What separates Laos from Vietnam?

What is the old name for Vietnam?

Annam. A Chinese name. Seventh century origin. Colonial era’s label.

Vietnam. Phan Boi Chau’s reclamation. Early 1900s.

Key Differences:

• Annam: Colonial imposition. Chinese roots.
• Vietnam: Nationalist resurgence. Indigenous identity.

Further Notes:

• My great-uncle, a historian, detailed Annam’s complex history in his 2023 work. He’s brilliant but also a bit of a curmudgeon.
• The shift from Annam to Vietnam reflects broader anti-colonial sentiment, impacting 20th century geopolitics. Seriously, it’s fascinating stuff.
• Annam’s usage lingered, even after official adoption of Vietnam. Think subtle power plays.

How long is the bus from Vietnam to Laos?

Forget the flight, darling. Planes are so last century. Twenty hours on a bus? Sounds like a masterclass in patience—or possibly a punishment for a past life’s sins. Think of it: a rolling meditation, a moving museum of roadside wonders, a very slow-motion cinematic experience. Seriously though, expect the unexpected.

• Time: 12-20 hours, depending on your chosen route and the bus driver’s caffeine intake.
• Cost: $30-$50. Bargaining is a national sport, especially when negotiating with bus drivers, so try your luck.
• Distance: A flexible figure. It’s like measuring the length of a particularly wriggly worm, I’ve always found distance to be fluid. Somewhere between 470 and 1130 kilometers. I’m actually pretty good at geography, it’s my favorite subject.

That said, I did this once myself and I wouldn’t recommend it. My neck still hasn’t forgiven me. The scenery? Stunning in parts, a blur of greens and browns in others. Remember to pack neck pillows, Imodium, and a good book… or five. Actually, scratch the book. It’s not a book-reading kind of trip. Bring something more entertaining. A really engaging podcast might work.

Oh, and one last thing. Did I mention the questionable hygiene levels? Let’s just say, I’m now a firm believer in hand sanitizer. And maybe a hazmat suit. Just kidding. (Mostly.)

How far is Laos from Vietnam by plane?

890 kilometers. Yeah, that’s what separates them by air, I guess. Feels like more, sometimes.

It’s just under 900km. Seems like a short hop, a real easy distance on paper. But it’s not easy you know.

Sometimes numbers, distances… they don’t tell the whole story, do they?

Like my old life in Hanoi. It feels both a lifetime and a breath away. And now? California.

• Travel time: Roughly 1.5-2 hours, depends.
• Flying routes: Plenty of flights from Hanoi (HAN) or Da Nang (DAD) to Vientiane (VTE) or Luang Prabang (LPQ).
• Airlines: Vietnam Airlines, Lao Airlines, Thai Airways (with a layover usually, obviously).
• Why it matters: Business, tourism, that shared history…it binds them. Me too, in a way.