The far north - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 267

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: PHONGSALI AND AROUND
By plane Lao Skyway runs a twice-weekly service (Tues & Sat; 1hr 40min) from Vientiane
to Boun Neua airport, 41km west of Phongsali. Tickets (one million kip) can be bought from
the airline office in the Viphaphone guesthouse ( 088 210999), or online, and cover transfer
from Phongsali to the airport.
Bysawngthaew Sawngthaews from Hat Sa stop at the small Hat Sa bus stop just under 1km
east of town, from where it's an easy downhill walk to the centre; alternatively, sawngthaews
charge 7000K from here to the tuk-tuk stand in the centre, or 10,000K to drop off at one of the
guesthouses. Moving on, a sawngthaew departs from the Hat Sa bus stop at 8am (get there
by 7.30am) for the boat departure from Hat Sa, which usually leaves once the sawngthaew
arrives. Note that if there aren't enough passengers at Hat Sa, your only option will be to
charter a boat or try again the next day.
By bus Buses from Oudomxai arrive at the Oudomxai bus station, 3km west of town, from
where you can get a sawngthaew to the turning for the tourist office in the centre (7000K).
Leaving Phongsali, sawngthaews set off from the same point at 7am for the Oudomxai bus
station for the 8am departure to Oudomxai (7-8hr). The fastest bus to Vientiane is the 2pm
VIP service, though cheaper, slower buses also leave at 8.15am and 11am.
To China It's currently a two-day trip to China via the Lan Tui-Meng Kang border check-
point, newly accessible to foreigners, right at the far northern tip of Laos. Take the 9am bus to
Ou Tai (via Boun Neua ; 5-6hr), where you'll need to stay overnight - there are a few simple
guesthouses - and then the 9am bus the following day direct to Jiangcheng (4-5hr), the first
major town into China, 33km north of Lan Tui. The mountainous road is narrow and tough
going and may be impassable in the rains, though it's due to be widened and paved by 2017,
which should make the journey possible in a day. From Jiangcheng, you can arrange onward
transport to Pu'er and Kunming.
Destinations Boun Neua (3-4 daily; 1hr 30min); Boun Tai (daily; 3hr); Hat Sa (daily; 1hr);
Muang Khoua (daily; 7hr); Oudomxai (daily; 7-8hr); Ou Tai (daily; 5-6hr); Vientiane (3
daily; 25-27hr).
INFORMATION
Tourist office The helpful tourist office (Mon-Fri 8-11.30am & 1.30-4.30pm; 088
210098, phongsaly.net ) is situated just south of the main road. They can provide good in-
formation about the town and transport options, as well as a useful map, and offer a range of
treks and tours .