This is another place that can take a long time to reach. From either Nong Khiaw or Luang Prabang, a bus to the town of Sam Neua will take about 14 hours. (Or you can fly from Vientiane into Nong Khang Airport, about 30 km / one hour’s drive away — taxis wait when airplanes are arriving). Another hour’s drive (most likely on a guided tour from Sam Neua) will bring you to this cave complex which was the headquarters of the Pathet Lao Communist guerrillas throughout the American war.

The story, the history of what they sacrificed and how they persevered through worse bombing than Germany or Japan suffered in World War II, is amazing.  And the caves are quite scenic in places. But is it worth travelling so far? If you’re only going to the Caves then I don’t think so, especially if you will see all the stunning caves on the Thakhek Motorcycle Loop as well as the Phatok caves very conveniently located in Nong Khiaw, which housed a regional Pathet Lao HQ. But, if you will combine this with some trekking in Nam Et-Phou Louey National Park (see below), then the long travel time becomes much more justified.

You could also visit here while en route between Luang Prabang and Hanoi, crossing the border at Na Meo/Nam Soy. Note that the direct bus between Hanoi and LP does not go this way — it takes a more southerly route via Phonsavan. But by taking multiple buses and changing where necessary, you can do this. Buy your bus tickets for each leg of your trip locally, the day before you want to travel. Your guesthouse will be able to tell you what buses you need and when they depart. If Luang Prabang, Hanoi and either Sam Neua or Nam Et-Phou Louey are all in your plans, then this is the right choice.

En route from either Luang Prabang or Nong Khiaw to Sam Neua, you will pass through Muang Khiam, the gateway town to Nam et-Phou Louey National Park. I personally have not been there, but I hear good things about it and it’s high on my list for my next visit. Apparently this is (along with the Gibbon Experience) a very rare place where you can still hear and see wild animals in Laos — mainly birds (ground animals are pretty much gone as far as I know). The guided Night Safari (on the river after dark) comes highly recommended. Expect basic accomodation and good food, with great guides.

I have been warned that when travelling from Nong Khiaw to either Muang Khiam or Sam Neua, the bus is often so crowded by the time it arrives in Nong Khiaw that you physcially cannot get on it. For that reason, it’s better to first take a bus from Nong Khaiw one hour west to Pakmong (i.e. in exactly the wrong direction — all buses between LP and Nong Khiaw stop in Pakmong, so this is very easy to do). Then from Pakmong you have a better chance of squeezing on to the eastbound bus to Muang Khiam and Sam Neua. It wastes a few hours, but it is apparently the right thing to do, unless you can afford to hire a private driver.