Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Destinations
Houayxai (Borkeo; 2 daily; 14hr); Luang Namtha (1 daily; 9hr); Nong Khiaw
(3 daily; 3hr 30min-4hr); Oudomxai (3 daily; 6hr); Phongsali (1 daily; 13hr); Sam Neua (1-2
daily; 14hr).
Southernbusstation
Buses from points south along Route 13 stop at the Southern Bus Sta-
tion ( 071 252066), 3km south of the centre. There are daily buses to Phonsavan (8.30am),
two daily to Sayaboury (9am & 2pm) and Vang Vieng (9.30am & 12.30pm), and regular VIP
and normal “Express” services to Vientiane (first at 7am), with a VIP sleeper at 8.30pm.
Destinations
Phonsavan (1 daily; 10hr); Sayaboury (2 daily; 5-6hr); Vang Vieng (2 daily;
6-7hr); Vientiane (10 daily; 10-12hr); Vinh, Vietnam (1 daily; 22hr).
Naluangtouristbusstation
Naluang tourist bus station (aka minibus station) is opposite the
Southern Bus Station, and serves an ever-expanding list of destinations north, south and in-
ternational. Tourist buses will normally drop you centrally - often at a guesthouse that the
driver has links to, though you're not obliged to stay there. Moving on, you'll save money if
you book direct with the bus station itself ( 071 212979,
naluangstation.com
)
; their tick-
ets are cheaper than the agencies in town but still include transfer. More locally, they're also
useful for minibuses to
Kuang Si
and for
motorbike rental
.
Destinations
Bangkok, Thailand (1 daily; 22hr); Chiang Mai, Thailand (1 daily; 16hr);
Hanoi, Vietnam (6 weekly; 24hr); Jinghong, China (1 daily; 21hr); Kunming, China (1 daily;
26hr); Loei, Thailand (daily; 9hr); Luang Namtha (1 daily; 9hr); Mengla, China (daily; 13hr);
Nong Khiaw (1 daily; 3hr); Oudomxai (1 daily; 5hr); Phonsavan (1 daily; 7hr); Vang Vieng
(3-5 daily; 5-6hr); Vientiane (2 daily; 10hr); Vinh, Vietnam (6 weekly; 24hr).
BY BOAT
Arrival
In 2012, the slow boat pier for services to/from Houayxai and Pakbeng was moved to
Ban Don, 10km east of the old city, in a move to benefit the local tuk-tuk drivers; speedboats
arrive at the same place. Sawngthaews to town (20,000K/person) should drop you at your ac-
commodation once you've bought a ticket at the booth at the top of the landing. Drivers may
try to disgorge you on the edge of the old city - stand your ground. At the time of writing,
there were no boat services running on the Nam Ou to Nong Khiaw, though these were ru-
moured to restart by mid-2014 (with a change of
boats
at Hat Kip); until they were suspended
in late 2013, they ran from the old slow boat pier behind the Royal Palace in the old city.
Departures
Slow boats depart daily for Pakbeng (110,000K) en route to Houayxai
(220,000K) at 8.30am. While you can buy tickets at the navigation office in Ban Don (
071 212237; arrive at least half an hour early), it's much easier to pick one up from a travel
agent in town. Prices are much higher (190,000K to Pakbeng is typical), but will include
pick-up from your accommodation; otherwise, a sawngthaew to the pier will cost around
60,000K (for the vehicle). The eight-seater speedboats to Pakbeng (190,000K) and Houayxai
(320,000K) theoretically depart at 9am (arrive early to be sure of a seat), though, as they'll
