Oudomxai Tourist Attractions

Although most travellers who come to Oudomxai are simply passing through the town, using it as a transport hub to other places, for those who do choose to stay in the town for a few days, there are certainly some interesting things to check out while you're here.

The Provincial Tourism Office is a great place to check in to first to receive the most updated information on what to do in Oudomxai. They are located on the town’s main street, just about one kilometre away from the bus station. They can give you free maps highlighting the area’s most popular tourist attractions, and they have both bicycles and motorbike rentals available to aid in exploring.

The city centre itself has little to offer to tourists, but exploring the surrounding nature areas throughout the province can be delightful and rewarding.

Chom Ong Cave & Ban Chom Ong village

Chom Ong Cave, for example, is one such attraction, located about 45 km away from Oudomxai city just outside the village of Ban Chom Ong. This cave is the largest in northern Laos, with multiple tunnels, beautiful stalagmite formations, and a stream running through the cave. You can come here via tours offered through the Tourism Office, or you can arrive to Ban Chom Ong village on your own and arrange a tour guide yourself.

The entry fee is LAK10,000 per person, while the guide is LAK50,000 per group (a guide is needed to explore the cave, not just for general safety but also because the cave itself is behind a locked bamboo gate that will need to be opened by the guide).

Ban Chom Ong village itself is also lovely to spend a bit of time in, and can give you a glimpse into what authentic Lao village life looks like. There is one small guesthouse in the village that will cost you LAK50,000 per night. The easiest way to visit the cave and the village is through the tours from the Tourism Office, and the prices for these vary drastically depending on how many people are in your group and whether you choose a 1-day, 2-day, or 3-day tour option, so it's best to just check with the office to find out what your price will be. If you do decide to go on your own, you can rent a motorbike to make the drive to the village, but the road is very challenging even for experienced drivers, with very steep up-and-down hills and lots of ruts and bumps.

The Tourism Office also offers some nice hiking tours, including homestays with nearby villagers who are generally excited to have visitors to their homes. Just ask in the office about their various options for trekking tours.

Nam Kad Waterfall

Nam Kad Waterfall is a beautiful spot about 23 kilometres away from Oudomxai town. The waterfall itself is nice and the water is cold to swim in, but its location in the nearly untouched jungle is what makes this place so special. You can reach Nam Kad by motorbike simply by following signs for the waterfall out of town, and then turning right at Ban Faen village and driving down to the end of the road, then walking about 30 minutes to get to the actual waterfall.

Oudomxai City Attractions

In the city itself, Oudomxai museum has a few items to look through, mostly just showcasing the history of Oudomxai. For most travellers, the best part of the museum will probably be the view over the city from Phou Sebey, the mountain on which the museum is located.

Opposite the museum are steps to Phou That Stupa, where you can find a tall golden Buddha, another great view over the city, and meet with monks who like to practice their English. The stupa was originally built in the 14th century, but was destroyed through wars and rebuilt again in the 90s.