Vietnam forum

Dong Ha to southern Laos

Another very interesting route that you can directly go to southern Laos exists now.

Dong Ha -- Da Nang -- Hgoc Hoi or Kon Tum (from Dong Ha, one overnight needed there before entering into Laos for catching a direct bus)-- Bo Y border -- Attapeu (-- Sekong --Paksong)-- Pakse

(transports)
*from Dong Ha to Da Nang----by local bus or express bus on NR.1
*from Da Nang(=Ben Xe Trung Tam Da Nang =Da Nang Central Bus Station) to Ngoc Hoi or Kon Tum----by express minibus(Benz or Ford type)
*from Ngoc Hoi to Attapeu/Pakse----catching a direct bus coming from Pleiku around 10:30-11:15 while they take a lunch at Ngoc ( =a Vietnamese restaurant "Thanh Lich" as below)

(other remarks)
*You need one overnight at Ngoc Hoi or Kon Tum before crossing Bo Y border and entering into Laos
*Ngoc Hoi is a big local township along NR.14 and has at least 3 budget guesthouses in front of the market & bus station along NR.14
*a big bus company "Mai Linh Express" now operates a direct bus between Pleiku and Pakse via Attapeu & Sekong & Pakson in southern Laos(daily service)
*one more bus company "Dien Hong"(zien-hong) operates a direct bus between Pleiku and Attapeu(daily service)
*Mai Linh Express's direct bus leaves Pleiku at around 07:30am and stops at a Vietnamese restaurant in Ngoc Hoi for taking lunch(10:30-11:15) before crossing Bo Y border. This bus company has a branch in Kon Tum city (along NR.14) so contact with bus driver for picking up you is nothing difficult if you stay at Kon Tum.
*The name of Vietnamese restaurant is "Thanh Lich" and it's adress is "149 Hung Vuong Str.(=NR.14)" near the rotary very close to the bus station. Bus fare from Pleiku to Pakse is 300,000VND including delicios lunch fee but i'm not sure how much the bus fare is from Ngoc Hoi to Pakse but Mai Linh Express dosn't overcharge so it's no problem. .(Pleiku to Kon Tum-- about 48km, Kon Tum to Ngoc Hoi --about 42Km, Ngoc Hoi to Bo Y border--about 18Km, Bo Y border to Attapeu--about 119Km, Attapeu to Pakse--about 185Km) MaiLinh Express's direct bus arrives Attapeu at around 14:00pm then arrives Pakse at around 18;00pm.

PS) A bus company in Dong Ha "Quynh Ngoc" operates a bus directly going to Pleiku via Hue & Da Nang & Ngoc Hoi & Kon Tum and i took this bus on reverse route from Pleiku to Hue Oct. 2010, but i lost it's telephone number & adress so i'm not sure now and probably you can know them with helping by a Vietnamese stuff in you Gh at Dong Ha. This bus runs very first on this route.