Vientiane and the northwest - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 114

Phongsali (1 daily; 26hr); Phonsavan (6 daily; 8-10hr); Sam Neua (4 daily; 28-30hr); Saya-
boury (3 daily; 8-10hr).
BY SAWNGTHAEW
AttheTalatSaobusstation The main staging area for sawngthaews and unmetered taxis is
at the western side of the bus station. Here, you'll find both shared sawngthaews for towns
around the Vientiane Plain, and vehicles for hire.
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INFORMATION AND TOURS
Tourist office Lane Xang Avenue, just north of the Talat Sao Malls 021 212251. Vien-
tiane's main tourist office has helpful, English-speaking staff who can provide advice, re-
commendations, maps and the latest bus times. Ask about festivals; staff should be able to
tell you what's on in the local area and help you to get there using public transport. Mon-Fri
8.30am-noon & 1.30-4pm.
Mapsandbooks There are a few free city maps available. The Laos Tourist Map , published
by the Department of Tourism Marketing, offers a decent citywide orientation, a list of sights
and a map of the wider area. You can pick up a copy at the tourist office and at shops and
hotels across town. For more detailed maps and reading material, the best bets are Monument
Books and Book Café .
Noticeboards Some of the city's coffee shops, such as Nam Phou's Scandinavian Bakery ,
maintain noticeboards, displaying information on everything from film festivals to language
classes
Listings For “what's on” info check out the Vientiane Times (published daily), which also
carries advertisements for restaurant specials.
Travel/tour agencies For help with planning trips, booking tours and arranging transport,
contact Jack Travel Laos, Samsenthai Rd ( 021 218721); Green Discovery, Heng Boun Rd
( 021 264528, greendiscoverylaos.com ); or Lao Travel Service, Lane Xang Ave ( 021
216603-4, laotravelservice.laopdr.com ).
< Back to Information and tours
GETTING AROUND
Tuk-tuks andjumbos A quick and efficient way of getting around, tuk-tuks and jumbos of-
ten operate as a kind of bus system within the city (picking up people heading in vaguely the
same direction), and charge per person according to how far you're going. Shared tuk-tuks
generally ply frequently travelled routes, such as Lane Xang Avenue between the Talat Sao
Malls and That Luang, and Luang Prabang Avenue; they charge a flat fee of 5000K. Tuk-tuks
can also be rented privately like taxis, though you'll need to bargain with the drivers a bit.
Many drivers (especially those parked up on street corners) inflate their prices for foreigners,