Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 657

Sainyabuli
Buses to Sainyabuli (60,000K, three hours) depart the Southern Bus Station at 9am and
2pm.
Vientiane & Vang Vieng
From the Southern Bus Station there are up to 10 daily Vientiane services (express/VIP
130,000/150,000K, nine to 12 hours) via Vang Vieng between 6.30am and 7.30pm. VIP
buses leave at 9am. A plethora of morning minibuses to Vang Vieng (105,000K, seven
hours) depart from the Naluang Minibus Station.
Udomxai, Luang Namtha, Nong Khiaw & Sam Neua
For Nong Khiaw (40,000K, four hours), 9am minibuses start from Naluang Minibus Sta-
tion. Alternatively, from the Northern Bus Station use sŏrngtăaou (40,000K) at 9am,
11am and 1pm or the 8.30am bus that continues to Sam Neua (140,000K, 17 hours) via
Vieng Thong (110,000K, 10 hours). Another Sam Neua-bound bus (from Vientiane)
should pull in sometime around 5.30pm.
China, Udomxai, Phonsavan & Luang Namtha
The sleeper bus to Kunming, China (450,000K, 24 hours) departs from the Southern Bus
Station at 7am, sometimes earlier. From the Northern Bus Station buses run to Udomxai
(55,000K, five hours) at 9am, noon and 4pm, Luang Namtha (90,000K, nine hours) at
9am and Huay Xai (Borkeo, 120,000K, 15 hours) at 5.30pm and a VIP service at 7pm
(145,000K).
For Phonsavan (10 hours) there's an 8.30am minibus (95,000K) from Naluang Minibus
Station and an 8am bus (ordinary/express 85,000/105,000K, 10 hours) from the Southern
Bus Station.
Getting Around
From the airport into town, 4km away, jumbos or minitrucks charge a uniform 50,000K
per vehicle; up to six can share the ride. In the reverse direction you can usually pay less.
Most of the town is accessible on foot. Jumbos usually ask foreigners for 20,000K a
ride. Scooters cost US$15 per day, and mountain/ordinary bikes cost 50,000/20,000K per
day.
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