Travel and Transport Info for Sam Neua (Xam Neua), Laos by Hobo Maps - - - Home

Click to see our Sam Neua Town maps

Sam Neua can be spelled as Xam Neua and both are pronounced as "Sam Nah". It is the capital of the Province of Houaphan which is pronounced as "Hooa Pawn".

Sam Neua town images below:

Visiting Sam Neua (Xam Neua)
- Sam Neua is a nice clean modern town off the main tourist trail which makes it an interesting place to visit. There's a strong governmental influence here as it's the Huaphan Province capital and the "birthplace of the Lao PDR". Visitors have several good accommodation options at reasonable prices but few good dining options. English is a rare commodity in Huaphan Province. The town is small enough to walk to all places. The area outside of town is rather hilly and scenic and a nice river runs thru town with good hiking along the river as it flows south out of town.

We found no nightlife in Sam Neua and no internet service except for WiFi at some hotels with your own device.

The Provincial Tourism Office in central Sam Neua is open Monday to Friday, 08.30-12.00 and 13.30-16.00. The office has recently moved to the Culture Hall at grid code HF169 on our Hobo Map.

See our Hobo Map of Sam Neua HERE .

Air Travel
- Sam Neua has an airport referred to as Nathong Airport which sometimes has flights to Vientiane but very often does not. Try here - http://www.laoskyway.com/en .

Bus Transport
- Sam Neua has two bus stations. The Phou Tanou Bus Station is located about 1 km southwest of town on a hilltop and is often referred to as the Upper Station. It has buses going to Phonsavanh, Nong Kiew, Vieng Thong, Luang Prabang, Vientiane and Vietnam with indirect connections to Oudom Xai, Luang Namtha and Huay Xai. The Nathong bus station is located about 4 km northeast of town and has mostly smaller buses going east to Vieng Xay, Sop Hao, Muang Et, Nam Nua and Ma Meo at the Vietnam border. We haven't found any English language bus schedules at the Nathong bus station.

Bus Schedule below was posted at the Phou Tanau Bus Station (Upper Station) June 2019

Bus Schedule below from tourism office is for departures from the Phou Tanau Bus Station (Upper Station) as of January 2017. But the buses to Vietnam stopped running in mid 2020 due to border closures.

Bus Schedule below from tourism office is for departures from Nathong Bus Station (Lower Station) as of January 2017

Nameo Border Crossing Info picture below from Tourism Office January 2017. But the buses to Vietnam stopped running in mid 2020 due to border closures.

Sam Neua Hintang-style Monument below.