Pakbeng

Pak Beng (Lao: ປາກແບ່ງ) is a small village in Laos, on the Mekong River about halfway between the Thai border at Huay Xai and Luang Prabang, Laos. Pakbeng is connected by a sealed road with Oudomxai along the Nam Beng River.

Geography

Pakbeng had its main road paved in 2005 and also just completed a hydroelectric station downriver thanks to a World Bank loan. Before then, the town was dependent on electrical generators for electricity.

There is a small wat to be found in the hills not far from the village. It is a quaint example of a Buddhist temple from the former Lanna Kingdom. Many of the old temples had been destroyed during wars with the Thai Kingdom 300 years before.

Understand

This small village lays half-way between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang, perched high on the banks of the Mekong River. You will likely be in Pakbeng because the two-day boat between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang has to stop for the night, and a number of guesthouses have been set up to cater for the passing tourists. It`s also the eastern end of Road 2, originating in Udom Xai. To call Pakbeng sleepy is an understatement. It's quiet to the point of being dead. Still there are sufficient restaurants for one pleasant night.

24 hour electricity arrived relatively recently in Pakbeng, but you'll still experience regular power outages (bring a torch or mobile) and find most of the town is shut down by 22:00. What Pakbeng does have to offer is a good night's sleep and sunset views over a particularly scenic stretch of the Mekong.

Tourism

There are several small guesthouses that generally have attached restaurants, a sauna, and many local hill tribes living close by. Groceries can be purchased for when you want to continue down the Mekong. Some foreign tourists passing through the village partake in the (illegal) trade in both marijuana and opium that has been a part of the culture for thousands of years.

Sleep

• Pak Beng Lodge, French-run hotel offering smart rooms, river views from the balcony and French wine in their restaurant.

• Luang Say Lodge, The only "up-market" option, offering luxury bungalows mostly for passengers on the:

•  Luang Say cruise ship. Embark on a 2 day discovery journey along the course of inaccessible jungle & mountains of the mighty Northern Mekong, the lifeblood of Laos, and spend the night in the Luang Say Lodge. Cruise departure from Luang Prabang or Houei Say. Info & booking; Please follow the link below.
• Pheksokxai Lodge, if you have entered Pakbeng by slow boat from Hoayxay then when you get out of the boat and walk up the sort of drive/road leading down to the port then turn left almost following the road out of the town and into the mountains you see the Pheksokxai Lodge which has very basic rooms with a non-functioning TV and a bathroom that in its whole is the shower area but the lodge has a fantastic pavilion, great views of the river and the mountains as well as a great balcony, plus a nice restaurant with spicy noodles and bamboo shoots
• The guest houses in Pakbeng are all along the main street, just hundred metres away from the boat docking area.

Stay Safe

Pakbeng is in the Golden Triangle, and in the midst of one of the world's drugs production areas. From the moment you set your foot in Pakbeng, you will be offered weed and opium, cocaine and amphetamines, the latter usually Burmese in origin. If you are stupid enough to buy anything, you are highly likely to soon be approached by a different person with a police badge. It cannot be stressed enough; when in Asia, stay away from drugs!!

Opium is not legal. Smoking it is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison. Possession of less than a kilogram can bring a sentence of 2 to 7 years. In the early 2000s, Laos introduced the death penalty for serious drug offenses. Previously the maximum sentence was 10 years in prison. Under Lao law the death penalty by firing squad is mandatory for possession of over 500 grams of heroin.

Get in

Most visitors will have to stop here over-night on the slow-boat trip to/from Luang Prabang. It`s also possible to arrive by speedboat en route to the north. Much more uncomfortable than the slow boat, however you will arrive before the slowboat so you have the option of choosing a guesthouse and showering with no queues. You also get to see the town as the only Westerner. Another possibility is to reach the place by bus-- this is a rough and long option.

By boat

The boat landing is at the end of Rd 2 on the Mekong. Slow boats leave in the morning in both directions. They depart when full but expect to start at around 09:00. Arrive early to get one of the better seats (as far away from the loud engine as possible). The dropping off boat normally arrives at about 17:00, but this is Laos, so bear in mind that this is a guideline. Laos transportation departs when the driver can be bothered. It's best just to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. And have a beer, of course.

By bus

Pick-ups make the trip to Udom Xai around 07:00 and leave at the northern end of town on Rd 2.

A bus leaves at 12:00 from Muang Ngeun (near the Thai-Lao border), costs 30,000 kip, and takes 1.5 hours.

Get around

There are only a few streets, so walk around. Most of the guesthouses are along the first 50 m of the main street as you head up the bank.

With the roads and particularly the rocky bank just above the boat landing being very steep, it might seem tempting to accept an offer for someone to carry your bag for you. Just ensure that if you do so you agree on the size of the tip beforehand.

Do

Mekong Elephant Camp: located along the Mekong River opposite the town of Pakbeng city, the Mekong Elephant Camp is in a natural setting and shows the role of the elephant in Lao culture. Program: elephant bathing, demonstration of traditional activities, walks in the surrounding forest. Designed as an ecotourism project, the Mekong Elephant Camp promotes sustainable tourism.

See

There is nothing much to see except the mighty Mekong and rural Laos life.

A couple of local wats (temples) may interest temple enthusiast.

• Wat Khok Koh. 
• Wat Sin Jong Jeang. 

Find a bed, eat something and sleep and prepare for another day on the boat.

Source http://wikitravel.org/en/Pak_Beng

Cruise : +856 71 252 304 http://www.luangsay.com/