Crossing the river on the track between the two Akha villages in the NamHa protected area, Ban Nammat Gao and Ban Nammat Mai.
BNG was on one of the first tourist treks developed by the UNESCO sponsored NamHa eco-tourism pilot project, introducing a new model of tourism into Laos.
The purpose was primarily to raise the income of villagers (What is now called pro-poor tourism) by bringing in income through responsible tourism. I visited BNG and its sister village Ban Nammat Mai, about 4 or five times. Unfortunately, the authorities decided in 2004 to re-locate the village outside the NamHa protected area closer to the road. The photos of BNG and BNM are now all that remains of the two villages.

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