Travel In Laos From Vientiane To The Golden Triangle?

[notbkk]

Does anybody know if it is possible to travel from Vientiane to The Golden Triangle in Laos? Are there even any decent roads? The only way seems to come back into Thailand, and then from Nong Khai to Chiang Rai.

Info will be appreciated.

[asanee]

superfluous question-of course thats possible-but also you did not state by (own/hire) car or by public transport. Also be aware that there is not really an approach to there from Laos PDR..

The best=quickest, easiest option is via Thai: to Nongh Khai-Udorn, overnite bus to Chiang Rai, then local bus.

The usual bekpek-way- for those still thinking travel should be hard and full of assumed dangers: to Luang Prabang, choice of boats to Chiang Khong via Hua Xay (=Lao side), then either bus via CVh. Rai or follow up of songhthaews Thai side of Maekong.

In Laos there is also a rather long and not too comfy overnite bus VTE-HUa Xay. Now do some thinking: if even a bus can pass by-surely a car can, nah? its not the most direct route when looking on maps-but no Lao would look at a map anyway.

[notbkk]

Thanks, Asanee for your reply. Yes, I think most people know it's possible to travel anywhere: most of us can walk if all else fails, can't we? Ha ha! But I also thought that most people would 'get my drift'.

I agree that coming back into Thailand would be best. Think I will catch a plane from Udon to Chiang Mai, and then a bus to Chiang Rai and onto So Bruak, though.

[FACTOR]

I don't think you can go too far beyond Bokeo, on the Lao side, up river by road. I've been up a few km but the road looks to get worse. I suppose you could keep going along the river bank all the way to the "golden triangle"', but you might have to walk in spots. Might as well go along the Thai side. No, there are no decent roads beyond Bokeo going up river.

[el jefe]

You can get to Houie Xai from Luang Prabang by paved road or boat. There is also a scheduled flight 3 or 4 times a week or more from VTE to Houie Xai.

There's a songthiew that goes from Houie Xai to Ban Mom. The road is well paved for the first half of the trip along the Mekong then goes inland on a well-graded dirt road the rest of the way to Ban Mom on the Mekong. It's also easy to get a speed boat up the Mekong from Houie Xai through the Golden Triangle all the way to Ban Mom and beyond. Should be no problem getting them to drop you off anywhere on the Lao side.

[notbkk]

You can get to Houie Xai from Luang Prabang by paved road or boat. There is also a scheduled flight 3 or 4 times a week or more from VTE to Houie Xai.

There's a songthiew that goes from Houie Xai to Ban Mom. The road is well paved for the first half of the trip along the Mekong then goes inland on a well-graded dirt road the rest of the way to Ban Mom on the Mekong. It's also easy to get a speed boat up the Mekong from Houie Xai through the Golden Triangle all the way to Ban Mom and beyond. Should be no problem getting them to drop you off anywhere on the Lao side.

Thanks for the very useful info. Flying from VTE to Huay Xai and then taking some kind of boat up the river to the golden triangle seems like just the thing I had in mind! I will check out all the possibilities.

[notbkk]

el jefe, do you know if there are any reasonable (safe) boat services from Huay Xai to Sop Ruak in Wiang on the Thailand side and where does one clear customs into Thailand in The Golden Triangle? Been searching the web all day with only vague results.

Many thanks!

[notbkk]

A new question: Is there a riverboat one can take from the Golden Triangle to Vientiane? I found some the other way round...thanks!

[FACTOR]

A new question: Is there a riverboat one can take from the Golden Triangle to Vientiane? I found some the other way round...thanks!

Now in the dry season when the river is really low, I don't believe there are boats all the way to VTE. I don't they can get past Pak Lai in Sayabouri.

[phuketrichard]

have driven a few times this route, Houie Xai from Vientainne via Luang Prabang & Luang Namtha ( overnight in both would be best) by paved road and than cross over to Chiang Khong. which is less than 45 minutes to Chiang Saen

the road LP- Udomaxi is very rough (apx 80 kms) but the rest of the way its well paved. Last drove it in July

[notbkk]

A new question: Is there a riverboat one can take from the Golden Triangle to Vientiane? I found some the other way round...thanks!

Now in the dry season when the river is really low, I don't believe there are boats all the way to VTE. I don't they can get past Pak Lai in Sayabouri.

Thanks! Never thought of that...but I'm thinking about September? Oh dear, that's right in the middle of the rainy season, isn't it?