Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 622

Jules' Classic Rental MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 020 9728 2636; www.bike-rental-laos.com ; Th
Setthathirath; per day US$35, minimum rental 1 week) With a range of heavy-duty dirt-bikes, own-
er Thierry can even send your luggage on to your destination (for a charge), or if you're
headed far afield and don't want to double back (say Luang Prabang), you can also leave
the bike there for US$50. Ask for a new bike (helmets provided).
Europcar MAP GOOGLE MAP ( 021-223867; www.europcarlaos.com ; Th Setthathirath;
8.30am-6.30pm Mon-Fri, 8.30am-1pm Sat & Sun) Hires quality cars (from US$55 per day). You
can leave the car at your destination for a charge. Third-party insurance is standard.
TÚK-TÚK
Many túk-túk have a laminated list of vastly inflated tourist prices, and won't budge for
less than the price already agreed upon with the other drivers. You can also flag down
shared, fixed-route túk-túk (with passengers already in them), which cost around 20,000K,
depending on your destination.
GETTING TO THAILAND: VIENTIANE TO NONG KHAI
Getting to the border The Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge at the Nong Khai/Tha Na Leng border cross-
ing is 22km southeast of Vientiane. The easiest way to cross is on the comfortable Thai-Lao Interna-
tional Bus (22,000k, 90 minutes), which leaves Vientiane's Talat Sao bus station roughly every hour
from 7.30am till 6pm, while the VIP bus for Bangkok (248,000K) leaves daily at 6pm. Alternatively
catch a taxi (300B) or jumbo (four-wheeled túk-túk seating 12; 250B), or public bus 14 from Talat Sao
(15,000K) between 6am and 5.30pm.
Since 2009, it's also possible to cross the brige by train, as tracks have been extended from Nong
Khai's train station 3.5km into Laos, terminating at Dongphasy Station, about 13km from central Vi-
entiane. From Nong Khai there are two daily departures (9.30am and 4pm, fan/air-con 20/50B, 15
minutes) and border formalities are taken care of at the respective train stations.
At the border Travellers from most countries can travel visa-free to Thailand.
Moving on From the Thai border catch a túk-túk (60B) to Nong Khai train station where a sleeper
train leaves for Bangkok at 6.20pm and costs US$23/37 for a 2nd-class/sleeper ticket. The VIP bus
from Talat Sao also goes to Bangkok.
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .