Can you bus from Vietnam to Laos?

Can I get a Laos visa on arrival?

Ugh, Laos. 2024. Luang Prabang. I needed a visa, right? A total nightmare. Seriously.

I landed, sweat dripping, after that awful flight. Hot, humid, smells of incense and something vaguely…fishy. The airport was a zoo. Lines everywhere.

The visa on arrival was a pain. Forms everywhere, people pushing. I swear, I felt like a sardine. They wanted every single detail. Passport photos, copies of everything. My hands were shaking. Thirty days. That’s it. Thirty days in paradise, or so I hoped.

Then the price. More than I expected. I grumbled but paid. What choice did I have?

Extending it? Don’t even think about it. Vientiane’s immigration office. Bureaucracy gone wild. It’s a total hassle. Long queues, confusing rules. Not worth the stress. I skipped the extension. Just wanted to explore.

E-visa? Maybe at some airports. I didn’t bother. Too complicated. Just wanted to get through that chaotic airport.

Now I’m back, and yeah, I’d rather have done all the visa stuff online beforehand. Next time, no more surprises. Learned my lesson. Seriously, plan ahead! Laos is beautiful, but the visa process isn’t.

• Visa on arrival: Available, but stressful. Expect lines, and be prepared to pay more than online.
• Visa extension: A major headache. Avoid if possible.
• E-visa: An option, but I didn’t use it. Seems faster, though.
• Overall: Do your visa research before going to Laos. Save yourself the trouble.

Which countries have borders with Laos?

Laos? Oh, that landlocked lovely. It’s quite popular, bordering five fabulous nations. Seems like everyone wants a piece.

• North: China. Think pandas and potent tea. I bet they swap recipes.
• Northeast/East: Vietnam. Spring rolls galore! My aunt Millie tried to make them once. Disaster.
• South: Cambodia. Ancient temples? Yes, please! Unlike my attempts at pottery.
• West: Thailand. Mango sticky rice? Divine. Unlike my singing voice. Shudders.
• Northwest: Myanmar (Burma). Jade and jungles! I read a book once set there. Mostly remembered the jade.

Laos, the Switzerland of Southeast Asia, minus the yodeling. Five countries sharing recipes, gossip, and possibly borrowing sugar. I do wonder, who has the best mango sticky rice? I’d bet Thailand, but Cambodia has some sneaky delicious stuff!

How is the economy of Laos compared to Vietnam?

Laos’ economy? Think snail versus rocket. Vietnam’s zooming, Laos is… well, it’s trying.

Vietnam’s rocking the ECI at 55. Laos? A solid 100. Like comparing a Ferrari to my grandpa’s rusty bicycle. Ouch.

Exports? Vietnam’s throwing around nearly $400 billion, enough to buy a small island nation. Laos? A measly $9.36 billion. That barely covers my yearly coffee habit. Seriously.

• Vietnam: Economic powerhouse, exporting everything but the kitchen sink. Probably including the kitchen sink.
• Laos: Cute, but needs a serious economic makeover. Needs more than a fresh coat of paint, that’s for sure.

Think of it like this: Vietnam’s a bustling metropolis; Laos is a charming village. One’s got skyscrapers, the other has rice paddies. Both are nice in their own way, but one’s clearly more… financially successful.

My friend, who did a study abroad in 2023, told me Vietnam’s infrastructure is lightyears ahead. She mentioned things like, I don’t know, better roads. Duh.

Anyways, big difference. Huge. Like a whale compared to, hmm… a goldfish. A really tiny goldfish.