Readme before you journey
"After the long Labor Day and government holidays, I had the opportunity to travel to a neighboring country. This trip started because my friend invited me to travel during this time, and since I had just resigned from my job, I had a lot of free time and was able to spend time with myself. So I took this opportunity to travel again."
This trip, we decided to travel to a neighboring country, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, or Laos. This trip took 4 days and 3 nights. At first, we planned to travel by bus from Bangkok to Vientiane and then take a bus to Vang Vieng. But as expected, during a long weekend like this, there were a lot of people traveling and the buses were full. Moreover, my friend had an urgent work issue, so I had to travel alone on the first day. My friend would then meet me at the Vientiane bus station. However, once I arrived there, I would only be able to travel around Vientiane with a friend who works in Laos. We wouldn't be able to go to Vang Vieng together.
I chose to travel by train this time, using the sleeper car on train number 69 from Bangkok to Nong Khai. The train fare was 681 baht. I arrived in Nong Khai around 7:45 am (the train was very punctual). The bed was quite comfortable, and there were many beds in the sleeper car. However, the food was a bit expensive.
Sleeping on the train number 69
The atmosphere inside the sleeping compartment
Upon arriving at Nong Khai station, it was a perfect morning with pleasant weather, not too hot. This made the morning feel especially refreshing. After that, walk to the front of the train station and you will find a shared taxi waiting to take you to the Friendship Bridge. However, you need to hurry up to catch it, otherwise you will have to spend money on a tuk-tuk back to Nong Khai Transport and then take another ride to the bridge. It will be a bit of a detour for backpackers. Once the car drops you off at the Friendship Bridge, you can walk in and do the border crossing procedures.
Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
Cross-border transactions
Upon entering the checkpoint, an officer will provide you with an entry-exit form for Thailand. Fill out the exit portion of the form first, then join the queue to pass through immigration with your passport. (You can fill out the entry portion later at your leisure.) Now you're ready to explore!
Crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
After completing the immigration process on the Thai side, it's time to cross the bridge and enter Laos. As you exit the Thai border, you'll find a bus ticket booth on your right-hand side. The fare is 20 baht, and the buses are similar to regular buses. It's first-come, first-served, so be sure to arrive early.
Bus crossing the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge
Entering Laos
Once the bus has stopped at the Lao border, walk to the booth to process your entry into Laos. Walk to this booth and present your passport. There will be a long queue here, but if you don't want to wait in line, you can go to the next booth (which is further away in the picture). It is expected to work the same way.
Queuing to make a border pass on the Lao side
The entrance fee is approximately 40 baht per person. You will receive a gray card and walk a little further to find the Lao immigration form (if you can't find it, ask an officer for it). After completing the form, submit it with your passport and walk through the exit to enter Laos. Here, you will need your card to pass through immigration. That's it, you have successfully entered Laos!
Stepping out a little bit, there will be a place to exchange money here, so I exchanged 3,000 baht = 750,000 kip (exchange rate 1 baht = 250 kip as of May 1, 2015). Well, that's it, I'm ready to go!!!
After a tiring journey through the border crossing from Thailand to Laos, the sun felt like it was less than 10 kilometers away from Thailand. I needed to find a way to get to Vientiane as quickly as possible. So I walked to the road on the side of the entrance to Laos. I forgot to mention that Laos drives on the opposite side of the road from us. Laos drives on the right side, so the entrance road must also be on the right side. I walked to the right side to find a car to Vientiane, and I found a bus stop with a parking lot similar to the Euro buses in our country. Route 168 will take me to Vientiane (Note: any route will do because there is only one bus parked and it comes out every 20 minutes). The ticket price is 5,000-6,000 kip, which is about 20 baht. To calculate how much kip is in Thai baht, just cut off the zeros after the decimal point and multiply by 4. For example, 50,000 kip = 200 baht. Something like that.
Bus stop in front of the checkpoint on the Lao side
Inside the bus
The journey from the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to the capital city of Vientiane takes approximately 30-45 minutes, depending on the number of people getting off the bus. If there are a lot of people getting off, it will take a little longer.
Upon arriving at Vientiane Bus Terminal, the place was bustling with both locals and tourists. Everyone was waiting at the terminal to catch connecting buses to various destinations. Locals were selling forest products, and the sound of their calls to get passengers on board echoed from the left. The sound of lottery scratch-off tickets being sold came from the right. I must admit that after a long journey, sitting down to rest was quite a colorful experience.
Scratch-off lottery at Vientiane bus station
Vientiane Bus Station Atmosphere
The way of life of the people in Laos
I didn't sit for long before my friend who works in Laos arrived. The first thing we had to do was drop off our bags, so we walked from Vientiane Bus Station to cut through the Morning Market (ຕະຫຼາດເຊົ້າ). Inside, it was air-conditioned, just like walking through Pratunam market in Bangkok. It was cool and relaxing, but the souvenirs were a bit expensive. There was a wide variety of things for sale, from bags to phones. But what was especially abundant were books, which were sold in many shops.
Inside the morning market
We walked through the morning market to get to Lan Xang Road, heading towards the guesthouse area known as the fountain district, which is not far from the bus station and is also next to the Mekong River. This area has a wide variety of rooms at affordable prices. It's also close to the nightlife and the night market (similar to a walking street), making it a popular choice for tourists. So I decided to walk around Wat Mixai.
Map of Wat Misai
Due to the heat and the desire to get to the accommodation quickly, I chose a shared room. Luckily, I was the only one staying in my room out of the 4 beds, so I got a single room for 120 baht or 30,000 kip. It was a great deal.
Backpacker Guesthouse
The room condition may disappoint those who expect a beautiful room with full amenities. The room is suitable for backpackers only. There is only a bed, pillow, and blanket. The bathroom is a shared bathroom with 2 rooms, and the toilet is a shared bathroom with 2 rooms, making a total of 4 bathrooms.
After taking care of my belongings, taking a shower, and doing some personal errands, it was finally time to explore. My first stop was to find something to eat, as I was very hungry. I hadn't eaten anything since I got off the train around 7:00 am, and it was now almost noon. I was starving! As I walked, I came across a restaurant selling pho and khao piak. The atmosphere was quite old, with a touch of Chinese culture. You could say it had a classic vibe.
Pho and Khao Piek Restaurant
I ordered a full bowl of pho. The locals here eat pho with chili sauce to get the authentic taste. I ordered a large duck pho for about 80 baht = 20,000 kip. Most food prices are around 10,000-25,000 kip, and there's nowhere cheaper than that. It's quite expensive for backpackers.
Khao Piek
After finishing our savory meal, we decided to indulge in some sweet treats. This bakery is conveniently located near the pho restaurant. It boasts a stylish loft design with exposed concrete walls, creating a beautiful and inviting atmosphere. The cool air conditioning was a welcome respite from the scorching sun. In fact, the main reason we chose this cafe was to escape the heat. Walking around Vientiane at noon is simply unbearable due to the intense heat.
PARISIEN CAFE
My friend and I each ordered a dish, which looked very delicious. I don't remember what it was called, but I know that the total cost of the food and drinks was around 90,000 kip. It was quite expensive, but it was a good opportunity to try a variety of dishes. The food was delicious and we were both very full.
Bread
After a satisfying meal, it's time to embark on a journey around Vientiane. The first stop is Wat Sisaket (ວັດສີສະເກສ), the first temple built in Vientiane, also known as Wat Saen. It was once the residence of the Supreme Patriarch of Laos. The significance of this temple is comparable to Wat Pho in Thailand. The name Wat Saen comes from the fact that King Sai Setthathirath and Lao Buddhists in the past built countless small Buddha statues, totaling around a hundred thousand, hence the name Wat Saen. Currently, there are approximately 6,000-10,000 Buddha statues. Nevertheless, this temple still holds the most Buddha statues in Vientiane. Inside Wat Sisaket, there is also a beautiful old library. The entrance fee is 20 baht = 5,000 kip. It is open to the public from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM.
The Tripitaka library next to Wat Si Sa Ket
Buddha statues enshrined in Wat Si Sa Ket
The Buddha statue is enshrined in Wat Si Saket
Warning sign for tourists: Do not touch the Buddha statue.
After leaving the area of Wat Sisaket, we walked to the old Ho Trai, which used to be a repository for old scriptures and Tripitaka. However, due to the war between Thailand and Laos, the scriptures and Tripitaka were taken back to Thailand by the Siamese army, along with the Emerald Buddha.
The Tripitaka Library within Wat Si Sa Ket
After leaving Wat Si Saket, I walked towards the Victory Gate. The Emerald Buddha Temple, located in that area, was closed for renovation and the installation of a new finial. The distance between Wat Si Saket and the Victory Gate is not very far, so I was able to walk there directly.
Patuxai, also known as Victory Gate (ປະຕູໄຊ), was built to commemorate the sacrifices of the Lao people during the wars before the communist revolution.
Victory Monument
View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
The architectural style of the Patuxai was inspired by the Arc de Triomphe in France, but it still retains its Lao identity in various details of the gate. The Patuxai was completed in 1969. In fact, the Patuxai has another name called "Vertical Runway" because the cement used to build the Patuxai was the cement that the American military wanted to build an airport, but they lost before. The cement was then used to build the Patuxai instead.
The ceiling of the Victory Monument
After visiting the Victory Monument, we took a tuk-tuk to the next destination, the Phra That Luang, for 35 baht per person. The distance was quite far, and the weather was hot in May, so we decided to take a tuk-tuk. Most tourists travel by tuk-tuk because there are no shared taxis available. The price depends on your negotiation with the driver.
Tuk-tuk near Victory Monument
After about 10 minutes, we arrived at Pha That Luang, which is a highly revered place of worship for the Lao people.
The Pha That Luang, also known as the Great Stupa or That Luang (ພຣະທາດຫລວງ, ທາດຫລວງ), is a significant religious monument in Vientiane and a symbol of national unity for the Lao people. According to legend, it is linked to the Pha That Phanom and is believed to have taken thousands of years to build. The stupa is inextricably linked to the historical development of the right bank of the Mekong River and serves as a prominent national emblem, even appearing on the current national seal.
Phra That Luang
The exterior of the Great Stupa
After exploring the Phra That Luang temple until the evening, we continued our journey to the Dark Market.
The Vientiane Walking Street, also known as the "Dark Market", is located along the Mekong River on Fa Ngum Road. It stretches for about 1 kilometer and is open from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM every day. The Dark Market is a popular landmark for young Laotians, as it is a gathering place for various activities such as walking, running, and aerobic dancing. It is a meeting point for friends, similar to Siam Center in Thailand. The market is also a place for older people to chat and take walks, making it a true community hub.
Vientiane Night Market (Dark Market) Atmosphere
Vientiane Walking Street Atmosphere (Dark Market)
Vientiane Night Market (Dark Market) Atmosphere
It's true, there are so many tourist attractions in Laos, from north to south. Just visiting Vientiane is only a small part of the whole country. There are also Luang Prabang, Pakse, and many other places waiting for backpackers like us to discover new experiences.
After waking up with a hangover from Lao beer (ເບຍລາວ) at the fountain square near the guesthouse in the Wat Mixai area, it was time to pack up and head to Vang Vieng. But first, I had to meet my friend at the Lao bus station (ບຂສ.ລາວ) at 8 am, so I had to hurry. On the way, I stopped to buy a pork pâté sandwich (ເຊ້າຂີ່ປາເຕ້) at a shop on the way to the Vientiane bus station.
Pate's Toast Shop
Pâté is a French word that means "ground meat and liver." It is used as a filling for bread (Baguette) and is served with tomatoes, coriander, onions, and pâté sauce. It is a local dish that is very popular with the locals. If you come to Laos and only try Pho and Khao Piak, you haven't really been to Laos.
Fill the baguette with the filling
Pork pate is ready to eat.
Our trip to Vientiane may be over, but the adventure continues! Next stop: Vang Vieng, a popular tourist destination among both Thais and foreigners. Stay tuned!
Vang Vieng (ວັງວຽງ)
With our bellies full, we were ready to tackle the heat of Vientiane. We arrived at the bus station around 7:00 AM and waited as usual. This time, however, there was a bit of anxiety in the air. Neither my friend nor I had purchased a Lao SIM card. The best we could do was tell each other, "Let's meet at the bus stop in the middle, where there are plenty of seats. If you don't see me, don't go anywhere because I'll be waiting there." That was the last message I sent before leaving the guesthouse. If we didn't meet up, our trip would have to end there.
About 8:30 am, there was still no sign of a bus from the Nong Khai side, so I just sat and waited. There was nothing I could do but face the entrance of the bus station, hoping that the bus would arrive soon. By 9:30 am, my friend arrived. We followed the steps and went to buy tickets to Vang Vieng. However, the ticket officer told us that we had to go to the Northern Bus Terminal to board the bus.
So we went looking for a bus. Luckily, all the buses, including the one going north, had their destination clearly written on the front. We had to guess the words, but since the roots are similar, it wasn't too difficult. Taking the bus is the most economical option, as it only costs 20 baht to get to the North Bus Terminal. However, it may take a while, depending on how many stops it makes. Around 10:30 am, we finally arrived at the North Bus Terminal, the gateway to Vang Vieng.
Northern Bus Terminal
Without further ado, let's head to the ticket booth. It turns out that you have to pay the driver directly to purchase a ticket. The van to Vang Vieng is clearly marked and can be found right outside the exit. The fare is around 50,000 kip, which is equivalent to 200 baht. The journey takes approximately 3.5 to 4 hours.
Minivan to Vang Vieng
It is recommended to buy food and water in advance, as the distance is quite long and there are not many gas stations to stop at. More importantly, the weather is quite hot and the van's air conditioning is not very effective. Also, it is best to sit in the front seats, as you can stretch your legs and the air conditioning is much cooler.
Inside the van
The van to Vang Vieng needs to be boarded quickly. Because if it's full, it will leave immediately. If you don't make it in time, you'll have to wait for the next round. And I don't know if there will be a lot of people or not.
The van from the north will stop at the Vang Vieng transport station. But there are two transport stations in Vang Vieng. If you take a direct bus from Udon Thani to Vang Vieng, you will go to another station. But we took a van and got off at the domestic transport station, so we had to take a tuk-tuk from the transport station to Vang Vieng. Luckily, a friend who was on the bus with us was going to Vang Vieng, so we got a fare of 40 baht each and were dropped off right in front of our hotel. But the road was full of potholes and bumps. Anyone who takes a bus to Vang Vieng will feel like they're going to a rock concert, shaking their heads like crazy. But there are also some paved roads.
The road to Vang Vieng
As expected, the weather in Vang Vieng is very hot. The temperature is around 35 degrees Celsius, which is almost scorching. My first goal was to find accommodation before anything else. So I walked around, because I didn't book a room. But I was also afraid that it would be full because there were so many tourists, especially Thais and Koreans. Everywhere I went, I could hear people speaking Thai. I guess they must have come here following reviews from online forums.
Finally got a room! It's a small hotel located right in the center and seems to be the hub of the accommodation area. It's called "Ruen Wiang Wilai". This place is a landmark because it's a drop-off point, a place to buy tour packages, and even a place to buy bus tickets to Luang Prabang and back to Vientiane. If you don't know where to start, you can use this place as a reference point.
Taken after a relaxing walk in front of the Wiang Wilai House.
The accommodation has a wide variety to choose from, ranging from luxurious single rooms at 70,000 kip to shared rooms at 30,000 kip. This price is very attractive to backpackers. I myself also chose a shared room with a friend for 30,000 kip = 120 baht per night. As for the condition of the room at 120 baht, it was very clean. The bed was big and the blanket was warm. One room can accommodate about 6-8 people per room, which is very worthwhile for backpackers.
Note: I was unable to take pictures of the room due to concerns about my roommates.
Upon entering the room, I immediately made a friend. She was a 26-year-old Canadian teacher named Haley, who was on vacation before starting a new job in China. We exchanged pleasantries and chatted about various topics. After that, I took care of some personal matters and relaxed. When it was time to shower, I prepared my toiletries as usual. However, upon reaching the bathroom, I was slightly shocked. The entire hotel had only one bathroom and one toilet. Moreover, the bathroom door wouldn't close. To take a shower, I had to prop it shut with my foot. While showering, I felt an indescribable sense of excitement. But as they say, new experiences are what make travel so enriching. If I hadn't gone on this trip, I wouldn't have encountered this unique situation.
After showering and taking care of personal business, it was time to walk around and explore. We walked around, taking pictures as we went, starting from the area around the guesthouse and ending at the Song River. Below are some photos.
Bridge over the canal in Vang Vieng
Children playing in the Song River
Children playing in the Song River
Rocket launch base on the banks of the Song River
After that, we continued looking for a place to relax and stumbled upon a young German man named Mike, 24 years old, an exchange student at an open university in the Bang Kapi area. He was sitting alone, so we asked to join him. We spent time chatting and getting to know each other, as tourists do, and enjoyed a slow-paced, relaxing break. Soon after, Bak Rinth and his friends came to play in the water nearby. We couldn't resist capturing the moments of Rinth and his friends having fun by the Song River.
Sit and relax by the Song River
Rin's gang
As the sounds of Bak Rin and his friends faded away, we sat and watched the kayak tour, observing young couples flirting. A cool breeze blew as the sun began to set. We couldn't resist capturing the atmosphere and stories along the Song River in Vang Vieng.
Evening atmosphere by the Song River
After the sun had set, we made another friend and were ready to go for dinner. We had arranged to meet Haley in front of the hotel and chose the restaurant with the most people, as we figured that the busiest place would be the best. After dinner, we went to a bar for some light beers and finished the night at the Sakura Bar.
SAKURA BAR is the most famous bar in Vang Vieng because it is a gathering place for tourists from all nations who come to visit Vang Vieng. However, it closes around midnight, and if you arrive before 9 pm, you will get a free can of beer.
CHERRY BLOSSOM BAR
On the first day, we had a full day of sightseeing in Vang Vieng, enjoying the nature, lifestyle, and nightlife. It was a truly worthwhile first day of sightseeing.
The next day, we agreed to buy a day trip tour to see as much as possible in Vang Vieng. So we chose to buy a tour in front of the hotel, which is the biggest selling point in Vang Vieng. The tour we bought is a day trip, called Kayak + Blue Lagoon. The package includes a visit to Tham Xang Cave, Tham Nam Cave, kayaking, and ends with the Blue Lagoon. The car will pick us up at the hotel at 8 am and drop us off at the hotel at 6 pm.
Mike joined us on this tour, so there were three of us. We made one more friend, so we weren't lonely anymore. But before we go, let's stop by to buy breakfast.
The food here is similar to that in Vientiane. It is open 24 hours a day. The vendors who come to sell are food carts that park in front of the hotel and nightlife spots. As for the price of food, it is around 10,000-15,000 kip = 40-60 baht, depending on the menu and what you add to it.
Food cart in front of the hostel
After breakfast, get ready to board the tour bus. The bus will be waiting for you in front of the hotel, so you can just walk over and relax.
Elephant Cave (Tam Xang)
Located about 14 kilometers north of Vang Vieng, Tham Chang is a cave that houses Buddha statues, footprints, and stalactites and stalagmites that resemble elephants. The locals therefore call it Tham Chang, which means "Elephant Cave." Upon arrival, you have to walk in. The weather is quite hot. From the parking lot to Tham Chang, it's about 500 meters. It's not too close and not too far, but it's a good idea to bring a hat and apply sunscreen.
Stalagmite and stalactite in the shape of an elephant
After exploring the Elephant Cave, we walked out to continue our journey through the Water Cave. To navigate the Water Cave, we had to sit on inner tubes.
Water Cave
About 1 kilometer from Tham Chang, there is a stream flowing through, making the cave ceiling clear and water flowing all year round. There are two cave routes. When entering the cave for about 4 kilometers, there will be a fork. If you go left, the distance is about 8 kilometers, ending at Tham Muang Sang. But this route is quite dangerous. The guides do not recommend going. The second route to the right will find a small piece of land to sit and rest, and then loop back to the original exit.
The area around the cave has a Zip-line or Zip-wire activity that you can play, but you must purchase a tour program in advance to be able to play.
Zip-line or Zip-wire, an activity of riding a sling, at the area of Tham Nam (water cave)
We sat down to eat, relax and prepare to go through the cave on a rubber tube. The first group to arrive gets to go first, so we had to queue up. But there were a lot of tourists today, so we had to wait almost an hour before we could go through the cave.
While waiting, we chatted with the other people on the trip. We talked about all sorts of things, and it was a lot of fun. There were about 10 Thai people on the trip, and we ended up making 5 new friends.
After chatting and gossiping for about an hour, it was time to enter the cave. The tour guide provided flashlights for all the tourists. We had to wait in line to exchange the flashlights and life jackets from the previous group. It was like a tag-team effort to switch the flashlights.
Before entering the cave, you have to sit on a rubber tube and queue to go in. Inside the cave, there are ropes to pull you in. Above, there are people hanging on slings, and below, there are people queuing to enter the cave. It's a very colorful tourist attraction.
Activities around the cave
After exiting the cave, we finally arrived at the long-awaited activity: kayaking along the Song River. This is arguably the main activity here, as it takes a long time and allows for some serious relaxation.
Prepare the kayak
Prepare to kayak
A guide paddles a kayak with tourists.
Accommodation during the paddle
View of the Song Riverbank
Paddling along, enjoying the atmosphere, playing in the water, it was really fun to come and kayak and relax during the hot season here in Vang Vieng. It was really worth it to come here. The distance was about 10 kilometers, I think, before we reached the end point. We were exhausted, but as they say, the trip isn't over yet. There's still one more place to go.
The Blue Lagoon is about 6 kilometers from Vang Vieng city. Don't think that it's not too far and the journey will be comfortable. The road to the Blue Lagoon is dusty and bumpy all the way. On top of that, there are potholes that will make your head spin. It's recommended that if you bring your own car, park it and rent a motorbike for 200 baht + about 40 baht for gas. Or, you can join a tour, which will be much more comfortable than driving yourself.
The Blue Lagoon is located at Tham Pu Kham, a green emerald pool in front of a towering mountain. It is a passageway to Tham Pu Kham. The green emerald pool is quite deep, allowing for jumps from trees into the water. It must be said that today there were a lot of tourists, which made for a lot of fun cheering. Some people jumped hesitantly, some climbed up and didn't dare to jump, and some had their own unique jumping styles, which made the atmosphere around the emerald pool lively throughout the water play.
The atmosphere around the Emerald Pool (Blue Lagoon)
Atmosphere around the Emerald Pool (Blue Lagoon)
Difficult poses also come (Blue Lagoon)
The best places to visit in Thailand
Jumping off the top floor is pretty cool, huh?
Around 5 pm, the driver came to call us back. It made the day trip end with fun and exhaustion from playing in the water all day.
The car dropped us off at the hotel. The eight of us went our separate ways to do our own things, and then we met up for dinner in the evening. We also invited Haley, who had gone to buy a balloon ride ticket for about 2,400 baht, to see the view in Vang Vieng. We then rented motorbikes and rode around Vang Vieng. The nine of us met up again in front of the hotel and went to dinner together. We then went to a floating restaurant on the Song River. That was the end of our one-day trip to Vang Vieng.
I must say that my trip to Vang Vieng this time was very worthwhile. I got to relax, have fun, and make new friends with my travel companions. I must say that backpacking this time was really worthwhile. I gained a lot of new experiences. Thank you, "Vang Vieng (ວັງວຽງ)".
Jarupong.T
Jarupong.T
Friday, September 27, 2024 9:58 AM
