I fly into Vientiane 15 Nov and leave 20 Nov. Having read the posts here I've decided not to stay in Vientiane for too long but to head up to Vang Vieng spending 16-19 there. Is this ambitious? I understand the journey is about 4hours, so I reckon giving myself a whole day either end to make sure I catch my plane should be OK, buses are dependable,regular and easy to get a seat on I presume?
Ideally though, I want to hire a taxi for the journey to Vang Vieng and back so I can stop when I want, to take photo's and whatnot. Does anybody know if this is possible and if it is, how much I should budget for. So, in essence;
1 Does my mini-itinerary allow enough time for what I plan?
2 Is the preferred taxi option possible and affordable?
Thanks in advance all.
There is not much to take pictures of first of all.
You can take a VIP Mini bus (Tourista Van) that seats about 8 people, for about $6. I imagine a private hire would be about $50.
Going from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng and then from Vang Vieng my wife and I had no problem getting mini-vans. There are many of them, as well as buses. For details and photos of our trip see the "Thailand & Laos" section of Our Travel Journals: www.evcal.org</a>
I've never heard of anyone taking a taxi for this route and there is no reason to stop on the way. Big buses leave around 10 in the morning for $6 and will pick you up at your guest house in Vte.
Ok what time do you arrive?am/pm just walk out fo main exit gates to airport turh right and stop and flag the first bus that passes by they will all go through Vang Vianne practically every hr.
cost around between 15,000 and 40,000kip
if you arrive really early then maybe do a small trip around Vientianne first and get local bus from central bus station near mkt to Vang Vianne.
coming back get 530am bus will pass by the airport gates at around 930am, what time is your flight out from Vientianne? visa on arrival ask for 14 days not the 28 day one
itinary:
arrive early am vientianne 4 hrs there and then around lunchtiime local bus to luam Phrabang [gets there around 10pm]
spend 16th luam Phrabang do early am waterfall palace pm and ethnic dancing mkt evening
early am 5am get tuk tuk to sthern bust station and take local bus get early for good window seat.
on minbuses you miss so musch and also VIP buses the windows stay shut and are dirty the local buses are fun share sticky rice and also wiondows slide open for that picture, they also stop 15 minutes Pou Khoum and Kasi fantastic scenery and karsts arrives 3pm in Vang Vianne
18th up 8am for tubing 2-4 hrs and after lunch do reclining Bhudda cave you can walk 3 caves back so take torches
20th early530am local bus to Vientianne get driver to drop off airport gate.
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