Vietnam - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 194

GETTING TO LAOS: CENTRAL BORDERS
Dong Ha to Savannakhet
Getting to the border The Lao Bao/Dansavanh border crossing, on the Sepon River (Song Xe Pon),
is one of the most popular and least problematic border crossings between Vietnam and Laos. Buses to
Savannakhet in Laos run from Hue via Dong Ha and Lao Bao. From Hue, there's a 7am air-con bus
(340,000d, 9½ hours), on odd days only, that stops in Dong Ha at the Sepon Travel office around
8.30am to pick up more passengers. It's also easy to cross the border on your own; Dong Ha is the
gateway. Buses leave the town to Lao Bao (55,000d, two hours) roughly every 15 minutes. From here
xe om charge 12,000d to the border. You can check schedules and book tickets at Tam's Cafe.
At the border The border posts (open 7am to 6pm) are a few hundred metres apart. Lao visas are
available for most nationalities for between US$30 and US$40.
Moving on Sǒrngtǎaou head regularly to Sepon, from where you can get a bus or another sǒrngtǎaou
to Savannakhet.
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .
Vinh to Vieng Khan & Tay Son
Getting to the border The Cau Treo/Nam Phao border crossing has a dodgy reputation with travellers
on local non-direct buses, who report chronic overcharging and hassle (such as bus drivers ejecting
foreigners in the middle of nowhere unless they cough up extra bucks). Stick to direct services. Most
transport to Phonsavan in Laos uses the Nong Haet/Nam Can border further north. Buses leave Vinh
at 6am (on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) for Vieng Khan in Laos (280,000d). There are
also regular local buses from Vinh to Tay Son (70,000d, two hours) and then irregular services from
Tay Son on to the border at Cau Treo. Otherwise xe om ask for around 170,000d for the ride.
At the border The border is open from 7am to 6pm. Lao visas are available for most nationalities for
between US$30 and US$40.
Moving on A jumbo or sǒrngtǎaou between the border and Lak Sao runs to about 50,000 kip (bargain
hard).
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .
Vinh to Phonsavan
Getting to the border The often mist-shrouded Nam Can/Nong Haet border crossing is 250km north-
west of Vinh. Direct buses from Vinh's marketplace leave daily for Phonsavan in Laos (320,000d, 12
hours). It's possible to travel independently from Vinh to Muong Xen by bus and then take a motor-
bike (around 170,000d) uphill to the border, but we strongly recommend you take the direct option
due to overcharging and hassle.
At the border The border post is open from 7am to 5pm. Lao visas are available for most nationalit-
ies for between US$30 and US$40.