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Hello all you seasoned travelers of Southeast Asia. I'm heading to Laos in October for a couple weeks and had a few questions.
1. What's the fastest / cheapest / easiest way to get into Laos from down Hat Yai way? I'm thinking of flying to BKK then from there to Vientiene or Luang Prabang, whatever is shorter. But I'm not above taking an overnight train. What are my options? Which airlines should I look at for good deals? Where is the quickest train route from BKK?
2. What have you seen in Laos that should not be missed?
__________________ "$!!str8 hood!$$" - This is how one of my student's parents ends the text messages they send me... What planet am I working on?
Bangkok to Nong Khai, then across into Vientianne.
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AO is right, train from BKK to Nong Khai, around 700 air con sleeper 2nd class.
But you can fly to Udon Thani from BKK very cheaply now with Air Asia, even the Thai fares aren't too bad. Get a van from the airport to the bridge, used to be THB100 and 1 hour.
Around Laos, lots and lots, pawthoo is your man.
I particularly liked the carst scenery in and around Vang Vieng, which itself is a good break on the journey up to Luang Pabang. Quite a few outdoor type activities in VV.
The place I always wanted to visit, before I came to SE Asia, was the Plain of Jars. These are near a little provincial town called Xieng Khouang, a little North and East of Vang Vieng. Whilst it was nice to see the jars, I was a little disappointed and after seeing the various plains, there's not much to do in XK.
I heard it's better to go to Chiang Kong (Thailand) and then cross over the river, because due to the current you can then get to Luang Prabang and Vientiane much quicker by boat than doing it the other way around.
I haven't actually done this, but have been to Chiang Kong which was well worth a visit. I've also been to Vientiane which was pretty forgettable.
I aim to go to Luang Prabang one day, but the air fares seem a right rip off.
1. Fly to Luang Pabang. It's too far from Hat Yai to waste your time going overland.
2. Luang Pabang has the best wats- nice old wooden ones, much better than the Thai ones. Wat Phu (other end of the country) is worth a look, but a hassle to get to and not as impressive as the Angkor temples.
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A massage parlour run by a blind family. Best I've ever had. (in Vientiene) Tho, I've heard its avail. in Thai too. (?)
I've got a soft spot for the street urchins in Lao as well.
Enjoy your time.
Actually, at the light before the That Luang entrance, turn left. Look for a translation service on the left. shop next door is a public massage business staffed completely by
blind folk. Been going there for years. Wife and I sometimes book appointments, pick them up and take them home for a little less public massage. Reasonable too, something like
$3 for up to 2 hours.
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Re: Travel to Laos
There's supposed to be a blind masseur on Nakhon Pathom but I haven't been to him yet. The word is he's rather vigorous.
Anyone driven to Laos? Is it a good or bad idea? Paperwork?
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Fast boat to Luang Prabang is a killer if you re over 6ft. Slow boat might be ok. Next time I go 24 seater out of Vientiene ac maybe break it up with a stop at Ving vang(not sure about spelling)
1. Fly to Luang Pabang. It's too far from Hat Yai to waste your time going overland.
2. Luang Pabang has the best wats- nice old wooden ones, much better than the Thai ones. Wat Phu (other end of the country) is worth a look, but a hassle to get to and not as impressive as the Angkor temples.
This dude is on the money. LP is the shit. Been back there 3 times.
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The way I'm working it now is I've bought plane tickets from hat yai to bkk, bkk to udon thani, then taking the bus from there. Probably stop in Vang vien for a couple days, then up to Luang Prabang, I also really want to stop at the big lake on the way, Nam Nung or however it's spelled. Down south I'm gonna try to check out the area around pakse and Si Phan Don with the 4000 islands. Should be enough for two weeks. Then fly out of Ubon Ratchathani. comments? criticisms? improvements? Thanks for all the good advice!
__________________ "$!!str8 hood!$$" - This is how one of my student's parents ends the text messages they send me... What planet am I working on?
Sounds like a decent tour. Vientiane won't take you much longer to see than LP.
Vang Vieng has more tourists than Lao. Outdoor activities, trekking, kayaking, etc.
The lake is Nam Ngum. There are a couple of newer, nicer lodges not far away. The golf course at DanSavanh is rubbish at the moment (as of last weekend the greens were dead).
There is a Chinese owned 'casino' (can you say money laundry?) near the golf course. But it is moribund and boring on the best/busiest days. Don't bother, frankly.
Down south is scenic and beautiful. Several spectacular nam tok (water falls) near Pakse, easy day trips. You'll probably hear more Viet spoken in Pakse and Savannakhet than Lao.
Si (4) Phan (thousand) Don (islands) so...to add 4,000 islands is as redundant as saying the Nam (water) Phu (fountain) fountain. Vat Phu is pretty unremarkable unless you're an archeologist specializing in that period.
XiengKhouang is boooooooorrrrrrring and remote. Zip to do unless you fancy drinking and eating local fare with Tai Puan, Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Hmong et al. at the local street side shops. Ice is rare so the locals tend to drink lao khao, lao lao etc. Lethal and the worst headache maker ever bottled. They have a saying which translates to 'don't drink for the dog.' Whilst retching if you feel something hairy in your throat, don't spit it out, it's your arsehole.
Sam Neua and Hua Phan are out where Buddha lost his khao niew basket and unless you like listening to the rats run in the attic all night not much to do. Food is suspect as well, they eat them w/great relish...probably some cheaw (sauce) too.
Be advised. Lao is really, really undeveloped anywhere outside the major cities. Route 13 is pretty much ok but any other roads are grim at best. If you speak a little Thai you can communicate on a rudimentary level. Most understand from their addiction to Thai TV.
Have fun. Lao is backward but has a certain charm outside the big cities ( I say big advisedly).
And if you go down Hospital 103 Road in Vientiane look right across from the main gate to the military hospital and you'll see a Gothic English sign for a school. It is a shop house between a fruit market and a handicraft/folk medicine shop. If you see a largish, grey
falang at a computer come in and I'll give you a drink of water, a cuppa and maybe some free advice about Lao. 'Course it will be worth about what it costs.
Sounds like a good plan Ent, I did a similar route a couple of years ago, spent just over three weeks and it cost 5,000B each for me and the wife. I preferred the South and we returned there for another visit by getting a bus from Bkk to Udom Ratchathani and then on to the Laos border. From there we got a bus to Pakse which takes a couple of hours. This may be the quickest way to get to Laos.
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Southern Oil Palm and Rubber Plantations:
On every streetcorner. Its true. Isan food is Lao food for the most part.
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Too long in Exile, too long not singing my song.
Too long like a rolling stone, Too long in exile
Too long in Exile, baby you just arent my friend.
Too long in Exile my friend, Baby you can never go home again.
