1

You'll need visas in advance (for most countries). Just head N and cross at Tay Trang, which is near Muang Khua. You can take a boat to Muang Khua from LP or a bus (assuming you don't have your own vehicle). When you enter VN, the first place of any consequence will be Dien Bien Phu and from there it's an 8 hour bus ride to Sapa.

2

Hi Bruce, thanks for your advice. Any idea how long the trip on the river or the bus ride to Muang Khua would take? Boat ride sound goods

3

1. LPB > Nong Khiaw (3+h bus/minivan/truck or 5++h boat) > Muang Khua (5+h boat) > Dien Bien Phu (via Tay Trang, daily bus dept only in early morning)

or

2. LPB > Oudomxay (5h bus) > Muang Khua (3h bus) > Dien Bien Phu (as above)

or

3. LPB > Oudomxay (5h bus) > Dien Bien Phu (via Muang Khua & Tay Trang, bus dept only in early morning, supposedly daily now but double check at Oudomxay bus station)

personal preference is 1st option cos Nong Khiaw itself & first few hours upriver from Nong Khiaw are beautiful. stop & see more than just bus after bus after bus. could also add in a stop at Muang Ngoi Neua between Nong Khiaw & Muang Khua, just be very careful with all valuables when staying there (& in Nong Khiaw too). but March is tail end of dry season, check if boats are running. might have to get out & walk a bit at a few shallow sections. boats run only on demand, they usually want 10-14 passengers, or to be chartered by paying the equivalent of 14 passengers' worth of 120,000kip/person fares (in region of USD200) to get going, else it's hard for them to break even & cover costs esp fuel.