Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GETTING TO CHINA: LUANG NAMTHA TO MENGLA
Getting to the border The Lao immigration post at the Boten/Mohan border crossing (7.30am to
4.30pm Laos time, 8.30am to 5.30pm Chinese time) is a few minutes' walk north of Boten market.
Túk-túk shuttle across no-man's land to the Chinese immigration post in Mohan (Bohan) or it's an
easy 10-minute walk.
Alternatively, take one of the growing number of handy Laos-China through-bus connections such
as Udomxai-Mengla, Luang Namtha-Jinghong and Luang Prabang-Kunming.
At the border Northbound it is necessary to have a Chinese visa in advance.
Moving on From the Chinese immigration post it's a 15-minute walk up Mohan's main street to the
stand where little buses depart for Mengla (RMB16, one hour) every 20 minutes or so till mid-after-
noon. These arrive at Mengla's bus station No 2. Nip across that city to the northern bus station for
Jinghong (RMB42, two hours, frequent till 6pm) or Kunming (mornings only).
Getting Around
Chartered túk-túk charge 10,000K per person (minimum 40,000K) between the bus sta-
tion or airport and the town centre. Most agencies and guesthouses sell ticket packages for
long-distance buses that include a transfer from the guesthouse and cost around 20,000K
above the usual fare.
Cycling is the ideal way to explore the wats, waterfalls and landscape surrounding
Luang Namtha. There are a couple of bicycle shops (bicycle per day 10,000-25,000K, motorcycle
per day 30,000-50,000K;
9am-6.30pm) in front of the Zuela Guesthouse that also rent scoot-
ers.
Muang Sing
081 / POP 10,000
Bordering Myanmar, at the heart of the Golden Triangle, and almost within grasp of the
green hills of China, rural Muang Sing has a backwater feel that transports you to a less
complicated time. Formerly on the infamous opium trail, it's a sleepy town of wilting,
Thai Lü-style houses and, happily, trekking has overtaken smuggling contraband (though
tribeswomen may still approach you selling rocks of opium). Hmong, Thai Lü, Akha,
Thai Dam and Yao are all seen here in traditional dress at the morning market (get there
for dawn), giving the town an exciting frontier feel.
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