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Travel Forum / Destinations / Asia / November 2003Laos Vientiane to Luang Prabang via Highway 13
Any comments about recent trips by road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang via Highway 13? I'm aware of Lonely Planet Thorn Tree postings as well as the usual government travel advisory sites. I'm especially interested in comments about relative costs of "VIP" bus, minibus, or local bus; typical reliability of each, and perceptions of travel safety given the relatively infrequent, but serious incidents along this route. Thanks. Rich > Any comments about recent trips by road from Vientiane to Luang > Prabang via Highway 13? I'm aware of Lonely Planet Thorn Tree [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Thanks. > Rich Hi Rich! There is a bus in the morning from Vientiene market to Luang Prabang for 47000 kip and a number of busses from the northern busstation for 65000 kip. They both take 9 to 10 hours with stops for eating etc. Transport in Laos is quite expensive compared to other countries in South-East Asia. You pay at the (goverment) office. So it is quite hard to bargain. I would say you can't save money by first going to Vang Vien and change bus there. Busses have now armed safty guards on board, which they pick up just befor going into the mountains, maybe one hour north of Vang Vien. Furthermore, drivers often stop to give offerings to buddhist shrines by the way, which gives additional safety. I have not heard about unreliabel busses. Take care > Furthermore, drivers often stop to give offerings to buddhist shrines by the > way, which gives additional safety. :-) I like that! Reminds me to a lengthy (4 hours) taxi ride in Sri Lanka. Wild driver and terrible traffic. But he stopped at every temple/shrine and gave some money. He was successful with that strategy, by the way. ... > Busses have now armed safty guards on board, which they pick up just befor > going into the mountains, maybe one hour north of Vang Vien. > > Furthermore, drivers often stop to give offerings to buddhist shrines by the > way, which gives additional safety. ... Just to provide an update, based on a trip last week, while some buses may have armed guards, my minibus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng (35,000 kip) and my "VIP" bus from Vang Vieng (50,000 kip) to Luang Prabang did not. I did see some armed soldiers in several spots, but they didn't seem to be deployed too effectively or ready for any significant opposition activity (one soldier had a baby slung on his back). The trip seemed safe enough. Rich |
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