Can you cross from Vietnam to Laos?

Can you enter Laos from Vietnam?

Vietnam to Laos? Easy peasy, right? Thirty days visa-free for Vietnamese. Sweet. Though, my cousin spent way longer than that last year, huh? Did he get a fine? I should ask him. Maybe I’ll text him later.

Planning a trip myself, actually. Thinking December. Need to book flights soon! Cathay Pacific or Vietnam Airlines? Decisions, decisions. Ugh, travel planning is stressful.

Important: Over 30 days? Visa. Definitely. Don’t mess around with that. Seriously.

Things I need:

• Flights (duh!)
• Accommodation – guesthouses? Hostels? Luxury resorts, maybe? I’m torn.
• Vaccinations – tetanus, typhoid, Hep A and B. Got all that done in April.
• Travel insurance – AXA or Allianz? Better check prices.
• Laos visa (if needed) – application process seems annoying.

Laos! I’m so excited. Luang Prabang temples? I’ve heard they are amazing. Must see Vang Vieng too! The scenery is supposed to be breathtaking. I’m picturing myself on a slow boat down the Mekong River now. Pure bliss. Wait, what was I talking about? Oh yeah, visas.

Thirty days though. Plenty of time, right? Unless… unless I get sidetracked. Which, knowing me… probably will happen. Haha. Need to stick to a rough itinerary. Or at least a loose one. Too much planning sucks the fun out of things, but no plan at all… bad news bears.

Is the land border visa on arrival in Laos?

Laos, ah, the land of a million elephants…and, surprisingly, visas on arrival! Most nationalities can snag a visa upon landing or, get this, walking across a border. Like finding spare change in your old jacket, a welcome surprise.

Think of it like this: you’re Indiana Jones, except instead of a golden idol, you’re after a stamp. You will find them at many international airports and land borders. Check details, of course.

• Airports: Wattay International Airport (Vientiane), Luang Prabang International Airport, Pakse International Airport. Imagine disembarking and instantly becoming a legally visiting treasure hunter.
• Land borders: Friendship Bridge (Thailand), Boten (China). Suddenly, a stroll turns into an international escapade. It’s almost too easy, eh?

Now, for the “gotcha!” bit. And yeah, there’s always a “gotcha!” Even in paradise. Not everyone’s invited to this visa party.

• Check your nationality’s eligibility on the official Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. Unless you enjoy bureaucratic limbo!

Cost? Usually somewhere between $30-$40, payable in USD. Bring crisp, new bills. Laos doesn’t appreciate your crumpled, pre-loved money, like a fussy cat. I learned this after embarrassing myself trying to pay with a bill from 2006. Never again.

Also, have passport photos ready. They want to see your best mug shot (or at least one where you kinda look like you). Don’t be that person holding up the line.

Always confirm entry point availability. Border crossings aren’t like Starbucks; they don’t pop up on every corner. Some might be temporarily closed. Remember the closure during the pandemic? What a mess!

Think of it this way, navigating Laos’ visa system is a bit like following a recipe that’s scribbled on a napkin, written by your grandmother while she was riding a unicycle. It’s doable, but double-check everything. Always good to have cash on hand. Just in case you need to bribe a goat. Jk. Maybe.

Can you bus from Vietnam to Laos?

Okay, Vietnam to Laos…by bus? Wow.

• Bus is the way, huh?

• So, 24 hours… plus some minutes.

• A whole day. Sheesh.

• Cost? About $75.

• Cheaper than flying, I bet. But ugh, a day on a bus. No thanks.

• Is that even fun? Nah.

• 3 hours and 58 minutes total? What the heck?

• Oh! That includes transfers, right. Still sounds fast.

• Faster than 24 hours! Maybe that’s flying time.

• Should I look at flights instead?

• Mom always said buses are the best way to see the country side, but seriously, that’s ages on a bus.

• Especially those roads, heard they are super windy! I remember last time driving on 299… never again.

• Flying is def faster.

• Speaking of flying, did I remember to check in for my flight to Tucson? Gotta do that!

• Okay, so bus is cheap, flying is fast. Got it.

How do I get from Hanoi to Laos?

Hanoi to Laos. Options exist.

• Fly. Noi Bai (HAN) to Luang Prabang (LPQ). Direct. Simple. Expensive. My last flight cost $250.

• Bus. Lengthy. Uncomfortable. But cheap. Under $50. Several routes. Vientiane a popular destination. I used the night bus once. Never again.

• Train then Bus. Possible. Train to Vinh. Then bus. Slow. A test of endurance. Not recommended for the faint of heart.

• Car. Rent a car. Drive yourself. Long. Challenging. Border crossings. Paperwork. Requires a valid international driver’s permit. I did it in 2023; took two days.

Choose wisely. Time versus money. Your tolerance for discomfort a factor. Laos awaits. Remember your passport. Seriously. Don’t be that guy.

Can you travel from Hanoi to Laos?

Hanoi to Laos. Fly. Three hours, fifty-seven minutes. One hundred ten to two hundred forty dollars. Or a bus. Twenty-two dollars. Twenty-three hours. Choice is yours. Time versus money. A classic dilemma. Vientiane – Southern Bus Station. Destination for the bus. Journey’s end. Perhaps a new beginning.

• Fly:
  • Cost: $110-$240
  • Time: 3h 57m
• Bus:
  • Cost: $22
  • Time: 23h
  • Arrives at: Vientiane – Southern Bus Station

HTX Van Tai 277 operates the bus route. Consider your priorities. Speed. Comfort. Cost. The bus drags. The flight’s quick. But expensive. Twenty-three hours is a long time. To think. Or to sleep. Lost time or found time? Vientiane. A city of temples. And markets. Waiting. Regardless of how you arrive. A journey changes you. Even if just a little. Different roads. Same destination. Or are they ever truly the same? My last trip, I chose the flight. Needed the time. Back in California. Work piling up. But sometimes, I wonder about that bus ride. The scenery. The people. The slow unraveling of miles.

How to get from Hanoi to Luang Probang?

Hanoi to Luang Prabang, hmm. Fastest? Fly. 3h 57m, that’s it? Costs like $110-$240. Worth it.

• Flying: Quickest, around 4 hours. Pricey.

But there’s a direct bus?! From Hanoi SSB to Luang Prabang Southern Station. Twice daily. Every day? Wow.

• Direct Bus: Slower, but cheap hopefully. Leaves from Hanoi SSB.

Flights…Lao Airlines, 1h 10m. Vietnam Airlines a bit longer, 1h 5m. Huh. Connecting flights, could take 6+ hours!

• Lao Airlines: Super fast nonstop flight.
• Vietnam Airlines: Still fast, but a tiny bit longer.
• Connecting Flights: Avoid! unless dirt cheap.

My cousin Trang went last year. She took the bus, said it was an adventure. I hate buses. Planes only. Is the bus safe anyway?

• Safety is always priority #1.

Fly direct. Save the time, save the headache. That Trang is insane.

Is Luang Prabang worth visiting?

Luang Prabang? Totally worth it, but… yeah, there’s a but. Kuang Si Falls, amazing. Seriously, the water is this crazy turquoise. Like, unreal. We rented a motorbike, which is the way to go, btw. Went early to beat the crowds, totally smart move. The temples are… lotta temples. Got kinda templed-out, if you know what I mean. We went to the morning alms giving thingy. Woke up super early, like, 5 am. Worth it, but man, so early. Also, the night market is cool. Lots of kinda same-same stuff, but still fun to wander around. Food was pretty good too, lots of street food options, which I loved. Oh, almost forgot! Mount Phousi, go at sunset. Stunning. But lots of stairs, so heads up. Okay, so the but… things are pricey there. Like, more than I expected for Laos. Also, can get touristy, especially during peak season. Went in November, which was pretty good. Weather was perf.

• Kuang Si Falls: Go early! Rent a scooter.
• Temples: Lots. Maybe pick a few key ones.
• Alms Giving: Wakey, wakey! 5am.
• Night Market: Fun. Good food.
• Mount Phousi: Sunset. Stairs.
• Cost: More expensive then you’d think.
• Best Time: November’s good.

We stayed at this cute little guesthouse, like, two blocks from the main street. Can’t remember the name, but it had a hammock on the balcony. It was bliss! I actually booked through Booking.com, which was super easy. Ate a ton of mango sticky rice, obvi. Drank Beerlao by the Mekong every night. It was a pretty chill trip, but, yeah, like I said, can be expensive. Definitely plan your budget accordingly.