Nestled in the heart of the Golden Triangle, Bokeo is the country’s smallest province and is full of diverse wildlife, magnificent temples and more than 30 recognised ethnic groups. Bokeo is best known for its lovely colonial architecture, as well as its fascinating tribal villages.
Things to do in Bokeo
Animal enthusiasts will love Bokeo. The Bokeo Nature Reserve was created to protect the endangered black-crested gibbon and is one of only a handful of places in the world where you can see them. Zipline through the canopy to get an eye-level view of the creatures or sleep in a treehouse where you can hear them singing their early-morning songs.
Huay Xai, the provincial capital, has enough attractions to keep you amused for a day or two, including a Chinese-style temple and French-built Fort Carnot. Shop for local crafts in town, such as sapphires, which are mined in the area.
Do you love to get off the beaten path? The ancient city of Souvannakhomkham is barely known outside Laos, a network of temples and stupas that houses one of the country’s biggest Buddha statues. You can get there from Huay Xai along the Mekong river on a picturesque boat ride.
Getting around Bokeo
It’s a 10-hour drive from the ancient capital of Luang Prabang to Huay Xai taken by car or bus. For a unique way to travel, take a sleeper berth on a slow boat up the Mekong river, which takes two days.