1

it used to close at 5pm opens 8am so take the speedboat from Luam Phrabang a must in my opinion the slow boat stops overnight at Pakbeng and always misses the border closing,. so people struggling to find acommodation Lao side
so vrrooom vrooom speedboat every time the cross over Thai side and hjead off buses direct to Changmai 6 hrs or Changrai 2 1/2hrs

2

The slow boat is slow, I came down through China into Laos and caught it when it was halfway to Luang Prabang, and it was slow and not so interesting scenery after the first few minutes. Was glad I didn't get on at Huay Xai.

3

If you dont want to experience the speedboat (and wild horses wouldnt drag me onto one) it will get to Huay Xai so you can exit Laos before the border closes at 6pm. But you'll need to take one of the transport options waiting where you get off the boat to get to the Immigration office. Its rather a pleasant way to spend a couple of days imo.

4

The border closes at 18:00 between Huay Xay & Chiang Khong and you have at best a 50% chance of making it over by taking the slow boat from Pak Beng. For some variety you could take the slow boat from LP to Pak Beng, spend the night there and take a speedboat the next day to Huay Xay for a 90% chance of making it over the border before 18:00 but still no guarantee. I was once the only remaining PAX on a speedboat like this after the others got off along the way and the driver refused to take me past the Pak Tha checkpoint where I had to wait for another speedboat to come by which fortunately got me to Huay Xay just in time. No 100% thing in Laos boat trips. The 17:00 closing mentioned above is clearly and absolutely wrong as the hours have remain unchanged for years.

5

Sorry but I have stayed many times overnight in Houyxai and only the speedboats have made it in time before the border closes. I still thought it closed at 5pm as was in my first few years but even if now 6pm to 8am closed I'd still take the speedboat every time and I have taken the slow boat and also stopped in pak beng 3 times now

6

Well, monty, I hate to disallusion you!! We spent the night in Chiang Kong rather than Huay Xai after taking the slow boat.

7

Why is it westwood they always keep that border open late for VIP's ;-p Ha! Ha!
although I think the slow boat speeds up just to get rid of some pasengers lol
TGIF
speedboat every time OP you know it makes sense