Last 2nd September, 2010, I had a trip to Laos. Since it was my first time traveling alone without any detail information about Laos, I lost quite much money. However, what I got were real experiences that I want to share with you.
Guide Book
- It is almost necessary for every backpacker. The most popular one is Lonely Planet
- You can buy it in any Ebook website (i.e. Amazon), or go directly to the book store and ask for it. You can also buy an old one with cheaper price (8-10$) with the title: Lonely Planet Laos, Vietnam - Cambodia - Laos & Greater Mekong, or Southeast Asia on a Shoestring.
How to get to Laos from Vietnam?
To travel between Vietnam and Laos, you can go by land and airway. I am not sure if we can go by shipping line on Mekong river or not, because Laos does not have sea.
a. Airway from Vietnam to Laos
Although you can find the cheap flights from Vietnam to Laos of cheap airline such as Air Asia or Jetstar, you can still find some cheap flight ticket of Vietnam Airline with the routes:
- Sai Gon - Vientiane (transit at Phnom Penh)
- Hanoi - Vientiane
- Hanoi - Luang Prabang
b. Overland
- Between Vietnam and Laos, there are six international overland border gates (try to search on Google or Wikipedia), they are:
+ Pờ Y - Phou Keua
+ Lao Bảo - Daen Savanh
+ Cha Lo - Na Phao
+ Cầu Treo - Nam Phao
+ Nậm Cắn - Nậm Khan
+ Na Mèo - Nậm Xôi
+ Tây Trang - Sop Hun
+ Lao Bảo - Daen Savanh
+ Cha Lo - Na Phao
+ Cầu Treo - Nam Phao
+ Nậm Cắn - Nậm Khan
+ Na Mèo - Nậm Xôi
+ Tây Trang - Sop Hun
- The border gates working time is from 7.00 AM - 5.00 PM. If you come to those gates not at this time, you have to wait.
- Buses to Laos are mostly at 2 border gates: Lao Bảo - Daen Savanh; and Cầu Treo - Nam Phao
+ Start in Saigon, Da Nang, Hue,Quang Tri, Vinh, Hanoi
+ To: Paksé, Savannakhet, Vientiane, Luang Prabang
- The information of these buses can be found in Hanoi, Vinh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang. You can go to the tour agents or to the bus station to find it. However, if you start in Sai Gon, it is a little bit difficult to find.
- In Saigon, there is bus route: Saigon - Vientiane, but it is mostly for purchasers. Route: Sai Gon - Da Nang - Hue - Dong Ha - Lao Bao (Road no 9 Southern Laos). I do not know if there is any different route, or if it go through Po Y border gate or not.
- In Da Nang, there are a bus to Laos per day: start at 8.00 AM every morning. Route: Da Nang - Hue - Dong Ha - Lao Bao (Road no 9 Southern Laos). It stops at some location listed below, only in Vientiane, it will stop at the international bus station (9 km far from the city center).
+ Pakse (not sure it if is on the route)
+ Savannakhet
+ Vientaine: ticket price 250.000 - 270.000 VND (13$ - 14$), stop in Vientaine at 1.00 AM the next morning (duration: 18 hours including the waiting time at border gate)
You can buy the ticket directly at Da Nang bus station or contact to these bus stations:
+ Yen Hai: 0084 937 479 647 (Vietnam) - 0084 905 37 86 37 (Vietnam) - 0206 96 77 97 (Laos) -0205 03 04 05 (Laos) - 0207 47 02 47 (Laos). Bus from Da Nang starts at 8.00 AM every Monday. Bus from Vientiane back to Vietnam start at 6.00 PM every Wednesday. The license number: UN-2711; UN-5679. Sometimes, there an intensified bus on Sunday.
+ Huong Son: 0511 3652 227 (Vietnam) - 0084 194 081 105 (Vietnam) - 0084 905 677 700 (Vietnam) - 00856 205 694 378 (Laos). Start from Da Nang at 8.00 AM every Friday. Start from Vientaine back to Da Nang at 6.00 PM every Sunday. License number: UN-3789.
If your starting date is not suit to those bus station, you can call them before the starting date and ask them to book ticket for them. The price is not very different; or you can go directly to Da Nang bus station. I do not know how the other bus stations are, but in Yen Hai bus station, they have FREE service of pick up right at your place.
- In Hue: there are 3 buses to Laos like following:
+ Start at 6.00 AM every morning: you can have a chance to visit the non-military area DMZ (Hien Luong Bridge - Quang Tri - Dong Ha...). At Dong Ha - Quang Tri, you have to transit to another bus (Quang Tri - Laos). Time and ticket price can be founded at the tour agents in Hue. The price is around 18$ - 20$.
+ Start at 9.30 AM every day: you will follow the route Hue - Hanoi (with bed provided). In Ha Tinh, you will transit to another bus (Hanoi - Vientiane - seat provided). You will get to Vientiane at 4.00 PM the next day (duration: 23 hours including waiting time at border gate). Only at this route, you will follow the route: Hue - Dong Ha - Ha Tinh - Hanging Bridge (Cau Treo) - Vientiane/ Road no 8). Ticket price: 18$ - 20$.
Currency
When getting to Laos, you have to think about currency. The monetary unit of Laos is Kips (LAK), besides, they still accept purchasing using USD and Baht (Thailand currency). You can go to http://www.xe.com/ to find more information about the currency in Laos. If you have Vietnamese currency, you can exchange it at the border gate because I think it has the best price; but if you bring USD, it is ok in everywhere (1 USD - 8500 LAK)
Transportation
Within the city: in Laos, the popular vehicle is tuk tuk. However, you should know how to bargain. I have some experiences: the more people, the cheaper it is. Always ask for the price before you go. From international bus station to city center: 10.000 Kips. From Luang Prabang station to city center: 5.000 - 8.000 LAK.
- Inter-provincial or International: At some tour agent or hotel, hostels, they often sell ticket to the neighborhood places. You should check all the information in all agents before you start in order to know which one is the cheapest. Do not book round ticket because it will be more expensive. You can book for minibus or tuk tuk.Seat arrangement is depended on the ticket agent. If you check-in sooner, you will have better seat; if you come late, you can negotiate with them. There are 3 kinds of bus: VIP (include: breakfast, there is toilet on the bus), normal bus (no breakfast, no toilet on bus), and local bus: I do not recommend it but it is the cheapest. You can check the price in "Lonely Planet Laos"; but you can also refer to this information:
+ Vientiane - Luang Praband: 18 - 19 USD / 150.000 - 160.000 LAK (VIP); 110.000 - 130.000 LAK(normal bus)
+ Vientiane - Vang Vieng: 50.000 LAK (VIP bus)
+ Vientiane - Da Nang/ Hue: 130.000 LAK (normal bus)
Accommodation
If you want to stay in the city center, you can look for in Lonely Planet Laos book guide. Guest house is around 15 - 20$ for double room (including air-condition, hot water, separated bathroom). If you choose room without air-condition and use fan, the price is 10USD. If share bathroom, it is cheaper.
Eating
- Follow the guide in "Lonely Planet - Laos"
- If you like to eat street food, you can go to the city center, along Mekong river, there are some restaurants. Here, you can eat while watching the beautiful sunset on Mekong river.However, be careful of your stomach.
- Translated from Du Lich Phuot -
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