My 2nd vacation of 2010...6 days LAOS
Day 1
My day starts as early as 4 am. Flight took off at 8.05am…..We arrive Vientiane 2 hours after that. The different between Laos and KL is 1 hour..(Laos is 1 hour behind). We had our itinerary earlier as usual but on the flight we did discuss on how to finish 4 places in 6 days considering all four places is far from each other.
Our early plan is taking bus to Luang Prabang (LP) on the day we arrive (evening bus) so we didn’t book any room ahead but by doing that we might not have enough time to complete all 4 places we are dying wanna go. So, here starts our adventure. By the way, minivan from airport to VT town is USD8 per minivan (up to 7 ppl).
We just landed our bag for a while in one of the guesthouse(GH), walk around to find the travel agency and room to rent..(surprisingly GH in Vientiane is full). Found travel agency, negotiate with them (it’s a skill we already acquire after several backpacking trip)…we finally got a minivan for 7 ppl (we are only 5), for 4 days trip..
Vientiane (VT) – Vang Vieng (VV) – Luang Prabang (LP) – Xieng Khuong (XK) – VT include gas and driver cum guide for USD440..only USD88 per person. Its actually consider cheap bcos bus VIP fare to LP only already USD30/pax. Ok..done with travel agency…now we need to find place to stay a night before start our 4 days journey. Look around, we finally found Samsethai GH, just in front of the travel agency..cost us USD7/pax/night with attach bathroom and AC also TV and fridge…the condition of the room .NOT BAD at all..
After done all that..its already 2.30pm. We went to Buddha Park (which is close at 5pm) and we have to rush to Talat Sao (it’s a must go market) which also close at 5pm. From VT to Buddha Park, we took minivan (oh gosh ..I forgot how much we pay but its cheap), entrance fee only USD1. (Buddha Park is a place to go if you go to VT. Vientiane is not so much to see unless you appreciate those Wat which we don’t really do.) From there, we go straight to Talat Sao…Arrive there, we got confuse…its not a market, the place like Ocean supermarket or The Store..still , we look around, the stuff in there is expensive, we walk n walk n walk n finally we found the market behind the store…there u go..the market is behind the store…so we started looking for what we want such as silk (I didn’t buy bcos its expensive),silver stuff (its good bargain) and I suddenly realize…OMG!!! Where is my camera??!!...not in the bag,not around my neck like I usually do….YES..I left my camera inside the minivan. I pray to Allah to help me to get my camera back…Pray hard I should say…we didn’t go straight away to the place we got the minivan but we continue do some shopping..I keep calm at that time and believing that if the camera is meant for me..its meant for me…Insyaallah..
At 5pm, we go back to the place we took our minivan….there were guys lepaking under the tree…we approach them and just told them that I left my camera in the minivan and if possible to contact the driver. Without wasting any second, one of them straight away called the driver and ask us to wait …. We wait and praying for the best…after about 10-15 min, the driver arrived, smiled at me and handed me the Camera…Alhamdullilah…I was so impress by their trustworthy, very helpful. Have no intention to condemn my own citizen but if it happen in KL, its very unlikely to get my camera back. It was Lost and Found…in Here most probably Lost Never Found…Again..Alhamdullilah..
Next, we continue our visit. Went to famous Wat around the town, and end up at Patuxai (Champ de Lysse look a like). Its already dark by then. Had our dinner at Fatima restaurant (one of Halal restaurant in town,in front of Mekong River)..I had noodle soup, my frens had fried rice..all together cost us USD20. After dinner, we stroll along Mekong River, checking out the Pasar Malam, bought some souvenirs but not so much choices…so we decided to continue shopping in LP the next day….
And that’s the End of day 1. Get a good rest for tomorrow adventure.
p/s : their currency is KIP. They accept KIP, Thai Bath and USD. 1 USD ~ 8500 KIP. Its advisable to have in hand KIP. Use it especially for tuk tuk and shopping. You can change your USD in any money changer around town.
My day starts as early as 4 am. Flight took off at 8.05am…..We arrive Vientiane 2 hours after that. The different between Laos and KL is 1 hour..(Laos is 1 hour behind). We had our itinerary earlier as usual but on the flight we did discuss on how to finish 4 places in 6 days considering all four places is far from each other.
Our early plan is taking bus to Luang Prabang (LP) on the day we arrive (evening bus) so we didn’t book any room ahead but by doing that we might not have enough time to complete all 4 places we are dying wanna go. So, here starts our adventure. By the way, minivan from airport to VT town is USD8 per minivan (up to 7 ppl).
We just landed our bag for a while in one of the guesthouse(GH), walk around to find the travel agency and room to rent..(surprisingly GH in Vientiane is full). Found travel agency, negotiate with them (it’s a skill we already acquire after several backpacking trip)…we finally got a minivan for 7 ppl (we are only 5), for 4 days trip..
Vientiane (VT) – Vang Vieng (VV) – Luang Prabang (LP) – Xieng Khuong (XK) – VT include gas and driver cum guide for USD440..only USD88 per person. Its actually consider cheap bcos bus VIP fare to LP only already USD30/pax. Ok..done with travel agency…now we need to find place to stay a night before start our 4 days journey. Look around, we finally found Samsethai GH, just in front of the travel agency..cost us USD7/pax/night with attach bathroom and AC also TV and fridge…the condition of the room .NOT BAD at all..
After done all that..its already 2.30pm. We went to Buddha Park (which is close at 5pm) and we have to rush to Talat Sao (it’s a must go market) which also close at 5pm. From VT to Buddha Park, we took minivan (oh gosh ..I forgot how much we pay but its cheap), entrance fee only USD1. (Buddha Park is a place to go if you go to VT. Vientiane is not so much to see unless you appreciate those Wat which we don’t really do.) From there, we go straight to Talat Sao…Arrive there, we got confuse…its not a market, the place like Ocean supermarket or The Store..still , we look around, the stuff in there is expensive, we walk n walk n walk n finally we found the market behind the store…there u go..the market is behind the store…so we started looking for what we want such as silk (I didn’t buy bcos its expensive),silver stuff (its good bargain) and I suddenly realize…OMG!!! Where is my camera??!!...not in the bag,not around my neck like I usually do….YES..I left my camera inside the minivan. I pray to Allah to help me to get my camera back…Pray hard I should say…we didn’t go straight away to the place we got the minivan but we continue do some shopping..I keep calm at that time and believing that if the camera is meant for me..its meant for me…Insyaallah..
At 5pm, we go back to the place we took our minivan….there were guys lepaking under the tree…we approach them and just told them that I left my camera in the minivan and if possible to contact the driver. Without wasting any second, one of them straight away called the driver and ask us to wait …. We wait and praying for the best…after about 10-15 min, the driver arrived, smiled at me and handed me the Camera…Alhamdullilah…I was so impress by their trustworthy, very helpful. Have no intention to condemn my own citizen but if it happen in KL, its very unlikely to get my camera back. It was Lost and Found…in Here most probably Lost Never Found…Again..Alhamdullilah..
Next, we continue our visit. Went to famous Wat around the town, and end up at Patuxai (Champ de Lysse look a like). Its already dark by then. Had our dinner at Fatima restaurant (one of Halal restaurant in town,in front of Mekong River)..I had noodle soup, my frens had fried rice..all together cost us USD20. After dinner, we stroll along Mekong River, checking out the Pasar Malam, bought some souvenirs but not so much choices…so we decided to continue shopping in LP the next day….
And that’s the End of day 1. Get a good rest for tomorrow adventure.
p/s : their currency is KIP. They accept KIP, Thai Bath and USD. 1 USD ~ 8500 KIP. Its advisable to have in hand KIP. Use it especially for tuk tuk and shopping. You can change your USD in any money changer around town.
Day 2
Today will be a long day. 2 hrs to Vang Vieng followed by 5 hours to LP. We don’t want to expect anything but we know something new waiting for us ahead. Wake up at 6.00am, the van will pick us up at 7.00am. The GH doesn’t come with bfast so we eat our own food. I started my day with hot chocs and instant noodle (I only do this during my backpacker trip). While having my breakfast outside the GH..we actually sit by the road side….a group of Monk walking in line…they looked confused…hahahahhahaha..
Our van and driver arrived…another nightmares…the driver cum guide doesn’t know English .. not even a WORD !!!. What else to do…body language then and many funny things comes along when we try to explain things to him. Along the way, we learned toilet is Hong Nam (well, how do u want to do body gesture for toilet..hmmm..) … thanks is Kop Chai…hello is Sabaidee..and that’s all..hahahahahahah…other than that, just write down and do some body gesture. Another
funny things is, his boss can speak English but can only translate via phone. So everytime Yai (our driver’s name) want to ask us on where we wanna go or where is our GH and what time need to pick us up…he will call his boss and pass the handphone to me…. J..(do not expect good English but at least the communication is there) 
The road to VV not so good but the journey not soo bad either. 2 hrs on snaking road still can take it. Arrive VV at about 9am, straight to the cave…the driver just drop us there, tell us where Hong Nam is, then just pointing to one direction and off we go….(pandai2 korang lah nak pergi mana and buat apa)..something like that…hehehheheheh…
P/S : Do Not Worry about the Condition of the toilet in LAOS, its extremely clean with water and tissue regardless of how rural the place is…I am Not exaggerated here…iTS TRUE..
In fact, I have been to most of Asean Country and it’s a shame to us becos Malaysia toilet is the worst…
Not so much thing to do in VV unless you wanna do kayaking, tubing or rock climbing. We didn’t opt for that activity, so we just go to the river, take photo and having lunch on the floating hut…food as usual fish and vege…our lunch in VV was GOOD. The grill fish is different and they kept the fish alive in the river before grill it..So u get very fresh fish grill….there is entrance fee to the cave and crossing the river but very cheap….5,000 kip per entrance (about RM2).. After lunch, at about 12 noon , we continue our journey to LP…Again the road is zigzag but this time it took 5 hours….its horrible and yet different…. We try to sleep all the way becos everytime we open our eyes, its feels dizzy, woozy…all sort of that category…another option is…keep eating junk food…Along the way , we stop for Hong Nam once…
P/S : I would recommend to those want to go to LP and have extra budget, flight is the best option (USD80 for 45 min journey)…minivan is 2nd option…third option is VIP bus (took 10 hours on winding road)..(we met A Romanian couple who took VIP bus, they said its absolutely terrible..They went back to VT by flight)
However, when arrived at LP at about 5.00pm, all pening2 and loya2 is worth it. The place is a beautiful pekan koboi. Its different, its authentic…..and its UNESCO World Heritage…Upon arrival, go to the GH we book …. Vilay GH and Tanoy GH (we book at Vilay via website but the room at Tanoy..it opposite to each other and same owner who got an adorable little girl name Suria)..
cost us USD14 for 2 nights per person. No AC needed….fan just enough. Attach bathroom, no TV, got fridge..hot water (important as weather in LP is weird…32 C at day time…can drop to 13-20 C at night and early morning..) get some rest and a cup of instant noodle while waiting for dinner time. 1st night at LP, dinner at Nazim restaurant (an Indian Halal restaurant). The food in big portion…we had briani,squid fried rice and kind of bread, forgot the name.
.go shopping at night market (bigger than VT) so much choices…and Rambang mata..hehehhehehe…the souvenir like magnet or short glass not in the list of choices. No short glass at all and few magnet..I consider it expensive for magnet…RM4 for a piece of magnet and I bought 6…
J..some of my frens bought silk scarf,good price for that, some handicraft also good bargain and I got my mum cushion cover and tissue box cover.. there were 2 rows…
I finish 1 row, will check out 2nd row tomorrow..At about 11pm….ZZZzzzzzzZZZZ…. will continue day 3 onwards...
Today will be a long day. 2 hrs to Vang Vieng followed by 5 hours to LP. We don’t want to expect anything but we know something new waiting for us ahead. Wake up at 6.00am, the van will pick us up at 7.00am. The GH doesn’t come with bfast so we eat our own food. I started my day with hot chocs and instant noodle (I only do this during my backpacker trip). While having my breakfast outside the GH..we actually sit by the road side….a group of Monk walking in line…they looked confused…hahahahhahaha..
Our van and driver arrived…another nightmares…the driver cum guide doesn’t know English .. not even a WORD !!!. What else to do…body language then and many funny things comes along when we try to explain things to him. Along the way, we learned toilet is Hong Nam (well, how do u want to do body gesture for toilet..hmmm..) … thanks is Kop Chai…hello is Sabaidee..and that’s all..hahahahahahah…other than that, just write down and do some body gesture. Another
funny things is, his boss can speak English but can only translate via phone. So everytime Yai (our driver’s name) want to ask us on where we wanna go or where is our GH and what time need to pick us up…he will call his boss and pass the handphone to me…. J..(do not expect good English but at least the communication is there) 
The road to VV not so good but the journey not soo bad either. 2 hrs on snaking road still can take it. Arrive VV at about 9am, straight to the cave…the driver just drop us there, tell us where Hong Nam is, then just pointing to one direction and off we go….(pandai2 korang lah nak pergi mana and buat apa)..something like that…hehehheheheh…
P/S : Do Not Worry about the Condition of the toilet in LAOS, its extremely clean with water and tissue regardless of how rural the place is…I am Not exaggerated here…iTS TRUE..
In fact, I have been to most of Asean Country and it’s a shame to us becos Malaysia toilet is the worst…
Not so much thing to do in VV unless you wanna do kayaking, tubing or rock climbing. We didn’t opt for that activity, so we just go to the river, take photo and having lunch on the floating hut…food as usual fish and vege…our lunch in VV was GOOD. The grill fish is different and they kept the fish alive in the river before grill it..So u get very fresh fish grill….there is entrance fee to the cave and crossing the river but very cheap….5,000 kip per entrance (about RM2).. After lunch, at about 12 noon , we continue our journey to LP…Again the road is zigzag but this time it took 5 hours….its horrible and yet different…. We try to sleep all the way becos everytime we open our eyes, its feels dizzy, woozy…all sort of that category…another option is…keep eating junk food…Along the way , we stop for Hong Nam once…
P/S : I would recommend to those want to go to LP and have extra budget, flight is the best option (USD80 for 45 min journey)…minivan is 2nd option…third option is VIP bus (took 10 hours on winding road)..(we met A Romanian couple who took VIP bus, they said its absolutely terrible..They went back to VT by flight)
However, when arrived at LP at about 5.00pm, all pening2 and loya2 is worth it. The place is a beautiful pekan koboi. Its different, its authentic…..and its UNESCO World Heritage…Upon arrival, go to the GH we book …. Vilay GH and Tanoy GH (we book at Vilay via website but the room at Tanoy..it opposite to each other and same owner who got an adorable little girl name Suria)..
cost us USD14 for 2 nights per person. No AC needed….fan just enough. Attach bathroom, no TV, got fridge..hot water (important as weather in LP is weird…32 C at day time…can drop to 13-20 C at night and early morning..) get some rest and a cup of instant noodle while waiting for dinner time. 1st night at LP, dinner at Nazim restaurant (an Indian Halal restaurant). The food in big portion…we had briani,squid fried rice and kind of bread, forgot the name..go shopping at night market (bigger than VT) so much choices…and Rambang mata..hehehhehehe…the souvenir like magnet or short glass not in the list of choices. No short glass at all and few magnet..I consider it expensive for magnet…RM4 for a piece of magnet and I bought 6…
J..some of my frens bought silk scarf,good price for that, some handicraft also good bargain and I got my mum cushion cover and tissue box cover.. there were 2 rows…
I finish 1 row, will check out 2nd row tomorrow..At about 11pm….ZZZzzzzzzZZZZ…. will continue day 3 onwards...
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