Nong Khiaw Float House: Is It Worth the Stay? [Honest Review!]
The Float House is one of the most unique places to stay in Laos, situated on the (mostly) calm waters of the Nam Ou River. This river winds through Northern Laos, connecting a handful of waterside towns like Nong Khiaw and Muang Ngoi, before heading all the way to to Luang Prabang via a serpentine waterway.
Admittedly, getting to Nong Khiaw is not for the faint of heart. My trip involved getting packed like sardines, 20 people into a 15-person minivan (and refusing the 21st person that the driver kept trying to cram in). To make matters worse, the van’s side door kept opening, threatening to make the person sitting next to the door (on a cushion without a seatbelt, mind you) fall out.
Upon reaching Nong Khiaw, the memory of the challenging journey was quickly replaced by the breathtaking beauty of the town. A paper-thin blanket of cloudy mist clung to the tops of the lush green karst towers, creating a scene that was truly out of this world.
As I stepped into Nongkhiaw The Float House, located almost a kilometer outside of town down a bumpy dirt track road, the minor trauma of the journey there was briefly forgotten.
With a warm cup of coffee in hand, I was greeted by the serene view of the river that would be all mine for the next two nights, and I was so glad to have made the journey…
… despite the lower back pain from sitting in a terrible minivan seat, crushed 4 people to a 3 people row. Luckily, that would quickly be fixed by the lovely ladies at Tapom, the best massage shop I visited in all of Laos.
Good to know: If you want a more interesting journey back, you can do a multi-day kayak trip all the way from Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang. You’ll travel by kayak with just a day pack, and a separate car will bring your belongings to Luang Prabang for you. I didn’t do this as I didn’t have time, but it seems like it’d be such a magical adventure! Many different tour operators in Nong Khiaw main town can organize this for you, so just ask.
Table of Contents
The Room and Amenities
Four floating bungalows are available at The Float House, and I stayed in the one closest to the bridge and town. There was occasionally some noise from the passing boats, but it felt like part of the charm. They provide ear plugs if the sound of motors will bother you.
The room itself is absolutely gorgeous, with crisp white walls and bedding, a sweepingly high ceiling, and a ceiling fan—though the fan is mostly for show, as the room has perfectly crisp A/C. There’s also a desk area with coffee/tea-making supplies if you need to work. The Wi-Fi worked surprisingly great for the location—it was actually some of the best Wi-Fi I had in Laos!
The bathroom was super modern, with marble detailing, a rain shower, a gorgeous bathtub, and a bath tray so you could have tea or a book while you took a bath, looking out on the river!
This sort of attention to detail made me love my stay at the Float House even more. And of course, they provided lovely robes, which were so much fun to wear while I lounged on the patio.
Oh, the patio — the main reason I ended up booking this place!
I loved the catamaran-style net hammock over the river and ended up spending hours out there. There are also two deck chairs and a small table to eat outside while the sun sets.
The kitchen staff will bring food from the restaurant to you for no additional charge, and prices are very reasonable, comparable to a restaurant in town.
There’s also a ladder on the deck if you go swimming in the Nam Ou river, and they provide life jackets (and request that you wear them for safety).
I opted not to because it was pretty rainy while I was visiting which made the current of the river very strong, but it’s an option… and probably a very good one if you are visiting outside of the rainy season!
Convinced yet? Check if there’s availability at Nongkhiaw The Float House here!
The Backstory
The Float House is a relative newcomer to the scene in Laos, and it fills a nice gap in the market: relatively affordable but personalized stays that are a step above guesthouses but less stuffy and impersonal than resorts.
Opened in November 2023, this brand-new accommodation still feels squeaky and shiny in all the best ways: the bedding is super luxurious, the white paint is practically still glistening, and the bathroom is so modern you’ll be shocked that this level of luxury is possible on a floating platform. It puts every bathroom I’ve ever had to shame!
The accommodation is uniquely designed quite literally to float on water, hence the name! As a bonus, it is Laotian-owned and designed by a Laotian architect — something that is worth highlighting in a country that has a lot of foreign investment that doesn’t always trickle down to the locals. It’s the only hotel of its kind in Laos, and you really get the sense that you’re staying somewhere special when you feel boats come down the river and the house sways ever-so-gently.
Value for Money
In general, I think the Float House offers exceptional value for money. I paid $65 USD per night when booking via Booking.com, but I have seen other reviews saying that they paid $100 USD per night in the high season (my visit was in June).
Yes, the Float House is expensive compared to other accommodations in Laos. I usually spend $20-25 USD per night for a private room with A/C in Laos, which beats that by a factor of three.
However, as per the architect, the construction costs on water are three times higher than the same constructions for land-based buildings. They needed to hire specialized engineers to calculate the weight of the floating houses, install underwater tanks, wire the houses correctly, etc. It’s a lot of work!
They also used high-quality building materials like teak and marble to give it a really impressive finish, and that doesn’t come cheaply either.
In my opinion, it’s absolutely worth the cost for what you get and for how unique it is!
See current prices and availability for The Float House here
Cons
That said, there are a few cons about the Float House that are worth noting since it is a little pricy, and you should have the right expectations so you aren’t disappointed. None of these factors were dealbreakers for me, but it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into going in!
It’s about 700 meters from the bridge that leads into town, and the road is quite bumpy with some small hills. While you can borrow a bicycle for free (and I did and enjoyed it!), you’ll likely have to get off and walk the bike uphill or downhill in some portions where the road is particularly gnarly.
They do offer a free shuttle into town, but it’s timed and only runs occasionally, so you’ll need to plan based on their schedule and ensure it works for you.
The main drawback is that there is some motorboat engine noise. For me, it quickly fell into the background. The boats don’t really go much during the night, but they do start sort of early in the morning, so if that bothers you, this probably isn’t the right stay for you.
This isn’t a con for me because I liked it, but remember that the Float House quite literally floats—which means it also moves ever-so-slightly when boats pass or there are other disturbances to the water. As a Californian, it took me a few times for my earthquake sensor to disengage and remind myself that I was just floating on water. I grew to really enjoy it, but some people may find it disorienting.
Overall, the food was pretty good, but the included breakfast was a bit bland (besides the delicious fresh fruit!) It was generous and well-portioned, but don’t expect 5-star luxury. In general, I didn’t find that Laos did Western-style breakfasts very well, and this continued to be the case at The Float House.
However, the dishes I ordered from the restaurant room service were delicious. Just be careful if you order something spicy. My eyes are still watering from thinking about the spicy Lao-style papaya salad I ordered!
Tip: There are only four floating bungalows, so it might sell out during high season as it’s quickly proven quite popular in Nong Khiaw. It was fully occupied when I visited in the low season! Book now if you want to ensure you have a spot.
Allison Green is a former teacher who has been travel blogging since 2016. She has a Masters in Teaching and a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. Her blog posts merge her background as an educator with her experience traveling to 70+ countries to encourage ethical, meaningful travel. She has been a speaker at the World Travel Writers Conference and her writing, photography, and podcasting work has appeared in National Geographic, CNN Arabic, CBC Canada, and Forbes, amongst others. Now a full-time traveler, she has lived in Prague, Sofia, New York City, and the San Francisco Bay Area.
