Loei is one of those provinces that has long been associated as the back of beyond, as far from sophisticated and civilized Bangkok as you can get. There's very little to city in the provincial capital. The charms of the province, such as they are, are mainly in the countryside. There are two major, and spectacular, national parks as well as a wild life preserve. The premier event in the province is the Phi Ta Khon ghost mask festival in the tiny village of Dan Sai, about 90 kilometers from Loei city.