Hi,
we, two men, are planing going LP - Nong Khiaw by bus, then to Muang Khou by boat and to Tay Trang by bus or whatever will take us to DBP border. Then we want to go to Sa Pa and then to Hanoi.
We are planning this late November.
Questions>
How long time this might take when we want to make some hill tribe treks around the river (either Nong Khiaw or Muang Khou) and then also around Sa Pa.
Any advice about trek possibilities in these locations appreciated: how to arrange one, for how long time to go (we have two days max for each location-is it ok?), prices, e.g. is for trek better Muang Khou or Nong Khiaw?.......u see ...any advice appreciated.
Is it ok to take a slow boat from NK to MK? I mean if there are any boats actually, how often they go, how long time does it take, is it worth the money, isn't bus through Udomxai better, ...
Is Tay Trang - DBP border open? (the most critical issue)
How long time all this might take. (I hope we make it in 6-8 days with treks) - we are in a hurry, but want to enjoy treks in a relaxing pace. What do you think?
How easy is to get from DBP to Sa Pa and then to Hanoi..[we plan Halong Bay afterwards]?
Is it possible to change in DBP Kips we haven't spent in Laos?
Thanx in advance, there are posts about the other way round but for us practically useless. If you see my plan is a nonsense, please write so AND advice me what is wrong and how you would do it. I haven't ever been to that part of the world, so any advice is highly appreciated. Than you again.
Border is open according to other reliable posts here. We will cross in December.
I think you're too rushed. To do a one-night trek (and that's a mighty short one - I'd say do a 3 day/2-night trek at minimum) takes a day to arrange, and then two days from your schedule. That's three days; two treks = 6 days minimum. And you'll need 4-5 days to travel the route, assuming you don't want to stop and take advantage of whatever opportunity comes our way. I'd take 2 weeks minimum for your current plans (then again, I can.)
Transportation is pretty reliable but doesn't necessarily run on your schedule. Easy to have to "put up" in a town for a night waiting 18 hours or more for the next availability. A day of rain can bring the effort to move to a standstill. One tummy upset by one member of your party can halt progress for a day (another 10 hour bus ride??).
We trekked outside of Muong Khua during Akha New Year last year. Highly recommended. But I would have no doubt that trekking out of Nong Khiaw would be any less fascinating, eye-opening, and entertaining. We arranged our trek in Muang Khua. Ask about guides at any guesthouse - might take a day to organize, of course. And trust your gut about a guide - getting stuck with a poor communicator or facilitator for a guide can take away a lot of the enjoyment and opportunity.
Kip is worth nothing outside of Laos. Hand your leftover to a needy local cause or a traveller coming the other way.
DBP to Sapa should be as easy as a long bus-ride - might take 2 days (although VN travel is usually more reliable than Lao). Might see something o the way you want to stop and visit. Sapa itself is a couple days, let alone doing some trekking or homestay. Sapa to Hanoi is a quick busride and than a night or day train away (12 hours).
Slow boat for that short ride (2 hr?) is fine. There are speed boats, but the route isn't that distant. Boat leaves when its full or your willng to pay a bargained amount for the empty seats. Easy to get full boats in the morning. Tougher as the day wears on.
We may cross in Sapa, as my family plans 4 weeks from Sapa (trek/homestay) -> DBP -> Muang Khua/LP -> Sam Neua (homestay) -> Hanoi.
NK-MK slowboat more than 2 hours esp since it's upriver, should be at least USD10/person (more if there aren't enough people & you hafta charter a boat) & more scenic than songthaew/bus via Udomxai. if have problems communicating with boat drivers, can look for Khamsouk at tourist info hut at top of NK boat landing if he is still working there...he speaks pretty decent English & can drink with him & the boat drivers =P
don't know about arranging treks but maybe Church of Sunset GH in NK can help (email is on his website). Akha Men's New Year lasts 4 days, usually late Dec, depends on Akha calendar 'calculations' by village's dzoema, can vary between villages.
WSC,
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<hr>Akha Men's New Year lasts 4 days ...<hr></blockquote>
Just curious: what do you mean by Akha Men's New Year? And do celebrations really last four days? When I visited a few Akha villages between Muang Long and Xieng Kok last year at that time, different villages seemed to be having the big party at slightly different times: the first village we came to, everybody was still sitting up from the night before, and were pretty far gone on Lao Lao. At the next village, where we stayed, they were just getting ready to go that night. But I thought both events were really one night affairs. Also, from memory, just after the Roman New Year.
#3: what i know is limited to Lomi & Ulo Akha subgroups in Thailand, & what my friends told me about their visits to their Lao counterparts in Bokeo & Namtha areas. more than 10 subgroups in Laos, some found in Bokeo are not found in Phongsaly & vice versa.
different villages celebrate at different times, lucky date chosen by dzoema...Chiangrai friends usually can't confirm dates for their villages till a few weeks before even though they have Akha calendars with all the sheep/termite/rabbit/etc days indicated. always Dec/Jan after harvest. last Dec in Phongsaly was told that most villages would be early Jan 2007 but one particular village only in Feb 2007. for all we know maybe they stagger it so that relatives have time to travel between villages to visit & celebrate together?
was told 4 days, but was there only for first 2. first day - pig sacrifice by dzoema & share meat with all households, carve wooden tops for top-spinning contests, pound of sticky rice to make 'haw thirng' 'rice cake' for spirit & ancestor offerings, 'bamboo pipe' dance & dancing in a circle, visits from relatives in nearby villages, so much going on couldn't keep track. can't recall if women went to collect 'holy water' in gourds from 'ceremonial' pond on first or second morning. there's one morning for heads of households to gather & sort out debts & disputes too.
'Men's/Women's' is just an outsider way of distinguishing between two festivals? many refer to Swing Festival (late Aug-Sept) as 'Women's New Year' & this Dec/Jan celebration as 'Men's New Year' cos top-spinning is a guys-only activity.
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<hr>Is Tay Trang - DBP border open? (the most critical issue)<hr></blockquote>
Yes.
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<hr>How easy is to get from DBP to Sa Pa and then to Hanoi..[we plan Halong Bay afterwards]?<hr></blockquote>
Very easy. Get on a bus in the morning. Maybe it's possible in one long day (to get to Sapa, definitely not all the way to Hanoi), I broke the trip twice for an overnight, just went to Lao Cai. The train station is there. Might be worth it to book tickets for the train in Sapa if possible.
hi everyone, thank you a lot...
Do u know how often might go buses/any transportation to the border? is it possible to hitch something in Laos?
I think we will make some trek around DBP and not head to SaPa as it would cost us too much time..do u know anything about doing treks there? I just know it is possible...
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