Thailand beyond solo backpacking: Vientiane local bus to Vang Vieng

In the central business district of Vientiane along Lane Xang Avenue is the Lao Holding State Enterprise(LHSE) Building beside Lao-Viet Bank headquarters.

LHSE is a wholly Lao government entity established in year 2005 whose primary function is to hold,manage and maintain for the government shares in Nam Theun 2 Power Company or any other power plant projects that were acquired or transferred to it by the government.

The scope of business of LHSE does not include development and operation of generation, transmission and distribution facilities designated for domestic use only.

The IPP projects that LHSE invests is to provide cross-border bulky power supply in accordance with power purchase agreement.

Foreign partners in some of the hydro elctric projects include Electricite'de France,EGAT Inter(Thailand),Banpu(Thailanad),Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc(Thailand),Gamuda Berhad(Malaysia),Marubeni(Japan),GMS Power(Thailand),Kansai(Japan),SK Engineering Construction(California,USA),Korean Western Power.

As for financial services in international money transfers,Western Union Bank agents includes Lao-Viet Bank, the Agricultural Promotion Bank, Bank of Ayudhaya Public Co. Ltd., the Enterprise Des Postes Lao, the Lao Development Bank, Phongsavanh Bank and the Saikhong Trading Import-Export Company.

At the corner of the Lao-Viet Bank road junction towards the right is Wat That Foun occupying a large parcel of land in the city centre.

The temple's building has superb Buddhist architectural design.

I noticed one description on a stone pillar that reads, Hosantinimit (might be the actual temple's name)Debut De La Construction Maroi 2 Mai 1955Achevement Et Remise Des Thavaux.Vernordi 20 Novembre 1958,maitred Deuvre Et Representany Des Donateurs Mr Pascal Doter Ressortissant Francais Cout Des Travaux. 95,000 $US.

There was reconstruction on 2nd May 1995 and completed on the 20th November 1998. One may walk through the temple's ground and reached the other side with the Patuxay Monument just across the road.

It was already 8:30 in the morning when most of the monks have returned from their morning alms round.

At Wat Chan which is just opposite the newly completed Mekong embankment riverside park,a few monks were seen pruning some of the bonsai shape trees.

This is one of the typical routine life of being a monk. When the temple's bell rung at 4:00am at predawn,they were already out of their beds.

The Buddha said: ‘Monk, you and you alone are your refuge. You and you alone are your pathway.'

There won't be any lights on when the first bell rang as only the candles that remain lighted.

After a quick washup at their kuti ,they then changed into their golden orange robes and proceeded to the viharn and start meditating in half-lotus together with others.

Another bell rings at five. This is the traditional hour when “the light shows the lines on the palms of the hands.” It’s the beginning of the active day.

Even a leisurely walk in this mid-afternoon scorching heat can easily cause exhaustion if one does not have the sun shade so an umbrella looks handy.

At this hour of the day,the monks have completed their morning tasks and were possibly going for a little bit of shopping.

No walking but these monks require the tuk-tuk services due to the distances of their temple. Maybe they were student monks.

Fancy this nice quilted Dragon,you can find this unique item in one of the shops beside Talat Sao Mall 2.

This make a good souvenir item and hardly can you get it elsewhere.

Hey!my hostelmate from Switzerland who has been here for nearly a week.

He'll be leaving for Savannakhet soon.
I tend to choose the upper deck which is under the fan and more airy.
Noticed the lockers where we keep our backpacks and belongings each having a key of their own.

The notice on the wall says lights out by 11:00pm and no noise.
To get your puff,the balcony is just nearby which is beside the all male dormitory.
Each partition has six beds.I was here in the mixed dorm.

Sabaidy Guesthouse along Setthathirath Road is a family run hostel.
The shared bathroom is now a bit run down compared to two years ago when I was here. Rates:20,000 kips.

Khun Din central bus terminal only has local buses to Vang Vieng non aircond slow moving at 60 km per hour as it tend to stop along the way to receive passengers and sometimes goods as well.

The distance from Vientiane is about 146km.If you are in no hurry and wish to see the lifestyle of the people,this can be a good alternative.
The fares is 40,000 kips payable in the bus.

For better comfort,you can also book a VIP bus or minivan from your hotels and guesthouses with fares ranging from 60,000 -80,000 kips per person. Slow bus duration is about 4 hours while express can be 3 hours.Please bear in mind that there will be a mid afternoon half hour lunch stop at a restaurant.

Timetable of bus stop in the Municipality prefecture:
[X]
48-Sikeud(about 30minutes north of Wattay Airport),
49-Nongteng. (hourly 06:00-17:00)

[VII]
19-PakXap,Lao Pako(09:00,17:00,16:00) 25-Veunkham(07:00-15:00)

[VI]
43-Nongping 47-Donokkhum

[IV]
29-Dongdok,33-Nongtha 32-Donepamay,23-Thangone,31-PhonTong 30-Thongpong,03-Tatthong,20-Dongkham Xang, 40-Nonghai,
14-Buddha Park.

[I] 04-Kasi(08:00am,only one trip) 01-VangVieng(07:00,09:00 and 13:00) 10-Bandone(13:00),09-Thalath(06:00,07:00,08:00 and 09:00) 07-PakCheng(07:00,12:00,19:00),05-NamXuang(09:00,13:00,17:00) 10-Sendine(09:00,13:00,17:00),06-Phialath(10:00,15:00) 15-Thakhek(06:00,11:00,12:00),36-Savanakhet(05:00,06:00) 35-Pakse(13:00,14:00,16:00),16-Namone(14:00),51-Attapeu(09:00,17:00) 52-Saravanh(15:00) 53-M.Khong-Veungkham(10:00)