Tips for people going via Laos to Vietnam thru Tay Trang Border

[Litbour]

Well just got back a couple of weeks ago from a 2 months solo backpacking thru Indochina. Just some tips for people who want to get from Luang Prabang in Laos to Dien Ben Phu in Vietnam.

1) From Luang Prabang, take a bus to Udomxai to change bus which would take you to Muang Khua. Journey start from 9am and reach Udomxai at 2pm. Bus leave at 3pm and reach at around 6pm. This journey by bus would take you the entire day. Recommend maybe rest a night in Udomxai because you would reach Muang Khua when it night time (The sun goes down around 5pm). Also the bus terminal at Muang Khua which use to be in the town center has been relocated to outside of town where over enthusiastic Tuk-Tuk driver will load your bag into their tuk tuk and it cost you 5000kip for the 10min ride.

2) Getting from Muang Khua to Dien Ben Phu almost freak me out. According to my LP guide which say bus leave at 6am from Muang Khua. Was told by the owner of the guesthouse i was staying that i just have to cross the river to take the bus the night before. Wake up and checkout and went to the river at 5.30am. Waited half an hour for the ferry but there wasn't even one. Saw some locals and was told to wait here to cross river. Boat arrive at 6.15am and manage to cross and saw the bus which was hidden from the other side of river by the houses. The bus left at 6.30am.

3) Bus ride will take 7hours to reach Dien Ben Phu. Pls note that the bus is of the utmost dustest i have ever seen. The road condition is also the worst around or should i say what road? There is only dirt road all the way to the border. The bus even has to travel in water to cross river stream. Plus the bus will stop at villages along the way to pick up people and animals. Yup, i was siting beside 2 pigs and 3 chickens. The border post is located high up in the mountain ranges which is roughly 1000km above sea lvl making it one of the few highest border post. But the surrounding it awesome.

4) Once into Vietnam, everything is smooth riding to Dien Ben Phu. Guesthouse is just beside the bus terminal so it is very convenience. Also the guards at the border post are very friendly and some of them can speak good english. Just ask them if you have any questions they would love to help you.

[Dig]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences. That must have been a very surreal time. I bet it was a lot of fun too

You gotta have some other cool stories to tell, right?!

Oh and welcome to Tpunk! Were are you from?

[polarbear]

i would like to travel to vietnam, cambodia, and laos for my next adventure. after doing europe i think im in the mood for some more challenging travel.

how was border hopping between those countries?