Thailand, Vietnam and Laos to test bus rental for tourists service

[webfact]

Three countries to test bus rental for tourists service

BANGKOK: -- Laos, Vietnam and Thailand will test bus rental for tourists service from Vietnam's QuangBinh, Laos's Khammouane, to Thailand's SakonNakhon and Nakon Phnom.

The plan on two-way bus transport service between the three countries with a total length of 874 km, was discussed in Khammouane province on 15 September in the presence of four delegations.

Representatives from three countries discussed anMoU on tourist service to strengthen cooperation by encouraging local enterprises with financial capacity or standard buses to provide the service.

The delegations made a promise to assist entrepreneurs in their respective countries in taking part in realising the initiative.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/three-countries-test-bus-rental-tourists-service/


-- Thai PBS 2014-09-22

[Commerce]

'or standard buses to provide the service.'

No thanks!

[lovelaos]

This route is extremely dangerous through the mountainous Laos section near the Vietnamese border.

Since the opening of the friendship bridge it is now being used by Vietnamese, Lao and Thai haulage companies and their huge trucks. I would never travel on a bus on this route. The condition of the road is appalling.

[WhizBang]

...or standard buses to provide the service.

Along with standard (unqualified) drivers, I assume.

I think I'll fly instead.

[Loles]

NO, NO, NO

longer bus trip = higher risk to die on the road by the next bus-disaster

[Sydebolle]

If I look at those 20 "executives" and the camera man in the back I seriously wonder why it is possible to drive from Warsaw to Lisbon without being stopped by any customs nor immigration officers.
Ever driven out of Thailand into Laos and then onto Vietnam? Well, I did, the paperwork was ferocious. The Thais wanted a "notification of conveyance" and a "passenger manifest", the Lao were VERY easy, fast and uncomplicated while the Vietnamese (Tay Trang/Sop Houn towards Dien Bien Phu) kept me three hours waiting. I had all the papers from the Vietnamese authorities but the paper did not say, that I was coming with a right-hand driven car. Three hours later ...... we could pass.

Centuries away from civilisation and now they talk about suicidal bus trips - what a joke ;-)

[Carl64]

I would rather cut my nuts out with a blunt spoon than catch a bus through any SEA countries.

[lovelaos]

If I look at those 20 "executives" and the camera man in the back I seriously wonder why it is possible to drive from Warsaw to Lisbon without being stopped by any customs nor immigration officers.

Ever driven out of Thailand into Laos and then onto Vietnam? Well, I did, the paperwork was ferocious. The Thais wanted a "notification of conveyance" and a "passenger manifest", the Lao were VERY easy, fast and uncomplicated while the Vietnamese (Tay Trang/Sop Houn towards Dien Bien Phu) kept me three hours waiting. I had all the papers from the Vietnamese authorities but the paper did not say, that I was coming with a right-hand driven car. Three hours later ...... we could pass.

Centuries away from civilisation and now they talk about suicidal bus trips - what a joke ;-)

Yes, done it a few times and with the correct paperwork it is VERY easy (in a Lao registered car)

[tomross46]

This is a good idea, as long as the company operating the service is owned by an influential politician.

[Assurancetourix]

If I look at those 20 "executives" and the camera man in the back I seriously wonder why it is possible to drive from Warsaw to Lisbon without being stopped by any customs nor immigration officers.

Ever driven out of Thailand into Laos and then onto Vietnam? Well, I did, the paperwork was ferocious. The Thais wanted a "notification of conveyance" and a "passenger manifest", the Lao were VERY easy, fast and uncomplicated while the Vietnamese (Tay Trang/Sop Houn towards Dien Bien Phu) kept me three hours waiting. I had all the papers from the Vietnamese authorities but the paper did not say, that I was coming with a right-hand driven car. Three hours later ...... we could pass.

Centuries away from civilisation and now they talk about suicidal bus trips - what a joke ;-)

Did u had a vietnamese driving license ?

Everybody knows it's impossible to drive in Vietnam with an international driving license .

It's not a problem about where is the steering wheel ; there are a few in Vietnam and the vietnamese people who own that cars don't have any problem.

Maybe, I will go to Vietnam by bus when the vietnamese authorities will accept to deliver visa on border as we can have for Lao, Burma, Kampuchea ...

[Kiwisailor]

One can only imagine the money to be made and shared on a bus filled with tourists transiting 3 countries and involving 4 different sets of Immigration officers, Visa agents, Police, Customs and Health Depts.

[cxxis]

There is basically only 1 road in the Lao PDR that is reasonable surface wise, the 13. During the rainy season however this road between Houwe Xai and Vang Vieng (passing Luang Prabang) is one large landslide.

Crossing the borders (Friendship bridges) other then in Vientiane is a right out disaster.

Too many "little" people trying to make an extra bug (Thai and Lao side as I have no experience on the Viet side.

​The Lao PDR also came up with some scam when entering the country with a convoy of more then so many cars/motorbikes and the likes, you need a police escort (of course paid for acco, car/bike/food/etc).

The bus suggestion is no less then suicide with no maintenance on materials and very, very inexperienced drivers and drivers with experience do not care a iota.

Do not make the Lao PDR the last country you will ever travel in/to and fly.

[lovelaos]

There is basically only 1 road in the Lao PDR that is reasonable surface wise, the 13. During the rainy season however this road between Houwe Xai and Vang Vieng (passing Luang Prabang) is one large landslide.

Crossing the borders (Friendship bridges) other then in Vientiane is a right out disaster.

Too many "little" people trying to make an extra bug (Thai and Lao side as I have no experience on the Viet side.

​The Lao PDR also came up with some scam when entering the country with a convoy of more then so many cars/motorbikes and the likes, you need a police escort (of course paid for acco, car/bike/food/etc).

The bus suggestion is no less then suicide with no maintenance on materials and very, very inexperienced drivers and drivers with experience do not care a iota.

Do not make the Lao PDR the last country you will ever travel in/to and fly.

Total c**p!! I have crossed at Thakhek/Nakhon phanom weekly for the last 2 years with no problems whatsoever. Vang vieng is 8 hours drive from thakhek so no idea what you are talking about.

[Benmart]

There is basically only 1 road in the Lao PDR that is reasonable surface wise, the 13. During the rainy season however this road between Houwe Xai and Vang Vieng (passing Luang Prabang) is one large landslide.

Crossing the borders (Friendship bridges) other then in Vientiane is a right out disaster.

Too many "little" people trying to make an extra bug (Thai and Lao side as I have no experience on the Viet side.

​The Lao PDR also came up with some scam when entering the country with a convoy of more then so many cars/motorbikes and the likes, you need a police escort (of course paid for acco, car/bike/food/etc).

The bus suggestion is no less then suicide with no maintenance on materials and very, very inexperienced drivers and drivers with experience do not care a iota.

Do not make the Lao PDR the last country you will ever travel in/to and fly.

Total c**p!! I have crossed at Thakhek/Nakhon phanom weekly for the last 2 years with no problems whatsoever. Vang vieng is 8 hours drive from thakhek so no idea what you are talking about.

The opening "Total c**p!!" and ending with "...so no idea what you are talking about" is an example of how to be uncivil and display an abrasive and negative thought process.

[bendejo]

Was in Saigon about 10 years ago. Did the tour of Chu Chi Tunnels. Our tour guide said most of the people on the road have a fake drivers license. He then pulled out his own license and said his was fake as well.

Personally, I would not like to see a stronger presence of the VN in LOS.

[lovelaos]

There is basically only 1 road in the Lao PDR that is reasonable surface wise, the 13. During the rainy season however this road between Houwe Xai and Vang Vieng (passing Luang Prabang) is one large landslide.

Crossing the borders (Friendship bridges) other then in Vientiane is a right out disaster.

Too many "little" people trying to make an extra bug (Thai and Lao side as I have no experience on the Viet side.

​The Lao PDR also came up with some scam when entering the country with a convoy of more then so many cars/motorbikes and the likes, you need a police escort (of course paid for acco, car/bike/food/etc).

The bus suggestion is no less then suicide with no maintenance on materials and very, very inexperienced drivers and drivers with experience do not care a iota.

Do not make the Lao PDR the last country you will ever travel in/to and fly.

Total c**p!! I have crossed at Thakhek/Nakhon phanom weekly for the last 2 years with no problems whatsoever. Vang vieng is 8 hours drive from thakhek so no idea what you are talking about.

The opening "Total c**p!!" and ending with "...so no idea what you are talking about" is an example of how to be uncivil and display an abrasive and negative thought process.

Maybe so. But I still stand by my comment.