Most travellers heading north to Muang Sing via Oudomxai and Louang Namtha begin their journey in Louang Phabang and head up Route 13 to the junction town of Pakmong . Here, a change of vehicle takes you northwest along Route 1 to OUDOMXAI , also known as Muang Xai, an important transport hub at the junction of Route 1 and Route 4. Buses and pick-ups run in all directions . All vehicles leave early (between 6am and 9am) and by noon the vacant lot that serves as a bus station, in the middle of the town on the main road, is all but empty.

Oudomxai is a popular springboard into Laos for Chinese tourists as well as traders, and the town's hotels and karaoke lounges readily accept Chinese yuan. The town has few sights, but makes a perfect rest-stop between Louang Phabang and Muang Sing, with 24-hour electricity, laundry service, hot water, fruit smoothies and frozen yoghurt. There's even traditional massage (10,000K per hour) and a herbal sauna (5000K) available at a little shop on the main road, across from the Kaysone monument (Mon-Fri 4-8pm, Sat & Sun 8am-8pm; bring a sarong). The Lane Xang Bank is 0.5km north of the market. Dollars, yuan and dollar travellers' cheques are easily converted into kip, but credit card advances are not possible.