Where am I again?
Region: Northwest Vietnam> Province: Lai Chau> Location: Muong Lay

Getting There and Away

Bus

If you've grown used to be dogged by persistent motorcycle taxi drivers, this is one place where you will be blissfully free of that annoyance. And left thinking, But, uh, I need a ride. Ask at reception and someone at the hotel can take you to the bus station or wherever you're going, usually for about 10,000 VND, and if you're returning to the hotel and don't want to walk, look for motorbike taxis at the intersection of Highway 12 and the road into town.

Better yet, bicycles can be rented at the Lan Anh Hotel for 100,000 VND per day, which is highly recommended if you plan to strike out on your own and explore some of the surrounding sites, since walking, especially since the map they provide is wrong, will be a frustrating experience. Motorbikes are available for US$12 per day, which ain't cheap, but will make wandering around finding stuff a lot more pleasant.

The Bus Station is located about a kilometre south of the turn into town. It's a sleepy place for most of the day, since all-but-one departure is before 7 o'clock in the morning. If you miss the morning call time, you may be able to flag a Lai Chau/Dien Bien Phu Bus going in either direction, and the best place to do this is along Highway 12 at the intersection with the road into town, but be prepared to wait a few hours, and after the sun sets, you'll be in town for another night.

Hanoi: departs at 05:00, costing 180,000 and taking 15 hours.
Lao Cai: departs at 06:00, costing 88,000 and taking 9 hours.
Muong Te: departs at 06:00, costing 40,000 and taking 4 hours.
Sing Ho: departs at 07:00, costing 26,000 and taking 3 hours.
Thai Binh: departs at 05:00, costing 210,000 and taking 19 hours (Runs only on even days according to the lunar calandar).

Muong Lay bus station: T: (0230) 852 182. Hours: 04:30 to 11:00, 12:00 to 17:00