Laos forum

You have 3 options for going to Ha Noi by overland as below.
A---LPB - Oudomxai - Muang Khua - Pang Hoak(the name of new Lao border gate)/Tay Trang border - Dien Bien Phu - Ha Noi
B---LPB - (Phonsavan) - Nam Khan/Nam Can border - ( Vinh ) -Ha Noi

C---LPB - Xam Neua - Nam Xoi/Na Meo border - (Thanh Hoa ) - Ha Noi

(A route)
LPB to Oudomxai---by local bus/5-6 hours/09:00am, 12:00, 16:00pm
Oudomxai to Muang Khua---by local bus/3-4 hours/08:30am, 12:00, 15:00pm
(i'm not sure about the conection of bus from LPB to Oudomxai/09:00am & bus from Oudomxai to Muang Khua/15:00pm is possible or impossible)
Muang Khua to DBP via Pang Hoak/Tay Trang border---by direct bus operated by Vietnamese bus company/Dep.time:around 06:00am till the new paved road at Lao side had been completed recently/Dep.point: opposite bank of Nam Ou river/required time: i estimate about 6 hours now after the new paved road was completed(i had eagaly hoped it's completion for long time since 2009)
DBP to Ha Noi---by day bus or night bus(sleeper) about 10-11 hours/sleeper:4-5 buses a day/Dep.time:17:30-19:30pm

(B route-1)
"DIRECT BUS FROM LUANG PRABANG TO HA NOI" via PHONSAVAN and VINH (required time:　about 24 hours)

Operator---NALUANG COMPANY TRAVEL
Departure days of the week---every Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat (every Thursday only no bus service)
Departure time---18:00pm
Departure point----new "Naluang Bus Station International"(opposite side of the road to LPB southern bus station(=Naluang Bus Station)
Bus type----all buses are sleeper
Bus fare----360,000kip (directly booking at the new bus station or NALUANG's office in front of it) / 20,000-40,000kip more(booking at a travel agency)
Arrival point in Ha Noi---Nuoc Ngam Bus Station (about 9 km from Old Quarter area and 1 km south of Ha Noi Giap Bat=Ha Noi southern bus station along NR.1)

(B route-2)
"DIRECT BUS FROM LUANG PRABANG TO VINH" via PHONSAVAN (required time: about 18 hours)

Operator---NALUANG COMPANY TRAVEL
Departure days of the week---every Sun, Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat (every Tuesday only no bus service)
Departure time---18:30pm
Departure point----new "Naluang Bus Station International"(opposite side of the road to LPB southern bus station(=Naluang Bus Station)
Bus type----Sun & Thu=sleeper/ Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat=sitting bus
Bus fare---sleeper bus: 250,000kip/sitting bus: 200,000kip (directly booking at the new bus station or NALUANG's office in front of it and booking at a travel agency is also possible)
Arrival point in Vinh---Vinh Bus Station (night bus from Vinh bus station to Ha Noi is avalable/4-5 buses a day & Dep.time:21:30-23:00pm, Arr.time Ha Noi 04:00-05:30am)

(C route)
LPB to Xam Neua----by local bus/11-13 hours/Dep.time:08:30am
Xam Neua to Thanh Hoa(VN) or Ha Noi---by direct bus/required time; about 11-12 hours(Thanh Hoa)/180,000Kip=22.5 USD)/13.5-14 hours(Ha Noi)/300,000Kip=37.5 USD)/Dep.time: 08:00am/ Dep.point:Xam Neua southern bus station=Phoutanu bus station, 1 km from touristy area (ascend road) or Vietnamese Restrant & Cafe "Yen Linh" on the way to eastern bus station=Nathong bus station, 700-800m east of Nam Xam bridge(city center).
(Thanh Hoa to Ha Noi by local bus or express bus that run on NR.1 is possible/60,000-70,000 VND(3-4 USD)--catching it on NR.1/about 4 hours to Ha Noi)
Xam Neua to Ha Noi with the same direct bus is possible on Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri=not every day(Xam Neua 08:00am - Ha Noi 21:30-22:00pm)

(Above informations B & C are all at the time of Oct, 2011)