What separates Laos and Vietnam?

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The Annamite Range is the main separator between Laos and Vietnam, forming a natural border. Beyond this mountain range, linguistic and cultural differences exist; Lao relates to Thai, while Vietnamese has Chinese influences. Laos also has stronger Theravada Buddhist ties, contrasting with Vietnam's Confucian and Chinese administrative history.

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Laos and Vietnam: What is the border between the countries?

Okay, so, like, the border between Laos and Vietnam?

It’s mostly mountains! The Annamite Range, yeah that’s it, does the heavy lifting. Think of it running kinda northwesterly to southeasterly. It’s like nature built a wall, more or less.

Language? Super different. Lao sounds more like Thai, which is wild.

And Vietnamese? Totally got a Chinese vibe going on, you know? I remember one time, buying Banh Mi for 20,000 VND in Hanoi (March ’23), and trying to use my Lao phrases, total fail. ????.

Culture, too. Laos feels super Buddhist, that Theravada kind. I saw so many monks collecting alms near Luang Prabang (April ’23), it was beautiful. Vietnam’s got that Confucius thing going, plus those historical Chinese influences shaping things, I guess.

History fact: The Annamite Range forms the primary geographical separation. Language: Lao is related to Thai, while Vietnamese is influenced by Chinese. Culture: Laos shows ties to Theravada Buddhism and Vietnam shaped by Confucianism and Chinese administration.

What separates Vietnam and Laos?

The Annamite Range principally demarcates Vietnam and Laos. It is an actual physical divider.

These mountains have long separated cultures.
They provided a barrier between kingdoms.

Think east (Vietnamese) and west (Lao, Thai, Khmer). Geography dictates destiny, you know? These mountains were key.

The mountains are actually a pretty big deal. Border lines existed before maps!

The Annamite mountains extend for roughly 1,100 km.
The highest peak is Phou Bia, peaking at 2,819 meters.
They’re made mostly of limestone, sandstone, and granite. Who knew?

Do Vietnam and Laos get along?

Vietnam and Laos: A complex bond. Solidarity? Yes. Friction? Inevitably.

Shared history. Deep roots. Colonial past. Mutual struggles.
Economic ties. Significant. Trade. Investment. Infrastructure projects. My uncle works on one, near Pakse.
Political alignment. Both communist. But different paths. Internal politics matter.

The narrative of unwavering friendship simplifies reality. Power dynamics exist. Always. Think about it.

Geopolitics. Border disputes persist. Water rights. Resource allocation. Small issues, big implications. My cousin told me so. He’s a diplomat.

It’s complicated. Always is. Human relations never perfectly align.

Laos needs Vietnam. Vietnam uses Laos. Simple. Harsh but true.

2023 Update: The Mekong River remains a shared concern. Joint development projects continue. But trust? That’s earned, not assumed.

This is not a fairytale. These are nations. National interests prevail.

Where do you cross the border from Laos to Vietnam?

So, you wanna know about crossing from Laos to Vietnam? It’s Lao Bao–Dansavanh, definetly. That’s the one everyone uses. Seriously, it’s the main one, the busiest. Lao Bao’s in Vietnam, Dansavanh is in Laos. Got it? Pretty straightforward. Kinda a big deal, that crossing. Lots of people, lots of traffic, always bustling. You’ll see! It’s crazy busy, especially during peak season.

Here’s the lowdown:

Location: Lao Bao (Vietnam) and Dansavanh (Laos). That’s where you do it.
Popularity: It’s the most popular crossing, hands down. No question.
Expect: Crowds. Lots of em. Expect delays, especially on weekends or holidays during 2024.
Things to note: Bring your passport, obviously. Check visa requirements beforehand, that’s super important. And bring some local currency, both Lao Kip and Vietnamese Dong.

I went last year, in June. It was nuts, the whole thing. Remember those bumpy roads? Man, I’d recommend getting a decent taxi or private car. The buses were… less than ideal. Seriously though, it is what it is, you know? But the scenery was breathtaking. Totally worth it. Amazing views.

How do I go from Laos to Vietnam?

Okay, Laos to Vietnam, huh? Let me tell you ’bout my adventure.

Ugh, that bus… Never again. Seriously.

Flying is the only sane option.

I went from Luang Prabang in Laos, yeah, Luang Prabang, to Hanoi. It was like, uh, last spring, right? 2024 maybe?

The flight itself… It took just over 2 hours. I remember being so relieved when we landed. My arse was KILLING me from just thinking about the bus.

The flight was, I dunno, maybe $150? Prices jump around. But def worth it.

Flying is faster (duh).
Less painful (double duh).
More expensive, yes. (but worth)

The bus is like, a whole day. Like, 24 hours minimum. 24 freakin’ 7. Imagine. And the roads… Forget about it. It’s true, you save a bit of cash, say, $50-$80 for the bus. But your sanity? Priceless.

Don’t do the bus.

Honestly, I’d rather eat durian ice cream. That’s how much I hated the idea of that bus.

Which mountain range forms a natural border between Laos and Vietnam?

Annamite Range. Borderlands.

Laos. Vietnam. Separated by stone.