Muang Long

Muang Long is a city in Northern Laos.

The small town of Muang Long is the administrative centre of Long District, a mountainous district west of Muang Sing that shares a 50 km-long border with Myanmar. Around ten different ethnic groups live in the district, including the Akha, who are the most numerous, the Tai Lue, the Hmong, and the Lahu.

The town itself may be relatively uninteresting to most travellers, but treks to the numerous surrounding minority villages can offer very unadulterated experiences of local minority life.

Muang Long lies between Muang Sing (45 km) and Xieng Kok (35 km).

There are buses from Muang Sing (at 09:00, 11:00, 13:?? and 15:30 for 30.000 Kip) and Xieng Kok.

A daily bus leaves from the district bus station in Luang Namtha around 08:00–08:30 in the morning, although you should be there by 07:30 to guarantee a seat. Tickets from/to Luang Namtha are 60,000 kip, and the trip takes 3–4 hours.

Trekking. The town sees even fewer visitors than in previous years these days, but the Tourist Information Office around 600 m east of the bus station remains open most days and organizes 2-5-day treks to the surrounding villages.

Family restaurant across the street from Thatsany Guesthouse and the Chinese supermarket, with the English word "Restaurant" in its sign. Good fried rice for 20,000 kip and a selection of other Lao dishes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but may close around 19:00. No English spoken, but a menu on the wall has English translations.

Noodle soup stands at the Eastern end of the market for a good breakfast or lunch for 10,000 kip.

There are a couple of other restaurants by the Eastern entrance to the market.

The market has fresh vegetables and fruit, as well as some fried items and ready-made sauces and dishes.

Fanta Club near the bus station attracts locals at night.

Some roadside stalls have karaoke.

• Siseng. A new brick building with 6 rooms. Every room has a fan, private squat-toilet, and hot water bath. 40,000 kip. 
• Thatsany Guesthouse. Probably the nicest accommodation in town. 80,000 kip for double, 100,000 kip for twin with two large beds. Large, comfortable rooms, private bathrooms with Western toilets and hot showers. 400 meters east of the bus station on the main road, Route 17B.
• Cola Guesthouse. Fairly new two-storey guesthouse 450 meters east of the bus station.

• Muang Sing 2-3 times a day from the local bus station. 25,000 kip, 1-1.5 hours.
• Xieng Kok. Can be reached negotiating a motorbike or car ride. If you made it that far, ask Mr Tui Chidala at Muang Long tourist info office (very helpful, He can also tailor a guided motorbike route to the tribal areas to the north). Foreign travellers are extremely few and far between there and onwards.

In March 2025, it was possible to catch a ride in a cargo boat down the Mekong to Ban Mom. In Xieng kok there is a new hotel by the river facing Myanmar and a few shops and basic eateries around the T crossroad 400 mt. inland. To wait for a boat ride go to the police station by the river and ask the officers to help you. They are in touch with oncoming boats by walkie talkie. If you get lucky (I waited for 6 hours), hop on board and negotiate in a friendly way the price during the trip (about 4-5 hours). You ll be taken to report to the police station on arrival to Ban Mom. Ask there if someone driving to Houaxai can take you. A taxi can be arranged but it will cost much more. This is an awesome river trip with Myanmar's guerrillas and narc groups* on the right riverbank, and Lao's remote hills and small gold digging operations on the left. A world away from the tame trekkings in Namtha, possibly one of the last few real adventures one can still palate in Laos. Hardliner travelers only.

• They don't want to attract unwanted attention from the police & army. Local cargo long boats are never bothered apparently.