Trip to Laos

Hi all,

I am planning to make a 1 week trip to Laos year end. I plan to visit Vian Vient and Lua Prabang. My flight will touch down in Vientaine. Therefore, I plan to take a bus to Lua Pharbang and spend a couple of days there. I will then hop onto another bus to Vian Vient and spend a few more days. My LP guidebook for Laos is a few years old and I am sure things over there must have changed a fair bit since then... I have a few questions which I hope that you guys could help out.

1. The distance from Vientaine to Lua Prabang is approx 300km. How is the road condition? What is the approx travelling time? Is there a lot of buses plying this route? Do we book the tickets in advance? or could we just purchase a ticket at the counter when we arrive???

2. Is 2 full days (3 days 2 nights) adequate to cover the places of interest in Lua Prabang??

3. Is 2 full days adequate to cover the places of interest in Vien Vient??

4. My 4 year old daughter will be travelling with us ... are there caves that are 'child friendly'?? i.e. no need to crawl .....

5. I believe there are buses that ply the Lua Prabang -> Vien Vient route. What is the frequency???

Thanks a bunch.

Bus timetable for many towns. There are actually more, as the busses that leave from the central station aren't listed, also there are many mini busses. In general travel is very easy but not too fast, Maybe ten hours Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Others can advise on appropriate amount of time. I could probably spend a few years getting to know Luang Prabang but have little experience. I wouldn't let the daughter get away from you while caving, safety standards are't always the best. Have a great time.

Vang Vieng Luang Prabang *Vientiane

(a WeiLong World Service)

WeiLong in Laos

With only a weeks time you are putting in much time on buses. But then bus travel in Laos can be exciting. I know less than zero about small children - but a long bus ride with a 4 year old could be...

Rob (Somsai)...

Glad to see you have been approved to post under your old name. The information that you consistently provide, including your previous PM is much appreciated. Keep up the good posts.

Caves around VV are not particularly kid-friendly especially for 4 year old - semi-dangerous climbs and no assistance if needed.

1. In my opinion, 2 days are enough for Luang Prabang.

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No caves are child friendly!!

I've never found caves that interesting. Dark, wet, cold and damp and usually touted just because they have some nearby.

Hie a bike and tootle around. The scenery is usually much better above ground especially in limestone karst areas like VV

Hi
I would say that the cave at the very south of VV / next to the resort - is quite easy to visit with children, although it is not very big in size.
brgds
bruno

I would consider the "Budha Caves" (also known as the Pak Ou Caves" near Luang Prabang child-friendly. It is located upstream on the Mekong about 30 or 40 minutes by boat from Luang Prabang. For details and photos see the "Luang Prabang" pages in the "Indochina" section of Our Travel Journals: www.evcal.org</a><BR><BR>The road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang was in fairly good shape when we were there last about two years ago. I believe it took 4 to 5 hours between Vientiane and Vang Vieng, and about the same time between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. We went by bus on that road in the opposite direction; descriptions and photos at in the "Vietnam & Laos" section of Our Travel Journals. There are frequent mini-buses and full-size buses traveling the route.

Unless there is some reason for you to rush elsewhere I would suggest you plan to stay at least four days in Luang Prabang and three days in Vang Vieng.

Thanks guys for the invaluable feedback. Looks like the best way to travel from Vientaine to Lua Prabang is by bus. Am I able to purchase the bus ticket from the guesthouse??? Or is there a specific agent that sells these tickets in designated areas. How is the condition of the buses?? Air cond??? Do they make several stops for pee and food along the way????

Thanks heaps.

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<hr>Do they make several stops for pee and food along the way????<hr></blockquote>

I only took a bus from Luang Namtha to Luang Prabang, so things might be different, but the buses usually stop by the side of the road in a quiet patch of forest. You find a tree and take a leak. Seems to work, but number two might be difficult if you're fastidious. Take paper and/or a bottle of water, depending on your personal hygiene habits. We stopped at Pak Beng for lunch, where the most noticeable item on the menu was pig fetus: maybe I'm a wimp, but I stuck with a chunk of sticky rice and some jeeouw. When pig fetus is dark and charred, it looks remarkably like rat, which is another thing I've never managed to swallow.

WoW! Looks like its going to be a bad ride from VT to LP. I am ok with 'doing' it behind a tree far and away from the crowd but don't know about my wife. Can anyone please advise if there is a better way to get to LP (from VT). Thanks.

luang prabang is very nice and child friendly, spend your time there,

vang vieng is a druggy tourist stop,

vientian is so so city.

wthou, Usually it's guys in one direction, gals in another, often no tree. I've seen those modern women who wear jeans walk a ways to find a place, compared to traditionalists who can manage anywhere. Guys simply turn thier backs. There are lots of minivans running all the time. Sign up for one through your guest house so they can make the commission. Cost is still minimal.

Dearoldauntie, I see tons of people doing the exact same drug in all 3 towns. Stereotypes tell more about the stereotyper than anything else. Typicaly I hear of folks with families liking Vang Vien a lot. It's fun for younger people.

Buses stop for a "potty break" before getting to the destintion so as not to flood the arrival locale with 45 people all needing to go at once in the single toilet (that's not very clean) at the restaurant spot/bus station. You are welcome to wait until destination ad use the "porcelain hole."

My wife wears a long skirt so one can squat without being exposed to the world. But people are remarkably polite to give people their provacy, and, as is written above, men go around the corner in one direction; woman in another.

LP is fine for kids. I've avoided VV as I find no pleasure in"traveling" to be with other farang (same with Muang Ngoi Neua); the tubing does sound fun, though. But not suitable for 4 year olds.

Buses can be long for squiggly little ones. I'd try to travel at nap time if possible. Grab a minivan, as they can more easily stop for an extra pee break and make custom accomodations for its unique passengers. Hiring a vehicle/driver just for your family might be another option - it's really not all that expensive.

I have finally confirmed the plans for the journey in Loas. We will fly into VT and stay for 2 nights. Thereafter, we will charter a private van to take us to LP. I know the journey is quite long. Is there any other way to travel from VT to LP besides the van?? i.e. Am I able to take the van to another destination and then catch a boat ride to LP??

We will be leaving for Vientaine this Saturday. I need clarifications on a few questions .... just to be sure.

1. I am bringing USD, which I believe is widely used in Laos.
2. I need to catch a cab from the airport to my guesthouse. Is the a specific booth that I have to go to? What is the rate?? I do not want to be cheated by some touts at the airport.
3. How much do I have to pay for a dedicated van to take us from Vientaine to LuaPrabang??

Thank you.