village in early morning and the assorted morning street vendor stalls (a local woman said I came on the wrong day for the 10 day rotating market, which likely includes Ban Na and other ethnic and nearby ‘Lao Lum’ villages). Muang Ngoi was very chill and laidback, with some very good local sai oua Lao sausages (quite spicy) available on the street at night. I loved northern Laos, especially up in Phongsali province (Bountai, Phongsali), though the roads are rough and the travel times by car longer than the ETA’s. Haven’t downloaded and produced my videos yet, but will start doing so on my travel-related UA-cam page in the coming weeks. Cheers!
lovely videos. We're headed to Luang Prabang with our 3 kids in Dec/Jan. We were on the fence about heading to Nong K and Muang N but now we are going for it. I'm super curious what camera you use (great colour) and how you do your stable walking video- what stabilizer?
Thank you ☺️ I use a GoPro Hero 10 for most video unless it’s a low light situation. For photos or low light I just use my iPhone. The GoPro has a stabilizer built in when shooting in certain modes so it makes it easy on a novice like me! Enjoy your trip, it will be beautiful!
OK - you may have answered this question before, but I usually watch you on TV, not phone or computer where I can access comments - but what is with the BROWN river water??? Love your posts by the way, you remind me of your mom!!!
Aww thank you, a high compliment! I know the Mekong River has a number of dams that contribute to all the sediment that is kicked up in them, so it may be the case here too. The soil on the edges of the river feels just like clay, so that likely has something to do with it as well. Looks like a Willy Wonka chocolate river to me 😂😂
Nice video. I was in Muang Ngoi overnight in the beginning of December 2023, having cruised down the Nam Ou River from Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw (about 5-1/2 hours on the river, with a change of boats required at the dam midway between Muang Khua and Muang Ngoi. The river was silt-free and greenish clear versus cafe latte brown. My guide and I had a private boat & driver and arrived in the early afternoon. After checking into my guest house at the corner of the main (dirt) road and the one from the boat landing, we did the trek to the Tham Kaang shelter cave that the locals used as a bomb shelter during the Indochina War, and then continued onto the ethnic T’ai Deng village of Ban Na (a non-stop/one way 1 hour and 20 minute trek from my guest house). The village temple was at the end of the main road to the right of my guest house, so the temple drum announcing the start of the morning alms procession woke me up, and the sound of conversations in Lao nearby tip me off to monk offerings right near my bungalow, so I threw on clothes and went out to take photos and video clips on the offerings, following the monks all the way to the far end of the main road, then walking back to take photos and videos of the village in early morning and the assorted morning street vendor stalls (a local woman said I came on the wrong day for the 10 day rotating market, which likely includes Ban Na and other ethnic and nearby ‘Lao Lum’ villages). Muang Ngoi was very chill and laidback, with some very good local sai oua Lao sausages (quite spicy) available on the street at night. I loved northern Laos, especially up in Phongsali province (Bountai, Phongsali), though the roads are rough and the travel times by car longer than the ETA’s. Haven’t downloaded and produced my videos yet, but will start doing so on my travel-related UA-cam page in the coming weeks. Cheers!
Glad you got to explore the area, and best of luck with your channel!
Enjoy your trip as I’m enjoy watching your videos of Laos.
Thank you!
Very nice and helpful thank you
Thanks for watching!
Will be going again.Wanna try the high speed train
lovely videos. We're headed to Luang Prabang with our 3 kids in Dec/Jan. We were on the fence about heading to Nong K and Muang N but now we are going for it. I'm super curious what camera you use (great colour) and how you do your stable walking video- what stabilizer?
Thank you ☺️ I use a GoPro Hero 10 for most video unless it’s a low light situation. For photos or low light I just use my iPhone. The GoPro has a stabilizer built in when shooting in certain modes so it makes it easy on a novice like me! Enjoy your trip, it will be beautiful!
OK - you may have answered this question before, but I usually watch you on TV, not phone or computer where I can access comments - but what is with the BROWN river water??? Love your posts by the way, you remind me of your mom!!!
Aww thank you, a high compliment! I know the Mekong River has a number of dams that contribute to all the sediment that is kicked up in them, so it may be the case here too. The soil on the edges of the river feels just like clay, so that likely has something to do with it as well. Looks like a Willy Wonka chocolate river to me 😂😂
@@LeighsOffBackpacking 😅Yup - I think you nailed it!
Laotian american here. muang Noy literally means small town or small city.
The Laotian government should consider putting up oompa loompa statutes around the chocolate 🍫 River.
Would become a tourist attraction for sure 😂
There's a spider on ur head right now 🕷
you saved my life 🙏🙏🙏