Luang Namtha has a UNESCO controlled Namha National Biodiversity and Conservation Area. The group was going to do a full-day walk through this area. After a really good breakfast of wonderful toasted French baguettes, omelettes and coffee, we walked to Nam Ha Ecotourism Office to look at the local trekking maps, posters…View image… and get information from their guides. It would be an opportunity to learn about village lifestyles, silk weaving and the distilling of Lao Lao (rice whiskey).

Our trek would lead through rice paddies, fields and forested foothills, visit three minority villages, have lunch in one and return back to Luang Namtha at the end of the day. Once the day warmed up, it would be hot and Sue recommended lots of sunscreen, carry water, wear a hat, and bring Tevas, flip-flops or sandals along for the river crossings.

day trek map through villages around Luang Namtha, Laos
Into some tuk-tuks for a 15-minute ride to the trail head where we visited a local school to drop off supplies. …View image… At the school, three university students asked to walk with us to practice their English skills. The walk started along the rice terraces through the paddies. Several of our group managing to slip off the terraces and fall into the paddies (not a big drop – just embarrassing) — it’s usually uncoordinated me who does something like that, but not today…

walking on the rice terraces of Laos
Village #1 was populated by the Hmong (also called Yao) ethnic group. Their original homeland was Southern China and there are a number of big Hmong communities who settled in Minnesota as well as other countries around the world. This village was very poor and had some unique marriage rituals (more about that later). Our Hmong guide was 18 and his wife 12 when they were married, and a Hmong man can have up to five wives.

our Hmong guide in the center, Luang Namtha, Laos 

walking through the fields of Laos 

I haven’t a clue what these big oniony-looking shoots were, Laos
Crossed on rocks over a little stream with Sue extending a helping hand to those without any balancing ability…

crossing a small stream in Laos
…and arrived at Village #2 (Pieng Ngam), more prosperous, with 395 Thai Daeng people living there. …View image… The women raise silk worms and weave the silk into scarves to sell. It is a woman’s cooperative and everyone shares the profits. Silk worms had just hatched (very unusual to actually be there on the day they hatch) and the group helped enrich this village by doing some power-shopping. (The most expensive scarf may have been $8.00.)

newly hatched silk worms in Pieng Ngam Village, Laos 

weaving in Pieng Ngam, Laos 

 Which scarf to choose? Lynn and Caroline debating… in Pieng Ngam Village, Laos 

do many scarfs to choose from, Pieng Ngam Village, Laos
More Pieng Ngam…….