Laos forum

Gerry,

Given the short amount of time you have to spend in Laos, I'd plan to fly at least one direction and perhaps even both ways from VTE/LP/VTE. Lao Airways is a fine option for flying.

Having said that, the overland journey from LP to VTE is one of the most scenic (as well as bumpy) bus trips I've ever made. If you can budget in the time, it may be worth your while. Perhaps your best bet would be to bus up from VTE to LP and then fly back. That would help create a larger margin of error for making your outbound flight from Vientiane too. Regards.

Gerry use this link
www.laoairlies.com
not the one advertised on this site. That one is an agent who Lao air have said no longer deals with them because he has not paid his bills. There have been other problems with him as well.

As the flight is 40 mins or so, the plane does not ascend to high altitudes and you can get a geat view from the plane of the surrounding countryside. The road is very windey - personally I would fly in both directions; it is a very pleasant flight.

Definately more time in LP that VT.
Slow Boat trip up The Mekong to the caves is an excellent half day. Get there before the tour groups, and there are quite a few steep steps to negotiate
The market between the main street and the river is a must. Don't do it on a full stomach or with a hang-over though!
A wander up the hill for sunset is great. Get there before the tour groups.

After LP, VT is a bit disappointing. Do go up the Arc d'Triomphe; do visit the Budha Park, and go by public bus for an entertaining ride. It's right on the Mekong, opposite Nong Khai in Thailand, and a great place to have lunch. The market nearthe bus station is also worth a hour or so.

Sounds like a good plan! Going back to Vientiane by road will leave you more flexibility and even if it does mean you spend some of your holiday time in a bus or minibus the scenery en route is well worth seeing.

The midway point is Vang Vieng. It's very easy to arrange transport there from LP and onward transport to Vientiane.

Vang Vieng has stunningly beautiful karst scenery but is a bit of a backpacker ghetto...the main street is even called Khao San Road and it's full of joints selling happy pizza and western food which you can enjoy in a comfortable supine position while watching endless videos of Friends...ie the atmosphere isn't exactly "authetic" and isn't everyone's cup of tea.

However the accommodation in VV is much better value than either LP or Vientiane...well it was when I was there anyway! It might even be worth spending a day there if you fancy doing a spot of tubing on the river (watch out for submerged tree trunks) or want to visit some caves.

Read the travelfish guide on this site for more info.

Rufus. How about sharing your knowledge of VTe. Where are the unmissable sights? And if 3 days in LP is about right, what would you leave out of the dozens of options available?

Vientiane is a great city and has enjoyed a real rennaisance over the last decade or so. There are lots of great food and drink places to hang out along the river and in other places in town, a fantastic traditional lao performing arts show, and great architecture. The people are nice, and value for money for things like accommodation has actually improved significantly compared to ten years ago.

Of course, the same is essentially true of Luang Prabang too. The issue here is that Gerry only has one week, and people are trying to weigh in to make sure Gerry gets the balance right to get the most out of both locations.

In Vientiane, I'd say a walk along the riverside, a trip to the morning market, and a visit to That Luang and the temples down closer to the river, including Wat Pra Kaeo, are a must. PatuXai is also a great place to visit, particularly evenings or on Sunday when lots of young familes are there for an outing, and you'll get wonderful views of the city from the top of the monument. The cultural show, if it is still being offered, is also well worth the time and money. Plus, just walking around in the less-visited spots of the city will turn up bakeries and eateries and other fun, local, authentic stuff.

I'd personally split the time 4 days in LP and 2 in VTE, with an overnight stopover in Vang Vieng, given the week that Gerry has available. But it would be easy to spend two to three times that many days in each place and not get bored even a little bit. Cheers.

Rufus- may i ask where this Thanon is you refer to in the above post. Thanks

Thanks, I'll check it out when I get back........can't wait!

Hello
For a trip in Laos !
Has anyone an e mail for finding private transportation for 4 people from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng ?
and also from Vang Vieng to Vientiane. We can't take the regular bus since we have to make a lot of photos on the way
All info more then welcome
Augustus