Danang to Lao Bao border crossing

The best option to travel point-to-point in Vietnam is still the sleeper buses which is more cheaper than the train.
Sometimes we might ponder whether we could pin point our seat preference while making a booking in person at the respective bus terminal.

Normally  foreigners will be given the far end of the bus where there's no individual bunk beds except that five passengers would have to sleep side by side with each other.Mind you the ceiling is startling close to the forehead.

On approaching Phuc Loc town from Lang Co,the bus conductor made his round to collect the counterfoil bus ticket but just ignore marking my ticket.Seemed odd indeed.


Attached to the bus ticket were lunch and dinner vouchers which were included in the 520,000 Dong bus fare from Danang to Vientiane (locals called Vieng Chan)

10:15am:A unique scene of  Lang Co seafront  where travelers could have a glimpse of the fishing activities around this beautiful landscape lagoon.

After Lang Co,the bus passed through the main town of Phuc Loc which is also bustling with business activities.
Most of the dwelling houses here have posh design of villa style.

Phuc Loc town faces Bach Ma National park on the west and Dam Cau Hai Bay on the east.
During the Vietnam War,Phuc Loc town being centrally located between the north and south connected via the main Highway Route 1 is also vital to the allied forces logistic reinforcement and resupply capabilities for their forces to the north.*

10:20hrs:-Road milestone says Dong Ha is still 97kilometre to go and route QL1.

Dong Ha,another hour drive north of Hue city is the capital of Quang Tri Province,a town at the cross road of East-West Economic Corridor.

This is the northernmost town of early South Vietnam famous as a Demilitarized Zone.

 Dong Ha cross road is towards the Lao Bao  immigration border onto the town of Savannakhet  in Laos.


Travelers along major routes may see some small shrines near the main road.
Well Vietnamese like their Chinese counterparts have the traditional belief of praying the road side god to ensure that motorists will have a safe journey traveling along that stretches of road.

10:30am:-After two hours of journey leaving Danang's terminal.we had the first embarking passenger,a women with her child.
The bus seats were still not fifty percent occupied and it seemed that this VIP bus is not an express bus.

The main airport of Hue--Phu Bai Airport can be seen in the vicinity.

10:40AM:-The highway toll booth as we were approaching the city of HUE,the capital city of  Thua Thien-Hue Province.
Hue is the old imperial capital of Vietnam which was the bloody battle flashpoint in 1968 between the North Vietnamese army and South Vietnamese insurgents during the Tet Offensive.






11:30am:-- Flyover bridge across the Perfume River or Huong River on entering the city of Hue.
Tourist boats could be seen cruising along the  slow moving river.
Guesthouses/Hotels in Hue:
1) DMZ Hotel, 21 Doi Cung St (>500,000 VND)
2)Hue Smile Hotel,175 Bà Trieu St (>550,000Vnd)
3)Sports 1 Hotel, 15 Pham Ngu Lao St (>250,000)
4)Tigon Blance Hotel,6 Ba TrieuSt (>250,000)
5)Tigon Premium Hotel,9 Nguyen Cong Tru,(.400,000)
6)Duy Tan 2 Hotel, 12 Hung Vuong St.(>600,000VND)
7)Festival Hue Hotel,15,Ly Thuong Kiet Blvd.(>650,000VND)
8)Ideal Hotel, 1/11 Vo Thi Sau St.(>500,000VND)
9)Ngoc Huong Hotel, 8-10 Chu Văn An.(>550,000VND)
10)Riverview Hotel, 15 Doi Cung St,(>450,000VND)
11)Thanh Uyen Hotel, 14 Ba Trieu,(>550,000VND)
12)Truong Giang Hotel, 51 Le Loi St.(>1,195,000VND)

While in Hue more passengers alighted before heading to Dong Ha which took another hour and half drive with toilet break.
Weather in November was sunny hot about 29degrees celcius with hardly any rainfall. 

It was about 1:30pm when the bus reached Dong Ha town which is one of the main cross road to Laos.
Dong Ha town is 74km from Hue City, 80km from Lao Bao Border crossing, 94km from Dong Hoi (Quang Binh Province), 190km from Danang, 598km from Hanoi, and 1,112km  from Ho Chi Minh city.

Dong Ha is a two-street town with Highway 1 known as Le Duan Avenue which form the main artery for the northern route while Highway 9 takes off inland at a central T-junction.

At this juncture,more passengers were waiting to alight this bus and it's now filled  to full capacity including the aisle.
My seat seemed to have a duplicate fare ticket issued to another passenger which earlier on I've already suspected the bus conductor's intention for not taking my counterfoil slip.
It's going to be a tug of war with the other Vietnamese passenger on how to squeezed myself  at the five person open end bunk bed.
This is a real experience in a Vietnamese 'refugee' VIP bus with  even two young kids having to stand all the way to Vientiane.Just can't imagine the situation if this is like an overloaded ferry.
The co-bus driver  had his hammock fixed to the railings  and he seemed to be comfortable with it.
Lunch break was at about 2:00pm  a short distance after leaving Dong Ha.




5:30pm:-Completed  Vietnamese and Laotian immigration formalities without much hassle as most of the bus passengers were locals.
We had a short break at the Lao Bao border in Savannhakhet province.,Laos.

From this bus travel  experience,my suggestion to future travelers is to get a minibus at Danang Bus Terminal to Lao Bao which makes only one trip a day at 09:00am with arrival time about 3:00pm. Subsequently get a minivan at the border after Lao immigration  for onward journey to Savannakhet town.

Dao-Heuang Group Duty Free Shop

Dansavanh is in Laos and Lao Bao is in Vietnam. This border crossing opens for business from 7.00am to 6.00m.
This was the first land border between Laos and Vietnam to open for international travellers and this crossing is convenient for Hue in Vietnam and Savannakhet in Laos.

Dansavanh Lao Bao is a busy and convenience border crossing via good quality road.
Route 9 crossing through Laos from Mukhdahan in Thailand to Dansavanh/Lao Bao and on to Hue in Vietnam is regarded as the  "East-West Economic Corridor".

From Savannakhet there are buses leaving at 6.30am,9.30am and at noon taking five to five and  half hours to get to the border crossing of about 255 kilometers. The bus fare is between 26,000 to 30,000 kip (just under USD$4,00).

From Sepon there are regular buses running to and from Dansavanh/Lao Bao. The trip takes about one hour drive of 45 kilometers and the fare is about 15,000 kip (under USD$2.00). Songtheaws are also running to/from this border crossing to Sepon regulary.

 Alternatively, from Savannakhet there is a 10pm daily bus that leaves for Dong Ha (fare: 110,000 kip taking about eight hours, distance of 329 kilometers),
Hue (fare: 120,000 kip taking about twelve hours, distance of 409 kilometers)
and Danang (fare: 140,000 kip taking about fourteen hours, distance of 509 kilometers)

You can also get a bus from Dong Ha to Savannakhet, passing through the Dansavanh/Lao-Bao border crossing. It takes about eight hours and costs 190,000 VND.

If you can't get one of these, take a songtheaew to Sepon, then get one of the frequent bus services to Savannakhet from there. Sepon-Savannakhet takes between three to four hours.

The immigration offices of Laos and Vietnam are located not far from each others.

An overloaded Vietnamese VIP cross border refugee bus.
The consignment of goods includes agricultural produce and sundry merchandise underwent Lao customs immigration inspection.


Visa-On-Arrival in Laos can  be obtained at the following international  airport entry points:
Wattay in Vientiane ,Luang Prabang ,Pakse and Savannakhet.

By Land at the following:-

• China (Mohan) - Luang Namtha Province (Boten)
  
• Thailand (Chiang Khong) - Bokeo Province (Houay Xay)
  
• Thailand (Nong Khai) -Vientiane Capital (Friendship Bridge)
  
• Thailand - Xayabouly Province (Nam Heuang Friendship Bridge)
• Thailand (Nakhon Phanom) - Khammouane Province (Thakhaek)
  
• Thailand (Moukdahan) - Savannakhet Province (Friendship Bridge II)
  
• Thailand (Chong Mek) - Champasak Province (Vang Tao)
  
• Vietnam (Nam Kanh) - Xieng Khouang Province (Nong Haet)
  
• Vietnam (Kao Cheo) - Bolikhamxay (Nam Phao)
  
• Vietnam (Lao Bao) - Savannakhet Province (Dan Savanh)
  
• Sop Hun in Phongsaly (Laos-Vietnam)
  
• Na Meo in Houaphan (Laos-Viet Nam)
  
• Na Phao in Khammouane (Laos-Viet Nam)
  

Laos visa on arrival Prices:
 Citizens from USA, UK and European the fee is US35.00, Canada US42.00, Sweden US31.00, Australia and other countries is US30.00. All visa's fee are payable in US dollars, you can also pay in Thai bath but it will cost you more.
 Foreigners who overstay in Laos will be fined USD5 for each day of overstay before leaving the country.
Bus route Danang to Vientiane

Bus Danang to Vientiane

On a Friday morning at about 7:00am headed to Danang new bus terminal at the far end of Dien Bien Phu Road.

Took a xe om for 40,000VND,hopefully to catch the 8:30am direct bus to Vientiane in Laos.

 As seen here is the VIP sleeping bus that was already at the parking bay.Only a handful of passengers were around possibly due to weekday.




There weren't any ticketing counters as this signboard was displayed in front of a snack stall facing the Danang - Vien Chan bus lane.

Looked like bus departure of Nguyen Phuoc Bus Company from Danang three times a week on odd days while the reverse from Vien Chan is on even days.

The bus conductor will be sitting on a stool beside the coffee table and  travelers have to buy bus ticket from him .The fare was 520,000VND with lunch and dinner break included.

Gia Lai is located in central Tay Nguyen Highlands and shares a common border with Cambodia.
The provincial capital is Pleiku.

Buses available:

Sleeper bus Hanoi Ben Xe Giap Bat <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai costVND 420,000 time 28 hours

Bus(2x2) Hanoi Ben Xe Giap Bat <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai route via - Ninh Binh - Thanh Hoa - Vinh - Dong Hoi - Dong Ha - Hue - Da Nang - Tam Ky - Quang Ngai - Pleiku (Gia Lai) Local cost VND 280,000 time 28 hours.

Bus(2x2) Ben Xe Trung Tam Da Nang <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai cost VND 130,000 time10 hours.
Sleeper bus Ben Xe Trung Tam Da Nang <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai cost VND 160,000 time10 hours.



Van Ben Xe Khach Trung Tam Qui Nhon <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai Non stop cost VND 70,000 time 4 hours.

Minibus Ben Xe Khach Trung Tam Qui Nhon <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai cost VND 65,000 time 4 hours.

 Van Kom Tum <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai Local cost VND 15,000 time1 hour.

Van Ben Xe Gia Lai <=> Ben Xe Phia Nam Nha Trang cost VND 120,000 time 9 hours.

 Van Ben Xe Gia Lai <=> Ben Xe Khach Daklak Non stop cost VND 75,000 time 4 hours.

 Bus(2x2) Ben Xe Gia Lai <=> HCM Ben Xe Mien Dong VIP cost VND 150,000 time12 hours.

 Minibus Sekong <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai route from Sekong  via Attapeu - Pleiku (Gia Lai)


Futa Buslines  fares


 Minibus Da Nang <=> Ben Xe Gia Lai route via Vinh Dien - Tam Ky - Quang Ngai - Pleiku (Gia Lai) Local cost VND 110,000 time 10 hours.

Travelers wishing to head for Savannakhet in Laos can use this minibus non aircond available  09:00am one trip per day only to Lao Bao immigration point.

Local buses  and minibus to Lao Bao near Savannakhet is available  parked behind the red color bus.

A half empty sleeper bus  departing 15 minutes late after loading tons of goods and merchandise on the bus roof top.










The first sight after about 10 km journey was this rolling rugged mountains beside  Bau Tram Lake.
This  lake is north of the  Hoa Khanh Industrial Park in Lien Chieu District.
Hoa Khanh area houses many garment factories such as the South Korean Daewon company and also Dacotex Group providing employment to thousands of local girls and boys.

Danang is classified as an industrial zone with port facilities to handle container traffic and a number of supporting light industries.












Passing through the narrow road in Hoa Hiep Bac hilly zone enroute via the Hai Van Pass Tunnel.











Extracting river sand for construction purpose.














Clusters of small commune along the Hai Van Pass.

Hai Van Tunnel ( Hầm Hải Vân) is the longest tunnel in Southeast Asia , across the Hai Van Pass , connecting the province of Thua Thien-Hue Province to the city of Da Nang in central Vietnam .

Opened way back in year 2005 and has a length  of 6.5km.

Hai Van Tunnel is located on the National Highway 1 starting from km 984  near the town of Lang Co, which runs on a peak at km 904  which is 475m higher than sea level and ends at Km 914 north  of Da Nang about 20.45 km  from the city.






Scenic Hai Van Pass. near the Lang Co Bay.









 Accomodations available in Lang Co town.

1) Khách sạn Mai Nga  

2) Khach san Phu Quy

3) Lang Co Beach Resort

A cottage style Catholic church in the Hai van commune.

Buddhist sangha Danang

Giáo hội Phật giáo Việt Nam,a Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam  established in January 1964 , is one of the Buddhist organizations operating in Vietnam and the Vietnamese community abroad.

The struggle for religious equality in 1963 under the Third Republic in South Vietnam against preferential policies for Catholic government of Ngo Dinh Diem , where Buddhist South Vietnam took to the streets in the Buddhist majority support in Hue , Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City .

 On Wesak  Day 1963 when Buddhists in Hue hanged the Buddhist flag  which was banned,the conflict between the government and the Buddhist associations exploded.

Monks were being persecuted and  Venerable Thich Quang Duc burned himself in Saigon to protest government policies of inequality.
The Ngo Dinh Diem government has lost its credibility and five months after the military coup,President Ngo Dinh Diem was killed.

The only nationwide organization before 1964 is of the Vietnamese Buddhist Association founded in 1951 composed of Mahayana Buddhism throughout South, Central, North, but the administration General Assembly remains weak. Buddhism Theravada is a private organization with the name Theravada Buddhist Church, based in Ky Vien Pagoda, Saigon.

Both of the Buddhist organizations in the South and Central regions of Mahayana Buddhism (Mahayana) and primitive Buddhism (Theravada)  united under a charter into a Catholic church named Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam.

 

 Locations of Buddhist temples in Danang MAP