Muang Ngoy

Since we have not yet taken a river cruise on the Mekong, we have decided to travel from Muang Ngoy on the Nam Ou to Muang Khua, near the border with Vietnam, with light luggage on December 11 — and then return the same way on December 12. Two days on the boat. We leave our luggage in Nong Khiaw.

The boat and accommodation in Muang Khua are already booked when we receive a warning via WhatsApp from Bernd and Anni, who are already on their way to Vietnam along the same route one day ahead of us: In Muang Ngoy, they had to switch to a smaller, uncomfortable boat, the all-day tour was arduous, and in Muang Khua - merely a transit point from Laos to Vietnam - there is nothing to see. We immediately change our plan, cancel the trip to Muang Khua, and buy a ticket instead only to Muang Ngoy, a one-hour trip on the Nam Ou. Everything else remains as before: We book an overnight stay in Muang Ngoy to return on December 12.

There isn't much to do in Muang Ngoy. We could go on a trekking tour, but we have already dismissed that idea. Additionally, light rain has already started during the boat trip. The room we booked is as uninviting as the weather. Very basic! After a short walk, it starts to rain again, which steadily increases by the afternoon - and into the night. We are glad to find a dry spot in a restaurant, where we spend the rest of the day.

In the morning, it is raining heavily. Although we have good rain jackets with us, being experienced travelers, we of course left them in our luggage in Nong Khiaw. We buy two thin rain ponchos and are relieved when we finally sit back on the boat. Back in Nong Khiaw, the next surprise awaits us. Due to the rain, all paths except for the paved main road through the town have turned to mud.

Tomorrow, we head back to Luang Prabang!