Visitors to Laos still stop over here on the way through and on the way back – many extend their stay in Nongkhai because they so enjoy what it has to offer once they discover it. There have been some more small problems in Laos on the road to Luang Prabang from Vientiane from small groups of dissident students and villains. Hopefully the Laos authorities will get that under control soon and eradicate the trouble.

Anyone know anything about that?

  I was in Vientiane about a month ago with my girlfriend (Thai Lady) and she refused to take the bus to Luang Prabang because it was too dangerous.  I finely relented and turned back but in the process I asked around about the situation. One of the people I talked to was a tour operator and they assured me that if I took a commercial bus instead of the government one it was completely safe because they don't stop for anything.   My guess is that the problem is not a serious one for us back country Asian travelers, well not any more serious then a bus driver falling a sleep and driving us into an on coming truck.   Not to mention one of those Russian planes where parts fall off as you fly or a motorbike in Bangkok traffic.       :blues:

Reported Lonely Planet Thorntree 4 May

Discussion of danger on Route 13 - worse than Lao Aviation?

I worry less about shootings than the state of the buses and the road.  An accident is waiting to happen.