Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mrs Kanya's
Right off the main road, 800m north of the bus station 020 5568 1110.
Locals swear this big, bustling restaurant is Oudomxai's top choice for authentic Lao food.
Grab a seat at one of the shared tables and choose one of the wonderfully sour soups
(30,000K) and
larp
(50,000K), though bear in mind that anything with beef is likely to come
with big slabs of tripe. Huge portions.
Daily 6am-10pm.
Siso Bakery
Main road, 300m north of the bus station 020 2822 2298.
This sweet little
shop is a good place to stop for breakfast or lunch on your way to or from the bus station,
with fresh brioches and baguettes from 12,000K.
Daily 7am-7pm.
Souphailins
Just off the main road, 400m north of the tourist office (past the post office)
020 606 2474.
Half concealed behind thick vegetation, this gorgeous little palm-thatch res-
taurant feels like it's been transported from the hills, a world away from the busy Oudomxai
traffic. The
falang
-friendly northern Lao menu encompasses Western breakfasts and a good
selection of vegetarian dishes, though the food can be bland unless you ask for spice. Fried
chicken with cashew nuts 30,000K.
Daily 6am-9pm.
Muang La
Picturesquely set amid lush paddies on the banks of the Nam Phak River, the tranquil, pre-
dominantly Tai Leu village of
Muang La
is famous for its sacred Pha Singkham Buddha,
and makes an attractive day-trip from Oudomxai, or - with some superb accommodation - an
alternative base. The village is also renowned for
hot springs
, which retain a constant 43°C
and bubble up at various points alongside the river. The most popular bathing spot for locals
is the stone-walled pool by
Muang La Resort
's wooden suspension bridge, though for more
privacy try the indoor or outdoor baths at
Hotel Lhakham
.
Pha Singkham Temple
5000K
Situated on a low hill near
Muang La Resort
, the modern
PhaSingkhamTemple
is home to
one of the most venerated and potent Buddha images in Laos. Its story is a fascinating one of
Tolkienesque proportions, the ancient Buddha - according to legend, one of the five origin-
als cast in Sri Lanka - having survived numerous misadventures, from being sunk during a
river battle at nearby Pak Nam Noi to narrowly avoiding destruction during the Indochinese
War (luckily, the statue had been stashed in a nearby cave). The Buddha's special gift is one
of wish fulfillment: simply ask the statue what you desire and your wish will be granted -
though if it does, woe betide you if you fail to return within a year to make a contribution to
the temple.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: MUANG LA
By sawngthaew
Sawngthaews for Muang La depart at 8am from Oudomxai's sawngthaew
stand, just north of the river, returning at around 4pm (50min).
