Xaisomboun is Laos's 18th province, created December 13, 2013, about 230 km north of Vientiane. The US rates it Level 3 (Reconsider Travel), so most visitors should explore its history from
Advisory status (July 28, 2026 update): The US State Department rates Laos Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) and Xaisomboun Province Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) because of civil unrest. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the province, and travel insurance may not cover you there. Canada advises permission and caution around Long Tieng. Check each government site before you book.
What Xaisomboun is
Xaisomboun became Laos’s 18th province on December 13, 2013. Its capital is Anouvong District, and it also includes Longchaeng, Longxan, Hom, and Thathom districts. The province sits roughly 230 km
north of Vientiane in rugged highland country, and the Hmong are the majority population. From 1994 to 2006 it was administered as a special zone, which tells you how sensitive this territory has long been.
Why travelers search for it
Travelers who have already done Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang want a Laos with more depth. Xaisomboun offers three things the standard route does not: Secret War history at Long Tieng, living Hmong culture, and mountain landscape with karst, waterfalls, and a hot spring. That demand is real. It is also the reason honesty matters, because the province is not an open tourism destination.
The safety picture
The US State Department rates the province Level 3 because of civil unrest, and rates Laos as a whole Level 2. The UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Xaisomboun and warns that insurance
may be invalidated. Canada advises caution and permission, especially around Long Tieng. Brother Tours does not sell routine tours into the province. If an operator offers you one without mentioning these advisories, treat that as a warning sign.
What a responsible traveler does
First, read the three government advisories above. Second, confirm that your travel insurance covers the exact area. Third, understand that Long Tieng and Phou Bia require official permission and a licensed guide. Fourth, if the answer to any of these is no, build the same interests into a safer itinerary. Our article on Laos beyond the big three shows how.
What you can do instead
You can study the history and culture of the region from Vientiane, visit the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khouang for Secret War landscape, and meet Hmong communities in provinces with open access. A private itinerary with a local guide covers all three without the advisory exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Xaisomboun safe for tourists?
The US rates it Level 3 (Reconsider Travel) and the UK advises against all but essential travel. Most visitors should not go.
How far is Xaisomboun from Vientiane?
About 230 km to the north.
When did Xaisomboun become a province?
December 13, 2013, as Laos’s 18th province.
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