Ethnic Diversity in Luang Namtha

I travelled to Luang Namtha province for the first time in 2002, fell in love with the place, and have been back many times since.

On my second visit, i decided to spend the nxt few years doing an intensive photodocumentary on the ethic diversity of this rapidly changing province, to record the traditional lifestyles of the minority villages.

You can see some of my photographs plus descriptions on my website

http://kees.zenfolio.com/

Ethnic Diversity in Luang Namtha

These are excellent shots. I thoroughly recommend that anyone interested in Laos culture take the time to have a look.

Ethnic Diversity in Luang Namtha

TERRIFIC shots. They show not only the heart of these people, but yours.

vc

Bus Days - V V to LP

Anyone know if the bus from VV to LP runs on Sundays?

Thanks

Luke

Bus Days - V V to LP

There are buses daily from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.

With a choice of bus type - VIP, local and mini.

Go well.

M.

Luang Prabang to Huay Xai by boat

From my readings it appears that most of the reported problems with the 2 day boat trip from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is due to overcrowding. It seems most people do the trip in this direction. But all those boats must eventually travel back up river. Other then Asian Oasis has anyone done that boat trip in reverse, from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai. I can%26#39;t think of any neagtives to this, other then the trip might be a bit slower, but I expect it would certainly be less crowded.

I will be there in December with my family and I know this is probably the busiest time. However, I%26#39;m thinking that busy=more crowded boats going down river=more uncrowded boats going up river.

Also, anyone have any experience with chartering a boat for this trip between the border and Luang Prabang.

Luang Prabang to Huay Xai by boat

I%26#39;m also wanting to do this but in Mid-October - can anyone give any info on whether it is possible.

Luang Prabang to Huay Xai by boat

Well, no replies yet but you might find this interesting reading. Among other things, it does suggest that the upriver trip takes longer, 3 days rather then 2. I guess that makes sense as you%26#39;re travelling against the current:

mekongexpress.com/laos/articles/dc_0695_meko…

Anyone have any feedback on the boat trip from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai (i.e. going north), as per my original post.

We are booked on the boat going from L.P up river. STill takes 2 days, not 3.. THEY say that there are only 40 places on this boat. Is also less crowded going this way, and the prettiest, acccording to friends just back.gemmagee

Which boat are you booked on and where did you book it?

Hi dclayw:

Perhaps I can help. In late Dec. last year 5 of us travelled from Huay Xai to LP. by speed boat. We were originally booked by 2 day slow boat but opted for a one day trip instead.

The boat is fast, loud, and crowded. The river is fairly low and lots of rocks to dodge and weave through. We smashed in the bottom about 3 in the afternoon and spent the night at a little village camped out on a big boat that stopped for the night.

The captain of our little craft repaired the boat by the light of a flickering fire on the river bank and we arrived in LP about 10 in the morning. So much for the one day trip.

It was a great adventure but not for the faint of heart.

The return trip was by slow boat. Nine hours the first day with an overnight stay in Pak Beng. Eight hours the second day. The boat was fairly full and as the day progressed people left to get off at the various villages along the way.

Take Food and WARM CLOTHES, as it gets quite chilly and damp.

I plan a trip from Saigon to Hanoi in VN next month and my destination from Hanoi will be the Plain of Jars and LP. again. I am trvelling with a friend who has never been there so will probably do the two day boat trip again. Although the trip on the Mekong has fabulous scenery and is a great river to see, the trip on the boat is rather slow and uncomfortable.

You can just go to the boat lauch area in LP and buy a ticket for the boat, or do it at a travel agent in town

eyeshadow color

Champasak to Pakse (to meet morning flight)

We%26#39;re planning on staying at Champasak the night before we fly out from Pakse on 11:45am flight to Vientiane. I think Champasak is only about 50km or so from Pakse, but do you think this will give us enough time to make the flight. I%26#39;m guessing Laos Airlines requires you to be there about an hour before for a domestic flight.

Champasak to Pakse (to meet morning flight)

Just to be on the safe side, go back and stay in Pakse. If something happens with the transport (and it sometimes does!), you will miss your flight. The last time I went to Champsak it took forever...

Champasak to Pakse (to meet morning flight)

Just to be on the safe side, go back and stay in Pakse. If something happens with the transport (and it sometimes does!), you will miss your flight. The last time I went to Champasak it took forever...

Sorry that got posted twice. Got a ';posting error/ message sending failed';, so I tried agian...

Yes I know, it%26#39;s probably a bit risky. It%26#39;s just that we wanted to stop and have a look at Champasak on the way back from Don Khon. Much eaisier if we can stay at Champasak for the night. But you%26#39;re right, while there should be plenty of time to get back, if something goes wrong.......

If you%26#39;ve got a couple of hours, you can stop and see Wat Pu, then head to Pakse.

Visa at Chong Mek

Anyone aware of any problems getting the 30 day Laos visa at Chong Mek border crossing in southern Laos (we are Australian, I assume cost will be US$35).

Anyone have any info on transport from Ubon Ratchathani (arriving by train from Bangkok) to Pakse.

Visa at Chong Mek

We used this crossing in late June. We actually had our visas (also Aussies) as there had been a few posts about this previously but you definitely can get your visa at the border. If its after 4.00pm you will pay an overtime fee.

Although we flew to Ubon we had intended to take the international bus across and through to Pakse. We had a morning flight and so could have caught the bus easily - there are 4 per day and its pretty cheap (about 200bt) One of the reasons for getting our visa beforehand was that the bus only waits so long at the border - if there aren%26#39;t many people getting visas then its no problem but if you%26#39;re the last - well who knows. In practice I think this happens rarely but I do know it happens more often at the Nong Khai crossing with some people being left behind.

As it happened we were meant to fly with Nok Air and on that day they canceled all flights - we eventually got on a Thai flight early afternoon which meant we were too late for the last bus. You can get cars/tuk tuks easily though. We took a car from the airport to the border - 1000bt (a really nice comfortable one) and then walked across the border getting our passport stamped and paying the overtime fee of a couple of dollars. Then got another beaten up old wreck to take us straight up to the Bolovean Plateau as we wanted to be there that night. Around 800 bt from memory. There were lots of motorbike taxis and fancy vans at the border - it was getting fairly late and I think they were expecting us to pay a fortune Vans looking for about 3000bt- none too enthusiastic - one of the motorbike guys when off to get his brother and the old car! It was getting dark when we got to the plateau - the car was okay if you made sure you kept your mouth shut - the windows wouldn%26#39;t close so lots of bugs coming in - fortunately only a light rain until we got there when the rain did come down.

There is a good bit of info on this crossing on the travelfish board.

Visa at Chong Mek

Really appreciate the info, thanks. I keep forgetting to look over on travelfish.

We%26#39;ve now decided to get Laos visa before we go. Will save any hassle at the border and with the collapse in the A$ it is actually cheaper to get the visa in Australia now (A$45 as opposed to US$35).

I think its as well to get the visa - its a pain about our dollar!!!! We were very glad to have gotten the visas as our trip did go a bit askew. You just never know what hold ups you might get.

Have a great trip.

Yeah, thanks again. I%26#39;m annoyed about the A$ too. Our economy looks like it will handle the current crisis better then anyone, yet we get smashed. What%26#39;s heappening here in Aus is all based on fear, although we are a commodity based economy there is still a great demand for our resources, and we will keep chugging along.

I can%26#39;t say the same for the US who played a very large part in causing this mess. There%26#39;e plenty of fear over there too, but unfortunately, they have reason to be frightened.

I also wish the Asian economies would go it alone and unpeg themselves from the US$. The cost of our trip keeps climbing by the day.

This last trip (in July) to Lao I noticed things changing a bit with the kip/dollar thing. In the other trips everyone asked for dollars - now the US to kip was not so good and kip was the preferred currency in many places. A couple of the hotels who put their rates in US$ were finding themselves out of pocket and were going to change to kip in their advertising.

Doesn%26#39;t help with our dollar though. Hope it goes up a bit for you before you go. I%26#39;d bought US a bit too early before we went just wish now I%26#39;d bought more at the top of the exchange. Mind you I brought some home and could now change that at a profit!!!! Hardly enough to worry doing that though as I managed to spend most of it.

What is your reason traveling to Laos?

I want to say thank you to all the tourists and travlers going from places to places. You all help out the economy of that country.

I was born in Laos, but i live and work in USA, also a USA citizinship. I go to Laos to visit my family.

What is your reason traveling to Laos?

What is my reason for traveling to Laos? Well, I like the papaya salad and Beerlao for starters...:-)

What is your reason traveling to Laos?

I%26#39;ll be travelling to Laos next year because I worked there as a volunteer from 1994- 1995. I want to take my children back to see the place where they spent a little of their childhood.

It%26#39;s a little sad to read this forum because it sounds as though so much has changed. However I hope the Lao people have benefited from the changes and I%26#39;m sure they won%26#39;t have lost their wonderful welcoming and gentle nature.

Peanuthead1

I would imagine Luang Prabang has probably been damaged by its tourism, but there are still quite a few places devoid of tourists. Hopefully you can take your kids to see those palces instead of the usual tourist route.

Thanks Maneki

We%26#39;ll probably try to do a little of both. I%26#39;ll have my husband and young son with me who have never been there so I think some touristy things would be in order.

When I read about gibbon experiences and tubing at Vang Vieng it%26#39;s a bit depressing, though.

And a Tesco at Nong Khai!?!

Forget about tubing, rent a mountainbike and go for a ride up to the caves. Bring a sturdy little flashlight and strong shoes as there are some serious caves to explore!

Thanks again, but we won%26#39;t be going to Vang Vieng at all. We%26#39;ll be spending a few days in Vientiane, hanging out trying to find where I used to live - not easy with no street names or numbers! - and a few days in Luang Prabang.

I%26#39;m really looking forward to it but am just preparing myself for the fact that a lot will have changed.

If only we could all go to places before they change

I still like to go to different places and connect with the locals. I will be going to Laos in December

Laos is a mystery to me and I think I will see more than just other tourists in Luang Prabang :-)

There are still quite a few places left in Laos that remain unchanged, where you can go connect with the locals. Unless you speak the language, however, that might be a hard thing to accomplish...

We%26#39;re planning a trip to Laos because we have heard so many good things about it. We love travelling in Asia, the people, the food, the culture, the history, and Laos is about the only Asian country we have not yet visited, so it%26#39;s about time. We tried to fit it in on a Vietnam/Cambodia trip about 3 years ago but just too much to do.

Yeah it%26#39;s great to visit these places and over time they change, it%26#39;s inevitable, it%26#39;s the way of the world. Whether or not they change for the better or worse, I%26#39;m not sure. I think as long as the locals benefit, then that%26#39;s probably the main thing.

One aspect that saddens me a little is the inevitable lack of planning that goes with development, tourism and the opening up of a country. I use the Thai beach resorts as an example. Ko Samui was pristine 25 years ago with only a handful of people and a few billion coconuts. I haven%26#39;t been back since (we are spending a week there at the end of the Laos trip) but I have heard a lot about it and I think that kind of develpoment is a shame. But as I%26#39;ve said before everyone%26#39;s out to make a $ and that kind of thing also happens in places like Australia to some extent. (I%26#39;m sure Pattaya was pristine about 40 years ago as well).

My first trip to Laos in %26#39;02 had to do with my wanting to learn about this mysterious country that reletively few people visit. Based on a wonderful trip to Thailand the year before, I figured that I would like Laos just as much.

I was wrong.

I ended up liking Laos much more. Those two weeks there were incredible...to this day, I still tell people that that Laos trip was my best vacation ever.

My reason for returning to Vientiane last year was not just to use it as a convenient stop-off on my way to China but as a good excuse to revisit and appreciate even more the dusty little capital city with so much to offer. It%26#39;s about the ease and convenience of being able to rent a motorbike and take myself anywhere in town and nearby attractions. It was about enjoying a great meal at the bank of the Mekong and watching the sun go down while sucking down a couple Beer Lao. It was about walking around the different temples and markets and speaking broken Thai (and even less Lao) with the locals. And of course it%26#39;s about reaquainting myself with some of the warmest, kindest people on the face of the Earth.

I don%26#39;t know when I%26#39;ll be back again - but I will be back.

database

toursfrom vientiane toluang prabang

Hello, sawahdee and thank you for your help

I am travelling to Laos on 1/12 arriving at Vientiane and leaving from LP on6/12.

I am looking for a group tour leaving Vientiane on 2/12 ( after presumably staying overnight on 1/12)and arriving LP on the fifth ( possibly 6th).

I am a single guy aged 58

I prefer a group tour as the prices I have been quoted for private are a bit too high.

my budget is maybe 6-800 dollars.

I would be interested in the usual highlights of Laos , eg vientiane, LP, Pak ou%26lt; possibly plain of Jars and/or waterfalls, possibly visiting minority vialllge

my email is reubenlewis@talktalk.net

Very many thanks for your help

toursfrom vientiane toluang prabang

Hi Reuben!

There are quite a few travel agencies in Vientiane and you could probably just belly up and book a tour when you arrive. The ones you pre-book online from your home country are pretty pricey. Here is one example and you have to submit a request before you even get a price quote, but have a look anyhow.

www.alllaoservice.com/classictours.html

Your timeframe will not allow for a trip to Phonsavan to see the jars, but I highly recommend doing a walking tour of Vientiane (a tour is hardly needed!), spend a day or two there, then embark on your tour to Luang Prabang. Additionally,you could opt to just get an air ticket from Vientane to Luang Prabang and joing little excursions to see the caves, falls, etc. 2-3 days is plenty for that. It is totally doable on your own, and a piece of cake to figure out once you%26#39;re there. Any travel agency in Vientiane can help you get the plane tickets and book you a hotel. Cheers!

toursfrom vientiane toluang prabang

Hi Maneki

Thanks for rreply and yes, they are a bit pricey. I have been slowly coming to exactly ther same conclusion as you suggest.

I am doing similar in Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok and Pnom Penh/ Seam Reap but just felt a bit lazy for Laos LOL but think now I will just boook the internal and trot out from Luang Prabang

P. ANd yes, me and my Lp ( strangely similar initials) will be doing walking circuits of both caps.

Thanks again

Reuben

PS Maneki, I intend booking the plane ticket and hotels from here via internet ( unless you think its better from Ventiane?

Reuben

If you%26#39;re traveling in December, book the flights and hotels (especially in Luang Prabang) NOW!