| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Transport | Jumbo |
| Cost | $10 |
| Blog | 15th Jan - An internet cafe - finally! |
| Gallery | Vientiane to Lak Xao |
The journey
Lak Xao means "Kilometre 20", which is how it appears on the bus station timetable. Buses to Vinh are $10 per person and leave around midday; buses to TRT (the first town across the border in Vietnam?) are $4 per person plus extra for bikes. We hired a jumbo to the border for $10. The road was rolling for 17km then started to rise and became increasingly steep. There was a strong easterly in the valley, fog and mist on the uphill turning to rain at the border. Visibility was down to around 20m.On Saturday and Sunday there is an "unofficial" exit fee of $1/K10,000. There are money exchanges on both sides of the border. The entry fee for Vietnam is $1.
Because of the miserable conditions at the border, it's probably worth catching a bus all the way to Vinh then catching the overnight train to Hanoi. See the ride from the border to Vinh.
The room
Hai Au HotelLe Loi, Vinh
Ð120,000 for a double room, bathroom with hot water, TV with Star movies.
Average standard. Restaurants nearby, opposite a Maxi Mark and a couple of doors away from a bakery.