Laos forum
From Bangkok to Si Phan Don
Have questions? Jump to our menu of forum quicklinks
Add your reply
You need to be logged in to add a reply.
Not a member? you can join here.
Welcome to Travelfish, original Asia travel intelligence you can trust
Menu
alexrifa
Joined Travelfish
14th March, 2010
Posts 1
Member profile
Profile private
Messaging not enabled.
Hi,
I am planning to travel to SE Asia with my partner next July, for a couple of months. We will be landing in Bangkok and we were planning to cross Laos to visit Vietnam (our main focus). However, I was seeking advice on what route to take.
In the beginning I had thought about Bangkok, Sukothai, Chiang Mai and take a cruise to Luang Prabang ; however, I have been talking to some friends recently and they told me about the 4,000 islands in Si Phan Don, and how Laos is much better than Thailand (not that turistic), but I am finding it difficult to get a way to cross from Thailand to Laos (SI Phan Don), and we don't want to spend too much time in Laos (probably ten days and including Luang Prabang and Vientiane)
So, please, if anyone can give some advice on what route is better and how to move from Bangkok to Laos (south to North).
Many thanks
#1 Posted: 14/3/2010 - 22:46
exacto
Joined Travelfish
12th February, 2006
Location United States
Posts 2046
Member profile
Profile page
Private message
Hey Alex,
If you are still planning on visiting Luang Prabang and Vientiane , then I don't think a trip all the way south to Si Phan Don is practical, particularly if you only have 10 days to spend. It is nearly 900 km from Vientiane to the islands, and will take you all of one day and part of the next just to get there. Seriously, if you only have the 10 days for Laos, just enjoy the time in Luang Prabang and Vientiane rather than try to cram in too much other stuff.
A completely different option, if you were interested, would be to head straight from Bangkok to southern Laos. You could take a bus, train, or plane to Ubon in Thailand and then catch the international bus from there to Pakse , Laos. Pakse is a great place to hang out for awhile, and you can visit Champasak and Wat Phu from Pakse as well as join a tour or rent a scooter for a trip across the Bolevans Plateau. Then you could head to Vietnam from Pakse, with or without a stopover in Savannakhet along the way. Hope that helps. Cheers.
#2 Posted: 14/3/2010 - 23:42
Advertisement