Xe Bang Fai Cave is the main attraction of Hin Nam No National Park. Villagers used to believe it was the spring of the Xe Bang Fai river and the house of a benevolent spirit that would protect the villagers collecting swallow nests and bats inside the cave. The cave is almost 12 kilometers in length, some 76 meters high and 56 meters wide, it is considered to be one of the largest sustained river passages in the world with enormous caverns decorated with highly impressive structures and spectacular natural decorations. The boat service group of Nong Ping village provides tours with a paddle boat inside the cave of about 1h30, where you can climb up one of the side chambers until a balcony overlooking the entrance rocks. For those looking for a more adventurous experience, Green Discovery travel agency provides tours through the full cave with inflating kayaks, with the possibility of camping and trekking from/to the upper entrance (https://greendiscoverylaos.com/) When visiting the cave, you can stay in the brand new Nong Ping village campsite, in cosy bungalows or fully furnished tents next to the river beach surrounded by limestone karsts.

The best way to access to the Xe Bang Fai cave is to take a long-tailed wooden boat from Ban Pakphanang. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy a one hour and half scenic journey through the Nam Phanang and Xe Bang Fai rivers surrounded by mountains, forest, fields, and water buffalos. When travelling by motorbike, you can either park your bike safely in Ban Pakphanang and come back the same day or the day after to continue your adventure, or put your bike on the boat so you can enjoy the surroundings of Nong Ping village. You can also reach Nong Ping by road, using the bac service to cross the river and drive the 30km left.

The Houay Hok stream flows through 3 caves upstream of Ban Thongxam, and there are different trails options from the village through the jungle and the limestone karsts. These moderately difficult treks can take you to Pak Tham cave, a small cave filled of water, perfect for swimming, where the locals say a giant shrimp is living in the deep pool at its entrance. Heading north is Nok Aen cave: This cave is named after the swallows (Nok Aen), which you can see flying around the cave together with bats. The large branch of the cave with the skylight used to house about 3,000 North Vietnamese soldiers and local villagers during the war. Reach finally the Nam Ork cave, resurgence of the stream, where you can observe the impressive boulder ceiling and wildlife tracks in the sand. On the cliffs next to the cave, you might be lucky to spot the blacks langurs drinking some fresh water at Koun Talee (small spring on the cliff) or eating on the trees (early morning or late afternoon) Half-day, Full-Day (from early morning), and 2 days and 1 night (camp in the jungle) treks are available.

7km from Nong Ping to Bualapha you can find Xieng Lue waterfall (The Famous Sound waterfall). Drive 4 km from the main road until a restaurant by the river where you can park, and enjoy a peaceful trek in the jungle for about 30 minutes until you will hear and see this beautiful 80 meters fall.

Mu Gia Pass is famous for being the principal entry point into Laos of the 16000km series of paths known as the Ho Chi Minh trail. It is estimated that 75% of all truck traffic, carrying supplies from North Vietnam, destined for Viet Cong revolutionary forces in south Vietnam came through this narrow valley.

Even if the testimonies of the past are getting rare, you can still witness the history of the “Secret War” in these villages, on your way between Ban Langkhang (main road) and Ban Pakphanang (boat to Xe Bang Fai Cave). From Langkhang you can head to the Vietnamese border to enjoy the picturesque views of the Mu Gia Pass and then to Ban Nongboua to visit nearby caves used for hiding during the war and enjoy a short trail to Tad Songsou waterfall.

Continue your trip and visit Ban Phanop located at a ford on the Nam Ngo River. You can observe the remains of a crashed US war plane at the temple. This wing of this plane has been used as a billboard for the school for years during and after the war.

Head south to Ban Vangkhone to witness one of the most bombed area of the Ho Chi Minh trail. During the war the villagers moved 2km away, next to caves. They came back to their village after the war, which is now overlapped with bomb craters that they use as fish ponds in rainy season and to grow vegetables in dry season.

Continue with Ban Senphan where people are famous for their scrap metal collection skills. Even if they are selling this metal to Vietnamese to increase their small income, you can still make a small walk in the village with a local guide and observe many remnants of the war recycled: boats, planters, ladders, planks for houses and more made of bombs and plane parts.

From Ban Nongboua on the Ho Chi Minh trail, hire a local guide to take you to Tad Songsou at the base of Phou Cheuang Mountain, about half an hour from the village through the fields. This 20-meters high waterfall has water flowing all year round for a refreshing swim on your trip. According to the local legend, its name comes from the fact that a couple, hindered by parental disapproval of their marriage, chose the solemn path of jumping from these falls to die together.

In the early morning or late afternoon (be in the village at 5:30am or 5pm), walk a short trail to Pha Koud (Monkey Rock) from Ban Nongseng traditional village with local guides. You will have the chance to spot the Assamese Macaques eating leaves and fruits in the trees next to the mountain or just jumping and playing on the rocks.