Laos forum

Slow boat down the Mekong - HoueiSay to Luang Prabang

mangie

backpacker
Posts: 14

Hi Guys.
HoueiSay to Luang Prabang down the Mekong on a slow boat.
Any ideas of timings?
Border opens at 0800am. Am I better to stay in HoueiSay the night to catch the boat early the next morning?
The plan is to break the journey & stay the night in Pakbeng.
Can I buy a ticket from HoueiSay to Luang Prabang & stop the night?
We aim to do this journey early Feb.07. Do the boats get busy & can you buy tickets in advance?
So many questions--Can somebody help with the answers?
THANKS.

#1 Posted: 15/11/2006 - 02:30
somtam2000

admin
mahout
Posts: 5884
Located in:

Private message

Hi mangie,

Welcome to Travelfish!

The trip takes the best part of two days and everyone overnights at Pakbeng and the ticket takes you to Luang Prabang (though you can get off at Pak Beng and head north if you want). You can catch the boat the day you cross the border or overnight in Huay Xai -- it's an interesting enough little town.

The boats are sometimes full sometimes empty - very variable, though I wouldn't suggest buying the ticket in advance (eg in Chiang Mai) as the price is inflated and you may end up on a substandard boat.

Hope that helps

#2 Posted: 15/11/2006 - 05:39

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LancasterLad

tout
Posts: 62

Hi Mangie

We are doing the slow boat in the opposite direction is a few days. We are in LP at the moment and enquired at the Pier booking office about tickets. We must buy separate tickets for the LP to Pak Beng leg and then another ticket ftom Pak Beng to Huay Xai. So I assume it's the same routine travelling south.

I'll be doing a trip report in a few weeks so you might find what I have to say interesting.

#3 Posted: 15/11/2006 - 14:50
hasse_bjork

newbie
Posts: 1

We are also doing the slow boat in the opposite direction and asked 2 booking offices. In one of them we could book a ticket from LP to Huay Xai and the other one only to Pak Beng (105 000 kip).

#4 Posted: 15/11/2006 - 21:04
LancasterLad

tout
Posts: 62

I've done a trawl of a few travel agents the last few days. The only way to book a direct ticket to Huay Xai is by speedboat, which is potentially suicidal.

The cheapest way to book a ticket to Pak Beng is from the office at the jetty. It's 95,000 kip. When I was down there yesterday I was told that there was a boat leaving this morning to Pak Beng with soft airline type seats, and that the same boat would be travelling onward from Pak Beng to Huay Xai tomorrow morning at the same price. So I went down to the jetty this morning to check it out, and it was true. I then enquired how often the comfortable slow boat runs. As and when was the answer I got, so you have to keep checking at the jetty every day.

#5 Posted: 19/11/2006 - 14:48
rayc101

noodle lady
Posts: 47

Hi Mangie

Just finished this trip (Hui Xay - PakBeng - LuangPrabang) a few days ago.
The slow boats are OK, but with uncomfortable and cramped seating for a long journey. However, for 95,000 Kp who's complaining. They are a great way to meet like-minded travellers.
Preferably bring you own food. Drinks are readily available, if a little pricey.
Pakben is a stopover town that does its best to re-write the currency-conversion guidelines, and rounding rules (also applies for Luang Prabang, which is also full of poor quality Chinese artifacts and clothing being passed off as Laotian). Keep a close eye on your change. All places in Pakben use generators to supply electricity, and some close off at 22:00ish. Thai Baht is the preferred currency because the Kip is virtually worthless, but you may be disappointed with the conversion rate. If you pay in Thai Bt, ask for you change in same. The current street rate is 260-265 Kp per TBt.
You may also get asked if you want to smoke weed (or worse) virtually as soon as you set foot on dry land. Room rates range from 100 - 400 TBt for the night. For 100 TBt you get a bed with shared facilities and the mosquitoes are provided free. Definitely take a padlock, and choose a room which you can lock from the outside. One travelling associate had his money stolen from his locked room whist eating out in Pakben.
The boats at this time of the year are often crowded with tourists, so don't expect some sort of idyllic African Queen adventure.
RayC

#6 Posted: 19/11/2006 - 18:06

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Cheers, Rayc
chewbaca

longtail driver
Posts: 9

I am interested in doing the reverse trip.

slow boat - 2 days
speed boat - 6 hours

Are these the only options? According to the Laos Airlines website the flight no longer exists.

#7 Posted: 27/11/2006 - 22:14
LancasterLad

tout
Posts: 62

Hi Chewbaca

LP to Huay Xai is up-river. Go down to the boat pier (not a pier!) and check when the next slowboat with soft seats is leaving. It costs 95,000 kips to Pak Beng and ditto from Pak Beng to Huay Xai.

The speedboats set off a mile or two up-river from LP. If you take the fast boat you are taking a serious risk of getting badly injured or worse. If you have time take a slow boat rip to Pak Ou caves and you'll see the speedboats in action, and also see that navigating parts of The Mekong are tricky. It only takes a moment or two of madness fron a speedboat driver and you're in big trouble mate.

Lao Airlines fly daily from LP to Chiang Mai. You'll probably have to book a few days in advance and the cost is about US$87. The flight takes an hour, and a limo into town is 120 bahts.

#8 Posted: 28/11/2006 - 11:30
chewbaca

longtail driver
Posts: 9

Thanks LL!

#9 Posted: 1/12/2006 - 12:50
Thai_Tripper

newbie
Posts: 2

I am also interested in doing this trip. So thanks for the info on soft seats.
Present plan is to go north due to -
My understanding is that VISA on entry at Huay Xai is no longer available and you have to apply in advance at BKK . Can anybody shed some light ?
Thanks

#10 Posted: 1/12/2006 - 17:44