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Decades of war and neglect have done their part to keep this isolated region in far northern Laos from developing and have unwittingly preserved a way of life that has virtually vanished in neighbouring countries. The hills and mountains up here have long been the domain of a scattering of animist tribal peoples , including the Hmong, Mien and Akha, and it is largely the chance to experience first-hand these near-pristine cultures that is drawing visitors to the region today. By far the most popular route out of Louang Phabang is the road through Oudomxai and Louang Namtha to Muang Sing , a laid-back Tai Leu town that lies within the borders of the Golden Triangle, the world's most notorious opium-producing zone. Of late, Muang Sing has become a popular base for trekking, owing to its decent accommodation and easy access to Akha, Mien and Tai Dam villages. Travellers en route to China are allowed to cross at Boten , reached by bus from Louang Namtha or Oudomxai. From Muang Sing the road leads southwest to the village of Xiangkok on the Mekong, the launching point for speedboats to Houayxai , an official border crossing with Thailand . Many travellers exit Laos here after completing their trip around the north, but it's also possible to come full circle and return to Louang Phabang via a memorable Mekong-boat journey . The usual direction of the loop is counter-clockwise (Louang Phabang-Oudomxai-Muang Sing-Xiangkok-Houayxai), but a clockwise route, heading north up the Mekong to Xiangkok first, could offer a more "Lao" experience.
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