South central Laos - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 311

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: NA HIN
By bus From Na Hin there are daily connections to Vieng Kham, Vientiane and Thakhek. If
you're heading east to Lak Xao and the Vietnamese border, any bus travelling along Route 8
from Vientiane should stop for you.
ACCOMMODATION
Sainamhai Resort 3.5km south of town 020 2249 8989, sainamhairesort.com . If you
choose to stay in Na Hin, check out Sainamhai Resort , which has gorgeous riverside bunga-
lows and good trekking ri ght on it s doorstep. It's also possible to rent a motorbike here for
the trip to Kong Lo Cave . 224,000K
Lak Xao
Like many towns along Route 8, Lak Xao is dusty and uninviting, with nothing in the way
of attractions. Still, it makes a handy stopover if you're travelling east to Vietnam (see The
Nam Phao/Cau Treo border crossing ) , with a handful of reasonable guesthouses spread out
on Route 8 and Route 1E.
THE NAM PHAO/CAU TREO BORDER CROSSING
If you've come as far east as Lak Xao and want to use the Nam Phao/Cau Treo border
crossing into Vietnam, your best option is to hop into a shared tuk-tuk (20,000K) at the
main market for the 35km journey to the border (40min). If you're crossing into Laos from
Vietnam, there's usually a tuk-tuk on hand, but you may well have to charter it outright
(expect to pay 100,000K to Lak Xao).
Crossing the border (daily; roughly 8am-5pm) can be a hassle, so it's best to start your
journey early to ensure you don't end up stuck at the border. On the Vietnamese side there's
usually a small army of touts ready to pull you into a van headed for Vinh. Neither immig-
ration post is near a town of any size; the settlement on the Vietnamese side of the border
is Cau Treo , 105km west of Vinh on Highway 8.
A relatively stress-free way to get across this border is by taking one of the nightly Vinh-
bound buses from Vientiane (160,000K) or Thakhek (90,000K).
Lao visas on arrival are available at this border, but you'll need to arrange Vietnamese
visas in advance. There is a Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane .
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: LAK XAO
By sawngthaew Sawngthaews depart from the bus station just east of Route 8 when full,
bound for Thakhek (4hr) and the Nam Phao/Cau Treo border crossing (40min).
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