Fly from China (SHANGHAI) to LAOS

hi there,
I'm having a few difficulties to find the best option in term of fare to fly from SHANGHAI in China, to LAOS (nothern Part) (and come back)

If any of you already did it, I'd appreciate some feedback

I saw a SH->Kunming then KNM-> Vientiane on LAO Airlines, but the SH-KNM will be expensive I 'd like to go during Chinese Spring Festival next year...

And expedia only gives USD1100 answer :-(

Thx for your help

piks'

China Southern is supposed to start flying out of Guangzhou in the 5th of Nov.

Its pretty expensive to fly from Shanghai to SE Asia period.

Its normally best to fly to Bangkok (BKK), then to a flight to the smaller venue (Bangkok Airways 2 a day)

Is also can be cheaper to fly from Hong Kong then Shanghai...

its of course significant cheaper to fly to nearest DOmestic China town - Jing Hong, which has a daily direct bus to LPrabang, or the do it in local stages over the border for really north-laos. going via BKk will also cost much more, BKKair is not cheap at all -its a pricey tourist boutique airline

THX all!

#3 : I found on CTRIP.COM a 2WAY to JinHong 景洪 for around 3000 RMB with 30% discount.
But it doesn't exist on the English page, you have to use the name : Xishuangbanna.

I'm gonna check this bus story now, any chance you know if departure is in the morning or evening bus and how long it takes to L.Prabang?

Thx very much for the tip

PiKs'