cliffmcc
newbie
Posts: 2

#1 Posted: 19/10/2007 - 08:19


How dangerous are the speedboats, especially along the stretch of the Mekong from Xieng Kok to Huay Xai? Some guidebooks suggest that they are so dangerous that there must be an accident a day. Is this reality and should I avoid this method of travel all together?

somtam2000
admin
mahout
Posts: 2421
Located in:
Indonesia

#2 Posted: 19/10/2007 - 09:02


It's certainly not the safest way to get around -- the boats travel at tremendous speed and are pretty unstable -- very very little of the boat is in the water at any stage. The main dangers are hitting rocks, floating refuse (trees etc) and sandbars, all of which are easily obscured by the morning mist. When they do run aground (which does happen quite frequently) passengers and luggage tend to be thrown out of the boat -- at very high speed -- which is why you need to wear a helmet and life jacket. Despite what the guidebooks may say, deaths are infrequent.

If you want to come downriver from Xieng Kok, speedboat is the only option, so if you decide against using them, you'll need to backtrack via Luang Nam Tha.

somsai
tourist
Posts: 51

#3 Posted: 20/10/2007 - 10:12


I used to say that I have never actually heard of a real death from a speedboat, but recently I heard a second hand report from a woman who talked to someone in 05 or 06 who had been in an accident that was fatal to one person. So it does happen. That’s the only one I’m pretty sure of to date.

That said I’ve heard of three foreigners and innumerable Laotians, killed by insurgents on route 13 which is generally considered safe. Three deaths due to drugs, and the same number due to swimming. Unfortunately I know of no one who tracks these kind of statistics in Laos, except for road safety. Riding a motorcycle would be the most dangerous thing I can think of.

I’ve done it once so far, and I thought the boat pilot very skilled. The only damage he ever had to his boat was stress fractures from hitting the waves of a freighter too hard. The boats usually off load above Huay Xai where regular sawngthaew traffic begins.

The ride makes the speedboat to Luang Prabang seem boring. The river has a lot of volume and it isn’t very wide.

cliffmcc
newbie
Posts: 2

#4 Posted: 20/10/2007 - 11:52


Thanks for the replies. I'm still undecided, but it does look more attractive than backtracking all the way to Luang Nam Tha and then down to Huay Xai by road. I have a time restriction and don't fancy the boat down the Nam Tha