Upon leaving the town, we board Nava Mekong boat and cruise up on the Mekong River to Pakbeng, a lively village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the small Nam Beng River. The Hmong and Thai ethnic people are frequently seen on the main street of Pakbeng and small vendors along the street sell local textiles and handicraft. Along the way, we visit the mysterious of Pak Ou Caves. These caves are crammed with thousands of gold lacquered Buddha statues of various shapes and sizes, all brought here by devoted villagers. O/N at Villa Salika. (L,D)

The morning market of Pakbeng also attracts a wide array of hill tribe people who converge from the outlying valleys and hillsides to sell their goods and buy provision. After an enjoyable walk around this congregation we re-embark on our boat for a trip towards Houei Xay, a border town close to the famous Golden Triangle. The pace is very relaxed, a perfect way to observe rural life close up. We stop over at Ban Houeilampen to visit the Hmong hill tripe people. They are very poor, but have an interesting culture and a colorful history. The trip ends arrival at Chiang Khong.(B,L)