If you have the time, it's possible to reach Laos overland from London or
anywhere else in Europe,
using the Trans-Siberian Railway from
Moscow to Beijing in China then the twice-weekly
Beijing-Hanoi
soft sleeper train. From Hanoi, it's either a long and
arduous (but direct) 24-hour bus journey from Hanoi to Vientiane (see
below), or a more comfortable but much longer way round taking
several days by train from Hanoi to
Saigon, bus from Saigon to Phnom Penh &
Phnom Penh to Bangkok, then train
from Bangkok to Nong Khai for Vientiane.
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It's possible to take a bus from Hanoi to Vientiane, although it's
reportedly a rough ride in a very basic bus that takes 24 hours,
sometimes more, on poor roads though mountainous areas. Buses
leave Hanoi at 19:00 for Vientiane, and Vientiane at 18:00 for Hanoi.
Fare about $15-20. Please check times and fares locally.
Feedback from travellers would be very welcome!
There are also reportedly buses from Hue and Danang to the border, for
onward buses to Vientiane.
Traveller's reports:
Round-the-world traveller James Weld
reports: " I just did the bus journey from Hanoi to Vientiane by
bus. It costs $15 on the cheap bus which was adequate. It
took 20 hrs starting at 7 pm and getting to the border crossing about
8 am. It took 2 hours to get out of customs and we got into
Vientiane at 4 pm. In my opinion it was worth the overnight
journey which wasn't great (it was hard to sleep on the packed bus)
then the journey in to Laos was spectacular, great scenery well worth
the over night bus journey. When you get to the bus depot (which
is 2kms out of town), a Tuk tuk should not cost more than 10,000 kip
per person into the heart of town. My advice is, get the bus, don’t
fly. Far cheaper, and you get to see some great views."
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It's easy to travel from Vientiane to
Bangkok by train, taking a bus across the 1994-built Friendship Bridge
into Nong Khai in Thailand, then the daytime or overnight sleeper
train from Nong Khai to Bangkok. This is safe, cheap and
comfortable.
See the Nong Khai section on the
Thailand page.
Construction started in January 2007 on an
extension to the railway from Nong Khai across the Friendship Bridge
into Laos, to a new rail terminal In just the other side of the bridge
at Tha Naleng. It was due to open on 18 April 2008, but has been
delayed. It's still not open as of December 2008, but should
open 'some time in early 2009'.
The line may be further extended the next
dozen kilometres to the suburbs of Vientiane in due course.
Right:
Opening soon... The new rail terminal at Tha Naleng, just on the
Laos side of the Friendship bridge. In late 2008, some
Bangkok-Nong Khai trains will be extended to start/terminate at Tha
Naleng. Photo courtesy of
Bob Fletcher.
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The jewel in Laos' crown is Luang Prabang, a city of French and
Buddhist colonial buildings next to a river and nestled in mountains.
You can travel from Vientiane to Luang Prabang by river boat or bus,
as follows:
- Vientiane - Luang Prabang by VIP bus, 10 hours, 2 morning
departures, about 140,000-170,000 Kip one-way.
- Vientiane - Luang Prabang by air-con bus, 10 hours, 2 morning
departures, about 120,000-130,000 Kip one-way.
- Vientiane - Luang Prabang by ordinary bus, 11 hours, 5 daily
departures, about 70,000 Kip one-way.
- Vientiane - Luang Prabang by 6-seater river speedboat, 11 hours,
morning departures, about $20 one-way. One seat61
correspondent has said he did not feel safe on the speedboat.
- Vientiane - Luang Prabang by cargo/passenger ferry, 4-7 days,
daily morning departures, about $6 one-way.
Traveller's report:
Traveller Bob Fletcher reports:
"The name of the bus has nothing to do with the actual comfort. The
VIP bus is as high as a double decker with tough suspension. Try
riding in the back seat for 11 hours! The Air Con bus doesn't
look as nice but is definitely more comfortable. However, neither bus
will have it's air con on once it clears Vientiane. All that
said, travellers who take a flight to Luang Prabang really miss out on
amazing breathtaking scenery.
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