Louang Namtha is the capital of Louang Namtha Province, Laos. Also known as Luang Namtha or Luang Nam Tha, the town is the largest settlement in Laos north of Luang Prabang and is popular with tourists interested in organizing treks to the surrounding hill-tribe villages.
The city lies on the Tha River (Nam Tha) and, in rainy season, can be reached by boat from the Mekong River. It is connected by Highway 3 to both the Thai border at Huay Xai/Chiang Khong (197 km) and the Chinese border at Boten/Mengla (~60 km). Louang Namtha is also served by Louangnamtha Airport, 6 km south of the city.

Luang Namtha’s weather is determined by the surrounding Himalayan foothills. In other words it is mountain weather. For most of the year, excepting the hot season from March – May, the mornings are overcast and sometimes foggy. This usually burns off as the day wears on. However, this means that one almost never sees a sunrise in Luang Namtha. The sunsets more than make up for that loss.

The temperature is quite comfortable- neither too hot or too cold. While it can get hot it is not oppressive. If you come between November – February, don’t forget to bring warm clothes as it does get a wee chilly. The hottest months are March to May. And the rainy season begins in May and ends in October.