Laos - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 672

Getting There & Away
AIR
Lao Airlines ( 061-212027; www.laoairlines.com ) has daily flights to/from Vientiane
(US$101). Sometimes a weekly flight to/from Luang Prabang operates in peak season.
BUS
Longer-distance bus tickets presold by travel agencies typically cost around 40,000K
more than standard fares but include a transfer to the bus station, around 4km west of the
centre. From here Vietnam-bound buses depart to Vinh (180,000K, 11 hours) at 6.30am on
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, continuing seasonally on Mondays to Hanoi
(320,000K). For Vientiane (140,000K, 11 hours) there are air-con buses at 7am, 8am,
10.30am, 4.30pm, 6.30pm and a VIP bus (160,000K) at 8pm. These all pass through Vang
Vieng, to where there's an additional 7.30am departure (95,000K). For Luang Prabang (10
hours) both minivans (95,000K) and VIP buses (120,000K) depart at 8.30am. There's an
8am bus to Sam Neua (110,000K, eight to 10 hours) plus two Vientiane-Sam Neua buses
passing through. A 7.30am bus is timetabled to Paksan (130,000K) on the new road.
Minibuses leave from the centre of town behind Sousath Travel.
Getting Around
Túk-túk cost from 10,000K for a short hop to about 20,000K to the airport. Lao-Falang Res-
taurant ( 020 2221 2456; Rte 7, Phonsavan; 8am-6pm) rents bicycles (40,000K per day) and
100cc motorbikes (100,000K), ideal for reaching a selection of jar sites.
GETTING TO VIETNAM: PHONSAVAN TO VINH
Getting to the border Four direct buses to Vinh (on the Vietnamese side) leave Phonsavan three
times per week, crossing at the lonely Nong Haet/Nam Can border (open 8am to noon and 1.30pm to
5pm). The nearest town on the Lao side is Nong Haet.
At the border If entering Vietnam, you'll need to have organised a Vietnamese visa in advance.
Moving on The first town en route to Vinh, 250km away, is Muong Xen, where there's a basic hotel.
From here there's also a 4pm bus to Vinh.
For more information about crossing this border in the other direction, Click here .