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Laos
Transport
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Laos Motobikes |
Road
Travel in Laos
Road travel in Laos is rewarding and gives visitors a great feel for the
country. The road infrastructure, however, is underdeveloped. In rural
areas roads tend to be of variable quality. The major road is “Route 13”
linking the north to the south. The southern section, from Vientiane to
Pakse, is in reasonable condition but the road from Vientiane to Luang
Prabang and northbound to China is quite rundown. Away from Route 13,
roads tend to be a mix of asphalt, potholes, gravel and sand. Add in
cyclists, oxcarts, chicken and dogs and you have a fair idea of what to
expect. During the rainy season (May to October), rock and mud crumbling
is common and can interrupt the traffic, particularly in remote and
mountainous areas.
From
Vientiane, Viethoteltravel recommends domestic flights to reach the main
destinations such as Luang Prabang, Xieng Khouang, and Pakse. If you
want to have a scenic drive in Laos, we recommend the section of Route
13 between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. This journey takes two days and
passes stunning scenery including paddy fields, mountain ranges and
rural villages.
All cars
come with a driver and no self-drive is possible in Laos. Very few
drivers speak English so we strongly recommend that you always have an
English speaking tour guide with you.
Traveling by Train to Laos
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Rails Train |
There is no
railway in Laos. However, it is possible to travel by train from
Thailand to Vientiane. Stop at Nong Khai train station in Thailand, and
go by road across the Friendship Bridge (over the Mekong River) that
connects Thailand and Laos. Cross the Thai and Lao immigrations and be
welcomed by your Viethoteltravel guide who will escort you to the Lao
capital by road, just 25 km away.
Air
Travel in Laos
There is only one airline operating domestic flights in Laos: Lao
Airlines. Laos Airlines operates French-Italian made ATR aircrafts and
Y-12 aircrafts. ATR planes are propeller planes with a capacity of 70
seats and are mainly operate
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Laos Airlines |
between
Bangkok, Chiang Mai (Thailand), Kunming (China), Phnom Penh, Siem Reap
(Cambodia), Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Vientiane, Luang Prabang
and Pakse (Laos).
For some of
the remote regions of Laos, the only viable links with the main centres
are by air. Mountainous locations are served only by short landing
strips. For these operations, Lao Airlines operates a fleet of Y-12
aircraft which can seat up to 17 passengers.
Please note
that it is advisable to check-in all pieces of luggage and keep only a
small bag in the cabin due to limited storage space. Please be aware
that flight schedules are often subject to change without prior notice.
Boat Travel in Laos
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Boats In Laos |
One of the best ways to get to know Laos is by boat cruises on the
Mekong River. The Mekong River is vital to the Lao people. More than
half of the Mekong River runs through this rugged country. Up north, you
can take a 2 day cruise from Luang Prabang to Houey Xay and then onto
Thailand, in the Golden Triangle. Around Pakse in the south, you can
take a 3 day cruise to the World Heritage site of Vat Phou in the region
of Champassak and the “4,000 Islands” area on the Cambodian border.
Destinations
distance in Laos
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Routes |
Road distance in km |
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From Vientiane |
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Vientiane-Vang Xang |
68 |
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Vientiane-Vang Vieng |
160 |
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Vientiane-Nam Ngeum |
120 |
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Vientiane-Nongkhai |
22 |
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Vientiane-Luang Prabang |
390 |
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Vientiane-Xieng Khouang |
435 |
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Vientiane- Luang Namtha |
698 |
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Vientiane-Oudomxay |
583 |
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Vientiane-Houei Xay |
898 |
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Vientiane-Phongsaly |
815 |
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Vientiane-Samneua |
640 |
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Vientiane-Thakek |
354 |
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Vientiane-Lak Sao |
352 |
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Vientiane-Savannakhet |
470 |
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Vientiane-Pakse |
685 |
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From Luang Prabang |
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Luang Prabang- Vang Vieng |
230 |
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Luang Prabang-Xieng Khouang |
306 |
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Luang Prabang-Pak Ou |
30 |
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Luang Prabang-Khuangxi |
35 |
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Luang Prabang-Pakbeng |
341 by road 130 along the Mekong |
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From Luang Prabang |
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Luang Prabang-Nongkhio |
134 |
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Luang Prabang-Houei Xay |
447 by road280 along the Mekong |
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Luang Prabang-Oudomxay |
193 |
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Luang Prabang-Luang Namtha |
308 |
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Luang Prabang - Xayabouly |
119 |
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Xayabouly – Kenthao
( Namheuang ) |
228 |
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From Xieng Khouang
(Plain of Jars) |
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Xieng Khouang-Muang Khoune |
30 |
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Xieng Khouang-Namkhan |
112 |
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Xieng Khouang-Samneua |
258 |
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NORTH LAOS |
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Houei Xay-Pakbeng |
462 by road 150 along the Mekong |
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Pakbeng-Oudomxay |
147 |
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Houei Xay-Thasuang |
185 along the Mekong |
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Thasuang-Hongsa |
25 |
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Northern Laos |
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Luang Namtha-Oudomxay |
115 |
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Luang Namtha-Muang Sing |
60 |
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Muang Sing-Xiengkok |
70 |
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Luang Namtha-Boten |
56 |
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Luang Namtha-Houei Xay |
200 |
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Luang Namtha-Bountai |
261 |
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Bountai-Phongsaly |
80 |
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Oudomxay-Boten |
97 |
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Oudomxay – Muangkhoua |
100 |
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Muangkhoua – Nongkhio |
105 kms Along Nam Ou river |
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Muangkhoua – Hatsa |
105 Kms along Na Ou river |
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Hatsa – Phongsaly |
20 |
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Southern
Laos
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Km |
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Savannakhet-Pakse |
215 |
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Savannakhet-Lao Bao |
250 |
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Savannakhet-Thakek |
116 |
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Pakse-Vientiane |
640 |
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Pakse-Champassak |
30 |
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Pakse-Chong Mek |
45 |
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Pakse-Tadfane |
30 |
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Pakse-Tadlo |
120 |
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Pakse-Khong |
130 |
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Pakse - Vangtao
Chongmek (border check point with Thailand, Ubon province) |
45 |
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Pakse - Voeun
Kham (border check point with Cambodia, Stueng treng province) |
160 |
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Pakse -
Bo-y (border
check point with Vietnam, Kontum province) |
275 |
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Pakse-Sekong |
113 |
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Pakse-Attapeu |
198 |
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Sekong-Attapeu |
85 |
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Khong-Veunkham |
30 |
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Champassak-Khong |
100 |
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Thailand Portion |
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Chong Mek-Ubon Ratchatani |
90 |
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Nongkhai-Udon Thani |
58 |
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Chiang Rai-Chiang Khong |
113 |
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Chiang Saen-Chiang Khong |
70 |
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