has a time zone similar to Thailand,Cambodia,Indo-China.The skies over here in Vientiane were already very bright at 7:00am and the sounds of the passing vehicles provided me the morning call.
After a quick washup,I made my way downstairs to pay for the accomodation. Fortunately the owner was there otherwise I'll be delayed as the guesthouse has no receptionist.
Having arrived at the Khun Din central bus terminal,the 8:00am bus was already at the designated bay.
Bought two rolls of baguette from my favourite stalls nearby each at 5,000 kips with rich fillings and then proceeded into the bus.
There were not many passengers and together with four westerners we occupied near the back seats.
The end seats were occupied with cartons of goods while bags of rice(the brand is khaosan) were laden on the passageway.
Imagine chickens in a rattan cage were also part of the passengers list. Seated in front of me was this friendly farmer who resided in VangVieng.His name was Thiethong.
8:30am:After travelling for about 25km distance,the bus had a brief stop at Sikeud,Mueng Nasaythong which I forsee will be the upcoming boomtown of suburban Vientiane.
Overhere you have instituition of higher learning,factories,agrobase industries,ecotourism and a large concentration of young population.
Bounlead Instituition,Sekeud Primary School,Trio Export garment factory,Lao-Korea Vocational School,Houay Namyen Primary School(with assistance from Boo Young Group of South Korea),Ban Nalien village and a road sign to Hinkanna Waterfall were some of the landmarks.
Sikeud (Sikeut) roughly has the same latitude of Pak Chom (Loei Province,Thailand)
8:45am:-Passing by Ban Houa Sang with large tracks of paddy field.
9:00am:-Phonethong(Phon Thong) District,town name sounds similar to that in Roi-Et Province,Thailand.
Fa See Kam School undergoing renovation.Distance to Luang Prabang is 354km.
9:30am:-Phonemong(Phonmouang) District. Mani Factory which is a dental equipment factory from Japan in the locality.
Couple of guesthouses around here such as Mithana,Phadsany,Mai Yang Lee and one Duang Chai nightclub.
9:50am:-Now at Ban Naboune,Distance to Hin Heub 35km,Vang Vieng 96km.
10:00am:-Phonsawang(Phonsavang) town. Som Chai Guesthouse and one Van San Resort nearby. A good base for those intending to explore villages near the huge Nam Ngum Dam.
10:05am:-Ban Namcheng.
Ton Po Restaurant,Saylom Guesthouse,Pattana Guesthouse.Now 80km to Vangvieng.A right turn another 100m leads to Viengkham.
10:15am:-Phonhong town,a road junction to the Nam Ngum Dam.
Lots of shops around here. Touhta Resorts and Guesthouse,Toucham Province Ketsana Aquilira Project,Nam Chan River,Pele Guesthouse,Poppy Guesthouse,Phoukam Hotel were in the locality.
Distance to Luang Prabang 308km.
10:30am:-Hin Heup Tai.
The Phou Phanang National Biodiversity Conservation Area from western part of Vientiane ends here.
11:00am:-Kasi town is still 115km to go.
11:05am:-Huay Souane,Huay Pong Song,Huay Hin Tit 1.
11:15am:-Huay Hin Tit 2.
11:20am:-Huay Dok May 1,Ban Tauthan,Hoay Phoung,Lan Fay,Hoay Somcanauk.
Still to go Vangvieng 27km,Luang Prabang 68km.Lunch break at a restaurant.
12:00noon:-Huay Pamom,a large lake.
12:10pm:-Huay Mo 1,Saysombon District.
Lehamvee Guesthouse,Khonsavanh Guesthouse,Khampong Guesthouse,Nuathang Guesthouse. Huay Hin Tit 2,Vang Huey,Nam Ngo,Kiek Cham(67 km)
12:45pm:-Huay Ngam,Vang Pong,Viengxay Village.I would suggest you get off the bus at this village where the old bus terminal is or if you see most villagers getting off here,do follow the crowd.
12:50pm:-New Vangvieng Bus Terminal is 2km from the old town. Oudated travel book says,just walk across you'll be in town.That will be ending no where.
Travellers have to return and use the songtheaw.(10,000 kips) Within vicinity are accomodations like Thavikoun Guesthouse,Phouang Kham Hotel,Boua Khao Guesthouse,Kampaseth Hotel.To Luang Prabang(230km).
Welcome to Vangvieng District,a backpacker oriented town.
The main attractions of the town include inner tubing and kayaking on the Nam Song River, which is lined with bars selling Beer Lao and Lao-Lao, and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing.
During the 1964-73 Vietnam War,the US developed an Air Force base in Vang Vieng and the runway was used by Air America.
The airstrip was then called 'Lima site 6'. The influx of backpackers attracted by the opportunities for adventure tourism in a limestone karst landscape is slowly transforming the economy of this area. Upgrading and reconstruction of the main road(National Highway 13) is underway and one have to bear with the extreme dust pollution.
A short distance across the new bus terminal is the Vang Vieng market(talad).
Ticketing counter of the new Vang Vieng Bus Terminal.
Counter staff do speak English and very helpful. Local buses to northern parts of Laos bypass the terminal.
One may catch the buses at the bus stop beside the main road but not feasible due to the irregular time of arrival.
Transportation from Vang Viang.
Local bus to Vientiane:05:30,06:00,06:30,07:00,12:30,14:00 Fares:40,000 kips
Minibus to Vientiane:09:00 Fares 60,000 kips
Express bus to Vientiane:13:00,14:00 Fares:60,000 kips.
Minibus to Luang Prabang:09:00,14:00 Fares:100,000 kips
Minibus to Phonsavanh:09:30 Fares:100,000
Express Bus Luang Prabang:13:00 Fares:90,000 kips
Fancy becoming a MAHOUT,that is a person who is the driver,keeper or handler of the elephant.
A company is running the 1-6 days course. This can be quite interesting and fun activity as you'll be interacting with an elephant.
Lorry being transformed into a bus.This cannot be called a songtheaw either. Villagers returning home.
Right across the Vang Viang New Bus Terminal was a side road that leads to the Nam Song River.
A ten minutes walk from the main road. Beautiful sceneries of limestone karst mountains can be seen in the horizon.
It was a breathtaking walk along this countryside to be associated with nature.
The restaurant and bar nearby only opens in the late evening.
Sechaleunkham Guesthouse was just beside the Nam Song River at the very end of the road.
The frontage faces the evening sunset. A very clean guesthouse possibly owned by a local ethnic chinese.
A huge double fan bedroom with hotwater bath,western toilet styling.Free mineral water provided.Room rates:60,000 kips.
During the night,surrounding temperature can be around 15 degree celsius.
The only disadvantage is that you'll be 2km from the main activity centre but near to the main market.
Sechaleunkham Guest House has a small coffeehouse with panoramic view beside the Nam Song River.
Bamboo bridge across the Nam Song River.
Toll collection for using the bridge. Motor:5,000 kips
Bicycle:3,000 kips
Walking:2,000 kips.
On reaching the other side of the river,I could see a community with less than ten households some stay on stilt houses
.The women folks were around.No sign of any bridge crossing toll booth.
Village kids playing nearby. One of the juniors was demanding payment for the bridge crossing.
I was crossing the bridge at my own risks as there weren't any guardrails and the bridge was bouncing as I stepped on it.
The most worrying part will be if someone or a vehicle were to come from the other end.
Imagine I'll be losing my balance and will fall onto the river.
Village thatched house,no cement flooring inside,everything constructed with the use of bamboos and woods.
Passing through the village,I ended up in an open area which must be the paddy field and couldn't find any path that leads to any other villages.
Village women taking a bath on the Nam Song River.
A closeup of the bamboo bridge can make you feel fearful of using it.
Looked like a private home.
Around here most of the tuk-tuk will be hanging around as most tubers might give up completing the final 2km laps.
Little boy at the nearby one and only one sundry shop with a restaurant. Most of the schoolboys and girls tend to hang around here as there was a school nearby.
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