Vietnam-Laos Border Crossing Complete Guide

-

Crossing the border between Vietnam and Laos could be long and sketchy but surely an experience to remember, at least for me! In this post, you should be able to see the border points where you could cross between Vietnam and Laos. I will also share my own experience about crossing the NamCan border. From how to get a bus, the cost, time travel, and what you should truly expect from this journey. Plus, a guide on how to get from the bus station to your accommodation in Luang Prabang.

    BORDER POINTS:

    • Tay Trang – Sobboun (Laichau, VN – Pongsly Prov, Laos)
    • Nameo – Banteui (Thanh Hua, VN – Huaphanh Prov, Laos)
    • Namkan – NamCan (Nge An, VN – XiengKhuan Prov, Laos)
    • Keoneua – Nam Pho (Hatinh Prov, VN – Bolikhamxai Prov, Laos)
    • Chalo – Napao border checkpoint (Quang Binh Prov, VN – Khammoun Prov, Laos) NO visa on arrival, Travellers who wish to cross this border point need to secure a Lao visa prior to arriving
    • Lao Bao – DAnsavanh border checkpoint (Quang Tri Prov, VN – Savannakhet Prov, Laos)


    The border points
    My own Vietnam-Laos border crossing experience was from Hanoi to Luang Prabang via NamCan border. Keep reading to find out how to do it.

    HOW TO GET A BUS

    Walk to any travel agency and ask if they book a bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang. They will make a call to see the availability. You will be asked when you want to go, the bus drives every day. I can’t really remember if they drive in the morning too, but I took a night bus. You will also be asked where you want to be picked up, some bus companies do pick up from accommodations some agencies will ask you to be at their office where you will be picked up.
    I was picked up at 17.00(5 pm), a shuttle bus took me to the bus station, where the bus left at 19.00 (7 pm).
    Cost of the bus ticket about: $47 USD or 990,000 VND
    TIP: If you are travelling on a budget, you can also go to the bus station to book your own ticket in advance or show up early to make sure you get a ticket on the day of your trip. Ticket cost: $12-$22 (250,000 to 500,000 VND).

    TRAVEL TIME

    Crossing Vietnam-Laos border is easy but the travel time normally takes about 24 hours to reach Luang Prabang from Hanoi, however, this depends on which border the bus will cross. Some buses even stop in the other cities which makes the journey longer. In my own experience we travelled for 30 hours, I know! I must be crazy right?! Bus companies pick up a lot of local passengers and goods along the way which also the reason for the long journey.

    WHAT TO EXPECT ALONG THE JOURNEY

    After we drove to the bus station, I placed my big backpack in the under compartment, make sure you don’t include any valuable items in it. Inside the bus, bunk beds are aligned on both sides whilst there is a tiny space in the middle full of mattresses. Half way of the bus, there are bunk beds in the middle as well. To me, it looked like they compiled the foreigners at the back and have the locals in the front part of the bus.


    The sleeper bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang
     My advice is to take the top bunk because I find the lower bunk too isolating. The beds are soft in its own way, however, there weren’t any blanket or pillow provided. We stopped a lot throughout the way to pick up and drop off local passengers and goods. Around 21.00 (9 pm), we stopped for dinner, here you can take a toilet break and brush your teeth before going back to the bus to continue the journey. Remember that there is no toilet inside the bus, some travellers claimed that some bus companies do have.
    We reached the border of NamCan at 06.00 (6 am), however, the border opens at 07.00 (7 am), thus we have to wait for two hours. There is a building where you can buy some snacks and coffee but no “real food”.

    VIETNAM-LAOS BORDER CROSSING: Crossing the Border

    I was told that I have to take out all my bags to be inspected when I exit the border of Vietnam, but this didn’t happen. I sat with the other travellers at the border control office, handed my passport and waited until my name was called. After receiving my passport with the exit stamp, I walked for three minutes to cross the friendship bridge of Vietnam and Laos.
    At the border control of Laos, we were given a form to fill out. After writing out all the needed information, I handed it back together with my passport. It was like a magic for me when I got my passport with a stamped entry for Laos without paying anything. Whilst the nationals who need a visa had to pay US$40 for the 30-day visa. Finally, an advantage of having my Philippines passport.
    At this point of Vietnam-Laos border, you can also exchange your remaining Vietnamese Dong to Laotian Kip or exchange your US Dollars/Euro to Laotian Kip. The rate is not very good but you don’t really have any option as you need local money for food and transportation to your accommodation. You can also take a bathroom break here or brush your teeth before going back in the bus. We left the border around 07.45 (7.45 am).
    I hopped back to the bus and continued the journey. It was already noon when we stopped for brunch. So, do remember to pack a good amount of snack for this journey. After lunch, we drove for another seven hours before we reached Luang Prabang.

    HOW TO GET TO YOUR ACCOMMODATION

    We arrived at the bus terminal around 19.00 (7 pm), there you can find tuk-tuks that will take you to your accommodation. Try to ask the other travellers to share the tuk-tuks so you don’t have to pay a lot of money. Simply tell the driver the name of your accommodation or show the address. Don’t pay more than $2 US Dollar or 17,000 LAK.

    WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT THIS EXPERIENCE?

    I honestly find the experience quite enjoyable. It was indeed too long and exhausting, I think I was dehydrated and had to deal with some stomach cramps because I was hungry a few times and it took us quite some time to get proper food. However, it was nice to be around the locals and see how do they normally travel from one place to another. The view along the way was amazing too! We crossed a mountain, I guess that’s why it took us forever to reach our destination. I enjoyed it to the fact that I did the same journey from Luang Prabang back to Hanoi, I know, I must be nuts!
    I hope this article of Vietnam-Laos border crossing has been useful to you! Safe travels!
    source: amaryroad.com

    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    Vietnam to Cambodia Border Crossing

    -
    Image
    Vietnam shares three international border crossings with Cambodia at the following points: Moc Bai (Vietnam) to Bavet (Cambodia) is the longest established border crossing which is used on the main bus route between HCMC and Phnom Penh. Vinh Xuong (Vietnam) to Kaam Samnor (Cambodia) is a popular crossing amongst independent travellers. Many take a fast ferry boat from Chau Doc in the Mekong Delta as far as Phnom Penh. Tinh Bien (Vietnam) to Phnom Den (Cambodia) near Chau Doc gives access to southern Cambodia. It is a land crossing mainly used by locals and there’s little in the way of tansport at either side of the border (see our story below). Ha Tien (Vietnam) is just 8km from the Cambodian border but it is strictly for locals. Foreigners are not allowed to cross here. If you want to discover the country of Angkor Wat , the world’s largest religious building and Buddhism that is practiced by 96% of the population, do not hesitate to take a trip from Vietnam to Ca...
    Read more

    Sapa trekking Cat Cat, Lao Chai & Ta Van Village 2 days

    -
    Sapa trekking Cat Cat, Lao Chai & Ta Van Village 2 days Day 1: Hanoi – Sapa (/-/-/) Pick up at airport, transfer to Hanoi Old Quarter, check in 2 start hotel. leisure and free for dinner until transfer to railway station. 8:30pm   depart from your hotel in   Hanoi   by car to the rail way station and catch the   10:00pmnight train to Lao Cai (soft sleeper with air-con), arrive   5:30   or   6:00am. Day 2: Sapa Short Trekking (Cat cat Village) (B/L/D) Our guide meets you at the Lao Cai train station, and you depart for Sapa by minibus. Arriving in Sapa mid-morning, you check in to the hotel, have breakfast and some time for R&R. After lunch, our guide takes you to visit two Black H’mong villages (Cat Cat Village) and a waterfall. There, you will have a chance to see the hydroelectric power station built by the French. After that, it’s back to Sapa for dinner. In the e...
    Read more

    Aqua Mekong River Cruises - Asia Cruise Booking

    -
    Image
    Aqua Mekong River Cruises - Asia Cruise Booking : Aqua Mekong River Cruises - enjoy best cruise in Mekong River Aqua Mekong River Cruises Taking guests into Aqua Expedition’s next frontier, Vietnam and Cambodia in Southeast Asia, is the Aqua Mekong river cruise. Embarking from Siem Reap (REP), Phnom Penh (PNH) or Ho Chi Minh (SGN-Saigon), 7 night, 4 night and 3 night Mekong River cruises transport you down or upriver. Cruising Asia’s Mekong River between Vietnam and Cambodia, the 205-foot Aqua Mekong is a floating five-star hotel with a guide to guest ratio of 1 to 10. The sustainably crafted ship’s 20 designer suites – the river’s largest guestrooms — overlook the Mekong through floor-to-ceiling windows. This is the only ship on this stretch of the river to offer a fully equipped gym, screening room, outdoor cinema, observation deck, and an upper-deck pool. Dine on world-class dishes created by top Southeast Asian cuisine chef, David Thompson and board the Mekong’s only priv...
    Read more