Bus to Vietnam

[AllanB]

I am new to the travel forum, but wondered if anyone done the bus trip from Thailand to Vietnam?

We live in Khon Kaen and know of a bus to Vientiane and I am sure there is a bus from there to Hanoi and that the bus is a tad bumpy, but would like to know everything else.

So would appreciate any help advice regarding booking. May even fly back....?

[HeijoshinCool]

I took a bus from the Trat-Cambodian border to Phnom Penh, stayed a few days at a hotel that took care of my visa stamp, then took a bus from the hotel to Saigon.

Enjoyed the heck out of it. Good drivers and comfortable.

[AllanB]

I took a bus from the Trat-Cambodian border to Phnom Penh, stayed a few days at a hotel that took care of my visa stamp, then took a bus from the hotel to Saigon.

Enjoyed the heck out of it. Good drivers and comfortable.

Did you plan and/or book, or just wing it?

[dddave]

There are buses from Vientiane to Hanoi but it is a long 24 hour plus ordeal on a sleeper bus with minimum facilities. Google "Vientiane-Hanoi bus" and you will find other travelers experiences. I considered it at one time but after reading about it, decided against it.

I will say that the 10 hour bus trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang goes through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery I've seen in Asia. Older buses and a really twisty-turny 2 lane road with some white knuckle passing but still a pretty cool trip.

[Tomtomtom69]

If you live in Khon Kaen and want to travel to Hanoi there is a better, faster and more comfortable option to bussing it to Hanoi rather than going through Vientiane, which is unnecessary.

You are about equidistant from Vientiane as you are from Savannakhet, or even Tha Khaek.

I would therefore suggest a bus from Khon Kaen to either Mukdaharn or Nakorn Phanom. From there, catch one of the many international buses Mukdaharn-Savannakhet, or if you're in Nakorn Phanom, Nakorn Phanom-Tha Khaek.

Once in Savannakhet, there are many buses to Hue, Dong Ha or Dong Hoi, from where you could connect on another bus or train to Hanoi.

Or even better would be Tha Khaek, from where I believe there's a bus to Vinh, which is already quite far up north in Vietnam. From there, there are trains and buses to Hanoi, which would be much quicker than going from Vientiane. Besides, going via Tha Khaek or Savannakhet, there aren't that many mountains to negotiate - there's a few inside eastern Laos and on the Vietnamese side but that part of Vietnam is quite narrow and you'll be along the mainly flat coastline quite quickly. Whereas the Vientiane-Hanoi bus (no idea where it passes through but reports suggest they go via Luang Prabang) is a very winding and lengthy affair, best avoided - while I would happily do it by self-drive car, not by bus, no thanks.

[my friend I]

There are buses from NKP via Thakhek to Vietnam. Mainly used by Thais.

Also mini buses from Thakhek bus station to Vietnam.

[AllanB]

Thanks for the info, I kinda wanted an adventure, but 'er indoors doesn't, so I will have a think now I know there are a few options. Being in mind I knew the Vientiane option is a bit "hairy" we thought of returning by air, one arce clencher being enough, but now we may do the whole thing by bus/train.

Thanks once again, really helpful..

PS A trip to Luang Prabang could be something to do by motorcycle.....

[IMA_FARANG]

In November I did a visa run to Savannakhet, Laos.

I clearly saw a bus with a sign on it in Emglish that said it went to Hue and Danang, Vietnam.

Have no idea what route they would take from Savannakhet, but that was what it said on the bus.

[AllanB]

In November I did a visa run to Savannakhet, Laos.

I clearly saw a bus with a sign on it in Emglish that said it went to Hue and Danang, Vietnam.

Have no idea what route they would take from Savannakhet, but that was what it said on the bus.

Anyone know the frequency of these buses and whether it is necessary to book?

[Briggsy]

You can catch a big bus from Bangkok to Pakse in Laos. From there another bus to Attapeu in Eastern Laos. From there a minibus to Gia Lai in Vietnam.

[khwaibah]

Further info.. Vietnam have consulates in Khon Kaen and Savannakhet. You can get your Vietnam visa there.

[dddave]

If you like trains and boats you might consider the following: Bkk to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Most hotels there can get your Vietnam visa in one day. From there by bus then boat to HCMC via Cao Doc and the Mekong Delta...one of my favorite trips ever.

From HCMC, the train to Hanoi..taking your time and stopping along the way at any number of great cities and towns including Hue. You can also explore some of the Central Highlands from these cities. Finish in the north and then fly back to Bkk.

Great train info on www.seat61.com

[HeijoshinCool]

I took a bus from the Trat-Cambodian border to Phnom Penh, stayed a few days at a hotel that took care of my visa stamp, then took a bus from the hotel to Saigon.

Enjoyed the heck out of it. Good drivers and comfortable.

Did you plan and/or book, or just wing it?

.

Winged it there by bus.

And, winged it back by Air Asia.

[AllanB]

Favourite at the moment is Khon Kaen to Vientiane, the "scary" bus Hanoi, the catch a train down to Da Nang and then a bus back to Khon Kaen via Mukdahan.

Any improvements to that?

The one problem may be getting a bus once in Vientiane, only 3 a week, not sure how to book.

[Tomtomtom69]

There are buses from NKP via Thakhek to Vietnam. Mainly used by Thais.

Also mini buses from Thakhek bus station to Vietnam.

That's impossible in the absence of an agreement on cross border travel between Thailand and Vietnam. Unless these buses are Lao registered and come to pick up passengers on the Thai side, but more likely, the buses actually start from Tha Khaek and the Nakorn Phanom to Tha Khaek services are conducted separately, even if sold on the same ticket.

[Tomtomtom69]

If you like trains and boats you might consider the following: Bkk to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Most hotels there can get your Vietnam visa in one day. From there by bus then boat to HCMC via Cao Doc and the Mekong Delta...one of my favorite trips ever.

From HCMC, the train to Hanoi..taking your time and stopping along the way at any number of great cities and towns including Hue. You can also explore some of the Central Highlands from these cities. Finish in the north and then fly back to Bkk.

Great train info on www.seat61.com

You can easily get a Vietnamese visa yourself in PP in 20 minutes. Why bother with asking your hotel to do something you can more easily do yourself?

In Khon Kaen the consulate there does Vietnamese visas within a few hours as well, saves the hassle of getting one en-route.

[Tomtomtom69]

In November I did a visa run to Savannakhet, Laos.

I clearly saw a bus with a sign on it in Emglish that said it went to Hue and Danang, Vietnam.

Have no idea what route they would take from Savannakhet, but that was what it said on the bus.

There are a ton of buses on the Lao-Vietnam route, mostly between southern Lao cities and central Vietnamese ones.

The Savannakhet to Hue and Danang services head straight east to Daensavanh (3 hours or so), cross the border into Vietnam, reaching the coast some 2 hours later then head south along the coastal road to Hue. Danang is another 2 hours or so south of there.

[Issangeorge]

Can you get a Vietnamese Visa in Savannakhet?

[AllanB]

Just back from our Vietnam trip and the trip to DaNang is pretty straightforward..and uncomfortable due to bad roads in Laos and Vietnam, in Vietnam a bit hairy too, the bus overtaking trucks in the dark on bends in the mountains.

Still we got there, as instructed we flew back via Saigon/BKK, anyway the trip went well not rouble at all with the bikes in the 200km run.

[rabid old goat]

Further info.. Vietnam have consulates in Khon Kaen and Savannakhet. You can get your Vietnam visa there.

just info too, there is a viet embassy in pakse, laos too.

[Tomtomtom69]

Can you get a Vietnamese Visa in Savannakhet?

Yes. Costs US$10 more to get it in 10 minutes. Can't remember if they accept Kip or Baht...maybe, but otherwise bring US$. Or you could show up with what you have, tell them you're coming back later and in the meantime try to get some US$.