Chiang Khong (เชียงของ) was historically an important market town for local communities and for trade with northern Laos. Travelers have long passed through this riverine settlement en route to and from Laos. But since 2013, when a bridge over the Mekong River connecting Chiang Khong to Huay Xai in Laos was opened, fewer people are spending the night here. Nevertheless, there's still a small backpacker scene with quite a number of guesthouses and a few restaurants and bars. From Huay Xai, it’s a two-day slow boat or a 14-hour bus trip to Luang Prabang. It's also possible to travel quickly and easily to Yunnan Province in China from Huay Xai.