Nalae is a mountainous district located in the southwest of Luang Namtha Province. It is bisected lengthways by the Namtha River, a traditional trading route to other towns and provinces. Nalae District has historically been a pivot point for transporting goods along the Namtha River, as it meanders 325km from the Chinese frontier through the Namtha River Valley. Further south, the river flows towards the Mekong River and Thailand’s Chiang Rai.

The majority of the people in Nalae district are of Mon-Khmer origin (82%), comprised of the Khmu Rok, Khmu Kouene, Khmu Leu, and Khmu Yuen sub-groups, with the remainder of the population being Tai Leu.

With 98% of land in Nalae being mountainous for the most part people practice rotational shifting cultivation on a subsistence basis. Resettlement has been a changing part of community life, with many villages being consolidated or moved closer to the Luang Namtha road and to the river banks.

Nalae Town

Today, Nalae Town plays an import role in distributing goods and providing communication to smaller villages up and down the Namtha River. Nalae town is home to Khmu and Tai Lue communities who have settled along the river. Like many of the ethnic groups in northern Laos, the Khmu are not Buddhist, but practice their own form of animism.

Nalae Mountain Adventures
Explore the mountains around Nalae on a trek to caves and waterfalls, a cycling tour to a homestay, or a kayaking expedition down the Namtha River. You can go on a guided trek to caves hidden in the jungle near Pha Hu village and Pherng village, follow a trail to a waterfall on Nam Nuang Stream, or hike on a path to Vard village on the Namtha River.

Khone Kham Village – Handicraft Village
To travel to Khonekham Village you can travel down the Namtha River 35 km by boat from Nalae Town. The village was first supported in 2002 by New Zealand Aid by the way of equipment for weaving looms, a boat landing, Eco-lodge, better water supply and human resources development.

Namkoud Caves
Namkoud Caves are located in the north of Nalae District, 13 km away from the town.  Starts from the office at 9:00 AM with a 90 minute by Tuk Tuk through the nice views to the caves. The 5 hectares, the area contains many interesting and beautiful caves drilled into the limestone karsts formations surrounding. Three caves are opened for you to explore,  this area is located inside the jungle of the Nam Ha National Protected Area.