Laos forum

Best way to travel from Bangkok to Vang Vieng?

lewks

longtail driver
Posts: 5

[color=rgb(54, 54, 54)]Hi people I am landing in Bangkok on the 22nd of march and am going to spend a couple of days there before making my way up to Vang Veing to go tubing.[/color]

[color=rgb(54, 54, 54)]I am thinking of traveling overland or water to get their and flying back and was wondering what the best way to travel overland there was and any places to stop of for a few days on the way I would like to see some of northern Thailand and other parts of Laos as well i have roughly 2 weeks to for this part of my trip! Also what would be the best way to fly back if possible at all either to Bangkok or Phuket![/color]

[color=rgb(54, 54, 54)]Any information would be greatly appreciated![/color]

[color=rgb(54, 54, 54)]Thanks in advance[/color]

#1 Posted: 7/1/2012 - 19:02
Captain_Bob

under-employed
Posts: 950
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Bangkok to Vang Vieng you either bus or train up to Nong Khai and cross the Friendship bridge to Vientiane and another bus north to V V OR take a train/bus up to Chiang Mai and get a bus to Chiang Khong, cross to Laos at Huay Xai and then boat/bus to Luang Prabang then another bus to V V. Laos visa on arrival at either border and easy process, but allow for delays on buses/boats, sometimes things don't go as planned.

Vang Vieng has no airport and the nearest one is Vientiane about 4 hours away. However flights aren't cheap from there. Maybe take a bus from the border to Udon Thani and grab an Air Asia flight to Phuket (book on their website and book early). That's the cheapest flight to the south by far.

#2 Posted: 14/1/2012 - 01:22
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

Best, as defined as fastest and most comfortable, fly to Vientiane, then hite a private vehicle to take you to VV. Best as in cheapest, take the bus from Bangkok to Nong Khai , cross the border, and proceed by bus to VV. Best as in reaonably comfortable and reaosnably affordable, take the train to Nong Khai and the bus from Vientiane.

#3 Posted: 14/1/2012 - 02:07

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Victory in Pattani
zephram

newbie
Posts: 1

Isn't there currently trackwork between Udon Thani and Nong Khai? Does that mean Train (to Udon Thani) -Bus (to Nong Khai)-Train (to Thangaleng)-Bus to Vientiane?

#4 Posted: 21/1/2012 - 04:19
MADMAC

mahout
Posts: 3999

zephrm, the train runs all the way to Nong Khai. So you can take the train to Nong Khai, and then bus it the rest ofthe way.

#5 Posted: 21/1/2012 - 12:15

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Victory in Pattani
stoneman

flashpacker
Posts: 38
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For 2 weeks I would follow Captain_Bob's route as follows:
take a train/bus up to Chiang Mai and get a bus to Chiang Khong, cross to Laos at Huay Xai and then boat/bus to Luang Prabang then another bus to V V.

I always book a 2nd class aircon sleeper on the overnight train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai in preference to the bus. In 2010 I went from Chaing Mai up to Pai and then took the night van to Chiang Khong. I would take the slow boat from Huay Xai to LP (you overnight at Pakbeng) in preference to the bus. I took an aircon van from LP to VV and again from VV to Vientiane .
I'd follow the advice given re flights out of Vientiane and take the bus to the border, cross over, then take a train/bus to Udon Thani.

#6 Posted: 31/1/2012 - 22:31