With 49 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, Phongsaly 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 or use a local tour operator. If you do decide to go to one of the country's more accessible ethnic villages on your own, please check the do's and don'ts for etiquette so that you do not offend local people.