"On the Road in Laos" Laos by BorderHopper

Laos Travel Guide: 4,005 reviews and 8,357 photos

Kuang Si Falls near Luang Prabang - Laos

Overland to Vientiane, The Lao Capital

After a nearly 40 hour overland journey from Cambodia, through Thailand, we ended up in the north-eastern Thai border city of Nong Khai on the Mekong river. It was 5 am and the Lao border was not due to open until 8 am so we had a few hours to kill on the frontier. A few western travellers milled around the locked entrance of the Friendship Bridge which spans the mighty Mekong river and connects Thailand and Laos. We could hardly wait to get across but in the wee hours of the morning all we could do was watch the stray dogs play in the road and wait .
At 8 am we hiked to the Thai/Lao immigration booths, went through the exit/entrance formalities, and finally we were on our way into Lao PDR. It's easy to obtain visas upon arrival for $35 usd. From the border area it was a 45 minute ride by samlor, with several stops, into the Lao capital of Vientiane.

Northeast to Luang Prabang

Child in Pak Ou Village

I was traveling with my buddy and while dining at a little French Lao eatery in Vientiane we met a fellow American guy who had accompanied us from the border to this restaurant for breakfast. He walked with a cane after suffering a broken leg in a motorcycle accident in Thailand and explained to us that he was in Laos just to renew his Thai visa and he hoped to get back to his wife and home in the Thai countryside within a day or two. It became clear after a while that our fellow compatriot was a bit loopy and the stares we recieved from a sour French couple at a nearby table made it clear to us that we weren't the only ones who thought that. His explained that it had been months since he encountered anyone who spoke english and who also happened to be an American. His life in rural Thailand was obviously taking a toll on him & by the end of breakfast and our conversation I just couldn't help feeling sorry for the poor chap but I prayed to the higher power that he wouldn't accompany us to Luang Prabang....our next destination. Luckily for us all it took was a handshake and some pleasantries and we were off on our way to Luang Prabang without our American friend. LP is a beautiful town nestled between the Mekong and Nam Seuang rivers and also has the distinction of being classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Its a fairly sleepy city surrounded by karst landscapes and minority villages. We spent a considerable amount of our time time in Laos right here in LP.

An Opium den in Vang Vieng: They call it "visting the dragon"

Last visit to Laos: Feb 1999
Intro Updated Apr 3, 2004
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An english girl visits "the Dragon" in Vang Vieng - Laos

Visiting the Dragon Warnings Or Dangers (5)

Opium can be procured in Vang Vieng and there are a number of dens operating in this town. Most of the dealers are... more travel advice

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Comments (68)

Helga67 Jul 22, 2005 at 2:32 AM Report Abuse

Great page with lovely pics, especially those of the children.
bkoon Apr 1, 2005 at 6:06 AM Report Abuse

Definitely a thumbs up for this page. Good information. Cool that you ventured into the village and had interacted with the Lao people. I would like to do that when I am there too. Thanks for sharing. Bee :)
buffymaus Nov 19, 2004 at 2:09 PM Report Abuse

you got some very nice pix, my favorite are the ones where u show people who live there! Laos is such a great country!!!
wcph Sep 29, 2004 at 8:00 PM Report Abuse

Nice and insightful page. Have been to Luang Prabang but missed Kuang Si Falls. Beautiful waterfall photo!
kentishgirl Jul 25, 2004 at 2:32 PM Report Abuse

Great page with brilliant piccies! Thanks for sharing!
canadiantravelgirl Apr 20, 2004 at 9:17 PM Report Abuse

Interesting page with great tips!!!
awayhome Apr 19, 2004 at 11:00 AM Report Abuse

Should we go to Laos again this time?
vigi Dec 23, 2003 at 7:37 AM Report Abuse

lovely pictures, and interesting adventure. Can't wait to explore the villiage myself!
Narviking Dec 18, 2003 at 2:50 PM Report Abuse

Wonderful page. I were in Laos one year ago. Loved it ! Greetings from Norway !
AndreSTGT Nov 13, 2003 at 5:18 AM Report Abuse

Excellent page on Luang Prabang, good info+personal stories. Great idea to visit Pak Ou by bike, must have been a faascinating excursion. And the story about the domestic flight-hilarious- too bad i missed Lao Aviation.