Pakbeng sits midway between Huay Xai and Luang Prabang on the Mekong. As the river was once the only major transport route in the country, Pakbeng developed as an overnight stop for both cargo and passenger ferries. Set in a scenic spot where the Nam Beng flows into the Mekong (Pak means mouth and Beng is the name of the river), the town itself doesn’t have a lot to offer except a number of guesthouses and restaurants that have sprung up catering to travellers who almost all depart early the next morning. But don’t dismiss Pakbeng as simply a transit point to get to Thailand or Luang Prabang. For those looking to go further afield in Laos, the town is a corridor to interesting possibilities. It’s a relatively easy bus ride to Udomxai, gateway to the north: Muang La, Muang Khua, Phongsali and Nong Kiaow.