Oudomxay, the heart of tourism in northern Laos

 

Statistics from the province’s Information, Culture and Tourism Department show that in 2014 some 187,240 people visited Oudomxay including 102,050 from overseas. Last year’s total of 215,448 visitors included 127,065 from overseas. Revenue earned from tourism amounted to more than US$12 million in 2015, compared to just US$3.7 million earned in 2005. 

 

The provincial authorities have continued to develop infrastructure and facilities at tourist sites, hoping to provide better services. The province has 106 tourist sites including 54 of natural beauty. Another 85 sites are waiting to be surveyed while only 21 sites have been completely surveyed. A total of 33 sites are already offering full services to visitors. 

 

According to the Oudomxay Tourist Information Centre, the provincial authorities are now gearing up to improve the road link from the town centre to Chom Ong cave and also the facilities around the site. The improvement project is being funded by the Asian Development Bank at a cost of more than US$14 million and is slated for completion in 2019. 

 

The hidden gem of Chom Ong cave is a recently rediscovered natural attraction located about 45km from Xay district centre near a Khmu village called Chom Ong. 

 

An official from the Oudomxay provincial tourism promotion unit, Vilaiphet Ounaphone, told Vientiane Times on Friday “Chom Ong cave is recognised as being one of the largest caves in Southeast Asia. It is nearly 16km long and is ranked at the sixth longest in the world. The longest cave in the world is 44km, according to a European survey team.”

 

“Near the cave is a home-stay for visitors that can accommodate about 20 people. If there are more they can stay with people in Chom Ong village. Besides exploring the cave, visitors can enjoy trekking, swimming in the river by the cave, and take part in the traditional dances and lifestyle of the Khmu ethnic group,” he said. 

 

The Oudomxay tourism website reports that the cave system stretches along a 4km long mountain ridge and has a parallel running and interconnecting fossil and river passage. It’s been explored to a length of 15,827km (preliminary) with several wide open side passages remaining. The exploration was done by the Lao-European Cave project. 

 

Oudomxay province now has 19 hotels, 68 guesthouses, four resorts and 188 restaurants. 

 

How to get Chom Ong cave: You can book a tour at the Tourist Information Centre in Oudomxay province or if you want to do it on your own, a car or motorbike can be rented in Xay town. There are two ways to get to the cave, either from the south or the north. The south route starts from Nasao village (on the way to Luang Prabang) and runs for about 45km, while the northern approach is on the way to Luang Namtha province. When you get to the KM24 marker at Nambortakai village, take the road on the left which is just after the village and with the sign “18km from the main road to the cave”.