Lao Highway 10

[Ratsima]

We're planning to drive to Luangprabang in November. On the way back we're going to drive Lao Highway 7 to Phonsavan and the Plain of Jars. To continue the trip we can either return to Highway 13 via Highway 7, or take Highway 10 and join up with Highway 13 much further south.

But, I have no idea on the current condition of Highway 10. I read one report from late last year that it was "under construction".

I'd love to hear about current conditions.

TIA

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Ah, the road from Phonsavanh to Moung Khoune to Tha Vieng, Tha Thom, and on south to Pakxan, "Hwy" 10.

December 2008 when the construction by the Vietnamese company had started, the trip wasn't too bad at all, had a couple of delays up on the north side of Tha Vieng (Vieng Leng, on the GT Rider map), but from there on was the original road which was generally OK. This in a 4WD Ford Ranger pickup.

Was back there a few days ago, Wednesday, 18 August, with the intent to head down to Tha Thom for a meeting and an RON. This again in a 4WD Ford Ranger pickup, but after 2-3 days of drizzle to rain. Departed from Moung Khoune about noon, about 2 km down the road hit mud, this is part of the new construction, wide road, high cuts, with tracks of other vehicles, including large trucks, going on through.

Got about 3 km down and almost high centered following the track left by a large truck, really difficult. Glad we had the 4WD as it enabled us to turn around and give up, headed back to the Nice Guest House in Phonsavanh.

On motorcycles? Guess that might work, with some difficulty. No idea just how far and how long that bad stretch is, obviously I was worried it went much of the way down to the Tha Vieng-Tha Thom area. But now info on that, sorry. Best to ask in the area.

We'd run out of time as had other places to visit, and lo and behold, the sun came out that Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday was good too when we motored on down to Vang Vieng.

Friday went back up Rt 13N to Ban Xang, just south of Moung Kassy, and headed south to Moung Met. Road was a tad rough in spots through the 58 km. Had three landslides that had been cleared, had several longish mud stretches but local motorcycles and pickups were getting through. We did have to pull out one pickup that'd gotten stuck so we could get through, no problem, total moving time 2 hr 20 min. Sunny since Wednesday afternoon.

Asked about going on down to Sanakham. One guy said probably OK as sun had been out for a couple days. A couple of other guys at M Met said forget it, not worth the chance of spending the night in the pickup, don't think my Thai wife would have appreciated that. So, we turned around and headed back to VV, driver OK there, so came on down to Vientiane.

Back to Nong Khai this noon, and RONing at a friend's place in Nam Phong. Back to Rangist, Klong 10, tomorrow, Sunday.

Mac

only via four (4) wheels, with apologies to the forum.

[Ratsima]

Thanks. I get the picture. I guess my little Vios will take 7 and 13.

[Thanyaburi Mac]

A VIOS, hmmm, if there was a problem seems like you could toss it up on the back of a pickup and just sit up there and look at the splendid views???

By late November the rains should be over and might be worth asking about in Phonsavanh. I'd like to give it another try in early December.

Mac

[Ratsima]

Well, that little Vios has been all over Lao. We'll be in Phonsavanh about the 18th. We'll ask around….

Thanks.