Benl

The trip was very good for the Thai part, but unfortunately I have to report that it was bad in Laos.

There were only 4 people, on a new bus from Chiang Rai. The bus tool us to the Thai border, we were accompanied by somebody from the bus company, who delivered us at the Lao travel agency. They took our tickets and rolf us to wait.

At 17:30 we walked to the edge of the town. There a very old bus was waiting for us, 25 persons, no airco, no reclining seats and no service. This was supposed to be our VIP bus, but was no no where near. There were not enough seats for everybody, but the bus company wanted everybody in. We al complained, and asked to sprake to a manager or somebody with responsibility, but that was not possible. They told us that there would be no other bus, and also unsure if there would be a bus tomorrow.

Finally a group of people stayed not havinhg any seats, and the bus left. We dekt like we had no choice, so we stayed in the bus. Tje bus was very noisy, dirty, cold and we could only straight. There was 1 stop of 15 minutes, and a very short toilet stop. The total trip took more then 12 hours. With all the sist coming in through the open room of the driver, all our clothes and personal belongins got very dirty and many people were coughing or having problems to bread. Even though we were very tired, we could not sleep, since probably die to the bad suspension of the bus we where shaken in all directions, and a several times and had to hold on to the chair in front of me, to prevent being thrown out of my chair

We have taken photos of the bus and the effect on the ride on ourselves and on our personal belongings.

I will also sent the description of our bus ride to the Transport Company Limited, where we bought our ticket and ask them to react.

Bus

Ticket

We are at Chiang Rai terminal, with a ticket, and a bus waiting for us.

Further information, as of today;

The "999" bus office here in Chiang Khong is now selling Chiang Khong to Luang Prahbang tickets for 735 baht. (This is the office of the newly advertised bus service that originates in Chiang Mai and routes through Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong onto Luang Prahbang.)

Passengers at the Chiang Khong Office with tickets by 3:00PM will be taken by tuk-tuk to Thai Immigration, ferried across the Mekong, and tuk-tuk to the Laos 5:00PM VIP bus departure, about seven kilometers out. We're told the ferry and tuk-tuk both sides are included in the 735 baht.

The Chiang Khong "999" bus office advertises to be open from 6:00AM to 5:00PM.

Enroute on the Laos VIP Bus is reported as 12 -15 hours.

Anybody who knows if a similar ticket is offered in Chiang Rai, including the Chiang Rai - Chiang khong?

We have further checked about this bus.

Upon exiting Laos Immigration, the passengers are taken by tuk-tuk about seven kilometers out to where the regular Laos VIP Bus leaves at 5:00 PM everyday, and overnights to Luang Prahbang. This VIP Bus has been running from Huay Xai to Luang Prahbang for over a year now.

And, tickets on the Lao VIP Bus can be arranged locally.

Do you mean that we can only buy the ticket for the Laos VIP bus in Laos. I understood that you would buy the whole package from Chiang Rai to LP at the Rai bus station?

Will there be seats available on the VIP bus if we can't pre-book it?

From which bus station in Chiang Rai does the bus leave? I assume busstation 2, 7 km outside town, right?

Where can you buy the tickets? We are in Chiang Mai, and want to spend 1 day and night in Chiang Rai before going to LP. I assume that you can only buy the Chiang rai to LP ticket in Chiang rai at the bus station? If so, since the bus leaves at 1 pm, how much in advance do we need to be at the station, to be sure to have seats?

Thanks in advance!