Visitor may not readily get drawn to the modest Udomxai, with its asphalt roads, humble traditional houses and quaint commercial establishments. Most would consider the town as mere thoroughfare to the rest of Laos' northern territory. Located strategically near the country's borders with China, Udomxai is home to various immigrants, ethnic groups, and native residents who, in the course of time, have interwoven their cultures into a blend of identity that is uniquely Udomxai.
Around the town proper, especially in the marketplace, one may hear different tongues spoken by the inhabitants. As the settlement is basically a Lao trade post to China, Vietnam, and Thailand, the marketplace teems with activities, serving as an ideal place to find souvenirs and cheap foreign goods.
Another good place to visit is the Toung Dai Vietnamese Friendship Monument, erected in honor of the Vietnamese soldiers who fought for reform alongside the Laos. The town also features a towering stupa known as Phu That, the most prominent of its kind in the area. Those who want a more enriching activity may want to visit around February to April and follow the traditional methods of Posaa papermaking. Locals are willing to demonstrate the process to the visitors can try their hand on making their own paper products such as photo albums and bags.