Xienghone District
Land of Peace
Xienghone
Bookended by Ngeun and Khop Districts, Xienghone’s mountains expose caves, waterfalls, and one of the region’s oldest stupas.
Attractions
A rugged southern mountain passage with river crossings at Ban Dong Village, about 6 km west of the Ngeun border, leads to Houay Sakhaeng’s waterfall plunging down a green-lined, rocky flume. Before reaching Ban Dong, stop at Ban Moksatour and check out Khmu weaving. *Avoid during the rainy season.
Continue west on Route 4A from Ban Dong for 16 km to Xienghone District center and the 700-year-old Xienglom Stupa. From here, a 2–km drive heads to Ban Kham, a river crossing, and up a little slope to Vat Otoumkham. Explore the Ban Kham cave and stay at the forest for a meditation session.
Xienglom Stupa
Ethnic groups migrated via southern China to Xienghone municipal center hundreds of years ago, and established villages united by the Lane Xang Kingdom into Xienglom (City of Wind). According to local lore, the residents’ ancestors were hunting and stumbled into a 27-meter-tall stupa on a 40 m2 square base.
A stone inscription, housed inside Vat Xienglom Temple, states the Burmese-style stupa was built in 1304, and every year on the full moon of the Buddhist calendar’s 5th month, ethnic Yuan and Tai Lue from 10 surrounding villages pay homage at the site, and celebrate for seven days.
Good to Know
Where to Sleep?
Where to Eat?
Getting There
Xienghone-bound song taews leave Hongsa for Ngeun at around 08:00, but only continue the 50 km to Xienghone if passenger numbers justify the trip. Some Hongsa guesthouses can arrange private transport.
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