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[elliottg]

Hello,

I am planning on travelling from Laos near the Golden Triangle to Han Oi. I was hoping that you I could get some suggestions of the best way to make this trip?? How long it would take?? How much it would cost?? etc.

Thanks

Elliott

[starlagurl]

It seems to be that your best alternative to a plane would be to take the train.

Where exactly will you be? Can you make it to Sapa from there?

http://wikitravel.org/en/Hanoi#Get_in

[ScottWoz]

There are no trains, and yes it depends on where you are right now and also where you've been so far. If you're up there already you'll have a fair knowledge of your surroundings.

Here's a couple of options:

Udomxai - Muang Khua - Dien Bien Phu - Han Oi

Luang Prabang - (Nong Khiaw - Muang Ngoi) Muang Khua - Dien Bien Phu （Sapa - Lao Cai) - Ha Noi

(Places in brackets are optional extras well worth visiting, all depending on your timescale) and if you have the time, why fly and miss it all?

Hope this helps..

[rbisset]

Yeah there is no train. There is a bus from Vientiane that goes to Hanoi (well the border anyway) which sounds pretty hellish and takes about a day. I flew from Vientiane to Hanoi for about $100 with Lao Airlines which took about an hour. I found them fine and their safety record is a lot better now......

But if you aren't pressed for time then I'd definitely take the bus. Some interesting places to break up the journey on the way.

[starlagurl]

Oh so this must be far away for him then? Maybe I was confused.

There are also train services to the north-west (including Lao Cai, from which you reach Sapa - the onward route to Kunming in China is no longer open).

From: http://wikitravel.org/en/Hanoi#Get_in

[rbisset]

Oh so this must be far away for him then? Maybe I was confused.

There are also train services to the north-west (including Lao Cai, from which you reach Sapa - the onward route to Kunming in China is no longer open).

From: http://wikitravel.org/en/Hanoi#Get_in

Yeah in another country lol!

[starlagurl]

Hehehe, OK call me confused.

[elliottg]

Hehehe, OK call me confused.

Thank you all for your advice!! I am not there yet leaving for Singapore on June 4th not quite sure when I will arrive in Laos depends how much I like Malaysia and Thailand??

Elliott

[laos_info]

Would recommend the flight to Hanoi from either Luang Prabang or Vientiane. The overnight bus passes through some beautiful scenery but as it is night time you will not see any of it. Would recommend heading north to Luang Namtha first of all, and then south through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng to Vientiane.

[wakingdream]

Hehehe, OK call me confused.

Thank you all for your advice!! I am not there yet leaving for Singapore on June 4th not quite sure when I will arrive in Laos depends how much I like Malaysia and Thailand??

Elliott

I think you'll like both countries alot! You've got a couple of weeks in Laos with a visa but no rush. Enjoy Malaysia and Thailand for as long as you can.

[rbisset]

Hehehe, OK call me confused.

Thank you all for your advice!! I am not there yet leaving for Singapore on June 4th not quite sure when I will arrive in Laos depends how much I like Malaysia and Thailand??

Elliott

I think you'll like both countries alot! You've got a couple of weeks in Laos with a visa but no rush. Enjoy Malaysia and Thailand for as long as you can.

You get a 4 weeks visa on arrival now

[wakingdream]

Hehehe, OK call me confused.

Thank you all for your advice!! I am not there yet leaving for Singapore on June 4th not quite sure when I will arrive in Laos depends how much I like Malaysia and Thailand??

Elliott

I think you'll like both countries alot! You've got a couple of weeks in Laos with a visa but no rush. Enjoy Malaysia and Thailand for as long as you can.

You get a 4 weeks visa on arrival now

What? Awesome!!! Man, I wish that were the case the times we were over! I'd easily spend a month there. I'd probably hop a boarder and go back for another

[pauls_pad2002]

hey ventien- vang vieng-phonsovan-sam nua...this takes u close to the borde...make sure u arrive on the right day as buses form sam nua to hanoi leave only on certain days....i got to sam nua and made the misatek of thinking we cud get to hanoi easily.....my bad as i didnt check the bus times and didnt want to wait extra days....i decided to cross the border by hithchiking and got stuffed over by the driver and border police as they demanded more money from us and then had to get a harrowing moto ride for 70 km to a small village in the mountains amongst a very frightening thunderstorm amongst trucks cattle bikes and cars and motos in the dark on a country road.....pissing down with rain and then to hanoi the next day so take my advise as this is a great journey but needs planning from sam nua...