In some of the rural areas, I would recommend not travelling at night, and also ensuring that you have reliable transport and a driver. Above all, respect the customs of the locals and you should encounter few problems, however, the more rural areas can be dangerous, particularly for Western tourists, but it really does depend on who you run into. As with all other places, 99% of people will be welcoming and friendly, but the 1% of people who have a nefarious motive for meeting you could well be dangerous, particularly for visitors from the US. I would stress that all visitors to the region should be respectful to everyone, but particularly to local officials, as they can wield considerable local influence and power.