Laos Luang Namtha Province

Muang Sing or Mueang Sing is a small town and district in Luang Namtha Province, northwestern Laos. It lies very close to the border with Yunnan, China, surrounded by mountains and rivers. Historically, Mueang Sing has been a major producer of opium. A notable Buddhist centre, with a dramatic growth in temples since the 1980s, it is popular with trekkers in northern Laos. Most of the houses in the district are built in the traditional style with wooden beams, raised off of the ground on stilts and covered with thatched/bamboo roofs. The locals, especially the Tam Dao and Tai Lue people, are adept at silk and cotton weaving.

Louang Namtha is the capital of Luang Namtha Province in northern Laos. The city lies on the Tha River (Nam Tha). Luang Namtha is the largest settlement in northwest Laos, north of Luang Prabang. It is a popular tourist destination, and a base for treks, biking to the surrounding hilltribe villages. The Luang Namtha Museum is in the town.