I am looking for an update of overland trips from Vietnam into Laos. I have still in mind some traveler's reports about a horror trip from Hanoi to Vientiane. However, these reports are 6 - 8 years old. Not sure if they are still valid today.
What is the best way? We are coming from ---Ho Chi Minh City--- and plan to go to Luang Prabang end of June. We have 7 - 9 days and want to enjoy the scenery, avoid overnight bus trips and prefer routes with more than one bus or minibus a day in order not to get stuck somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Our options are
a) HCM - Dalat - Buon Ma Thuot - Attapeu - Pakse - Vientiane - Luang Prabang OR
b) HCM - train to Hué - Lao BaoSavanaakhet - Vientiane - Luang Prabang OR
c) HCM - Paksé direct route (are there buses??) - Vientiane - Luang Prabang OR
d) a completely different alternative: staying in China flying to Kunming and traveling into Laos via Mengla and then to Luang Prabang.
Has anybody tried out the border crossings recently?
Appreciate every advice!
Thanks
Helmut