Sam Neua is the capital of Hua Phan province, in the north-east of Laos. De town has an airport and lies in a valley, near the Vietnamese border. Residents are mostly Lao, Vietnamese and Hmong, along with some Tai Dam, Tai Daeng and Tai Lu. Sam Neua sits in a small picturesque valley, a town of white concrete houses topped with red roofs, surrounded by the vibrant green of young rice fields and the grey-green of the mountains.

From Sam Neua, it is possible to visit the Vieng Xai caves, the headquarters of the Pathet Lao during the Vietnam war. Very impressive, and certainly worth a visit.