BASICS - The Rough Guide to Laos - page 35

Airways and newcomer Lao Central Airlines ( flylaocentral.com ) run direct flights from
Bangkok to Vientiane (the latter also connects Bangkok with Luang Prabang). All of these
flights take between one hour and one hour forty minutes.
At the time of writing, there are six main routes across the Thai border into Laos: Chiang
Khong-Houayxai ; Nong Khai-Vientiane ; Nakhon Phanom-Thakhek ; Mukda-
han-Savannakhet ; Chong Mek-Pakse ; and Beung Kan . Visas on arrival are available to for-
eign tourists at all but the last crossing, but check locally before travelling as the situation
can change. It's possible to get visas in advance from the Laos Embassy in Bangkok . A quick
and convenient way of crossing into Laos is to use direct international buses, such as those
running from Chiang Rai to Houayxai and Loei to Luang Prabang.
From Vietnam
Vietnam Airlines ( vietnamairlines.com ) flies from Hanoi to Vientiane and Luang Prabang
(both 1hr), and from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to Vientiane (3hr); Lao Airlines also con-
nects Hanoi with Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and has additional routes from Da Nang to
Savannakhet and Ho Chi Minh City to Pakse. It's also possible to travel overland into Laos
at six main border points: Tay Trang-Sop Houn ; Nam Xoi-Na Meo ; Cau Treo-Nam Phao ;
Lao Bao-Dansavanh ; and Ngoc Hoi-Bo Y . Lao visas on arrival are available at all of these
crossings.
From Cambodia
Lao Airlines operates direct flights from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang (1hr 30min) and
Pakse (1hr). Vietnam Airlines has a direct route from Phnom Penh to Vientiane (1hr 20min).
The only way to cross overland into Laos is at the Dom Kralor-Veun Kham crossing, where
it's possible to get a visa on arrival.
From China
It's possible to travel by road or air into Laos from China's southwestern Yunnan province.
Lao Airlines operates flights from Kunming to Vientiane (1hr 20min). There are also Lao
Airlines flights from Guangzhou to Vientiane (2hr) and from Jinghong to Luang Prabang
(1hr). The quickest and most straightforward border crossing is at Mo Han-Boten, with direct
services running from Jinghong to Luang Namtha and Oudomxai , though a second interna-
tional border point (Meng Kang-Lan Tui) opened in late 2013 at the northern tip of remote
Phongsali province , currently a two-day bus journey from Phongsali town.
AGENTS AND OPERATORS
Abercrombie&Kent Australia 1300 851800, New Zealand 0800 441638, UK 0845
485 1537, US 888 611 4711; abercrombiekent.com . Luxury tour operator with a couple
of Indochina offerings.