With 47 recognized ethnic groups, visiting almost any Lao village outside of the main towns will put you in an ethnic minority village! The most diverse collection of ethnic minority villages is in the northern provinces of Luang Namtha, Pongsali and Bokeo, but there are also quite a few distinct Mon-Khmer groups in living near the Bolaven Plateau in southern Laos . If you are interested in visiting a remote ethnic minority village, it is recommended that you hire a local guide and use a local tour operator or guide service. If you do decide to go to one of the country's more accessible ethnic villages on your own, please first have a look at the do's and don'ts for culturally sensitive in Laos.