Readme before you journey
This trip is Part 1 of my trip to Laos. There are a lot of pictures, so enjoy!
The full travelogue will be compiled and provided again.
Follow Part 2 at:
A Relaxing Day in Vang Vieng: Jumping into the Blue Lagoon and Climbing to the Silver Cliff for a Stunning Sunset
And follow Part 3 at Sabai Dee Vang Vieng, Cruise the Song River, Explore Vieng Tara, Cross the Orange Bridge
**Departing on Thursday, April 6th, which is Chakri Day, and taking an additional day off on Friday, we will have four days of travel time (typical for office workers).** **Returning on the 9th, the timing is perfect, not too long and not too short.**
Rough travel plan in 3 lines:
**Take a bus from Udon Thani Bus Terminal.**
Cross the border at Nong Khai checkpoint and enter Vientiane. Stay for 1 night.
The next morning, we will travel to Vang Vieng and stay for two more nights.
Last day of travel back from Vang Vieng, flying from Udon Thani to Bangkok
This trip had two other companions, which made for a small and easygoing group. We went wherever we wanted and ate whatever we wanted, without any fuss.
The journey began on Thursday, April 6th. I woke up at 3:00 AM and left home at 3:30 AM. I arrived at Don Mueang Airport at 4:00 AM to catch my flight at 4:45 AM.
The journey to Udon Thani takes approximately 6 and a half hours. Passengers can purchase bus tickets at the bus terminal (Bor Kor Sor) at 7:00 AM for the 9:00 AM departure. The ticket price is 80 baht, and the final destination is Vientiane, Laos.
While waiting for the bus, as we missed the first round at 8:00, we had time to grab a hearty breakfast. A cup of coffee and two fried eggs in the morning is a great way to start the day!
When it was time for the bus to leave, we continued our journey. It took about 2 hours to reach Vientiane (including the time spent passing through immigration at the Nong Khai checkpoint). The tour bus we took on the way there was a Thai bus. The condition of the bus was considered good compared to the return trip, which was a Lao bus. (I'll save the story about the return trip for later, it's long and exciting, let's just say don't miss it).
The journey to Vientiane does not take long. We will arrive in no time. We have already booked our accommodation.
Upon exiting the vehicle, I sought out a mobile phone store to purchase a Net Sim card. After inserting the card, I activated the map application and proceeded to navigate to my accommodation on foot.
Sorry, not smart. No money for them to bite. Tight!!!
A one-kilometer walk is enough to break a sweat.
We stayed at Vientiane Star Hotel, a small guesthouse with compact rooms. We didn't require any luxury, just convenient access to different locations, as it was situated in the heart of the city.
After a long walk, sweat soaked through my shirt as if I had just finished a shower. A cold beer in hand would be as refreshing as finding an oasis in the desert.
As the sun wasn't too harsh, we decided to explore the city. We came across a bicycle rental shop near our accommodation, and my partner's friends joined us for a group outing.
Our stomachs are starting to rumble as the only thing we've had since breakfast is a fried egg. Let's hop on our bikes and find something delicious to eat.
Our first meal was a disaster. We ordered too much food out of hunger, and there was no way three people could finish it all. The bill for this first meal was a whopping 100,000 kip, which is about 1,000 baht. This was a very expensive price for street food, and we realized we needed to be more careful with our spending. We were still rich on the first day, but this experience taught us a valuable lesson.
After aimlessly wandering around, I stumbled upon a stunning temple called Wat Si Sa Ket. Intrigued, I decided to pay a visit, only to discover that it was a museum with an entrance fee. It seemed that nothing in this city was free.
Capture stunning photos amidst breathtaking views.
Next, I cycled to the Patuxai Monument, also known as the Victory Gate. Although it appeared close, it was actually quite a distance away. It was the evening rush hour, and there were many cars on the road, so I cycled carefully.
We arrived too late, the gate to the top viewpoint was already closed. So we just took photos around the area. The sky wasn't very clear today, it looked hazy and gloomy.
After taking photos to our heart's content, we cycled to the Night Market to find something to eat.
This market is similar to a local flea market, selling similar items without much of interest.
The coconut water in Laos is incredibly bland, almost like drinking plain water.
We contacted a tour company to find a vehicle to take us to Vang Vieng tomorrow. We are willing to pay a premium for a comfortable and fast journey, as Vang Vieng is quite far away, with a bus journey taking approximately 4 hours. The ticket seller informed us that if we choose a van, our travel time will be reduced to 3 hours.
We ended up taking a large bus, and when we asked our fellow passengers, they told us they had bought their tickets for a cheaper price than us.
Start your day with a Beer Lao and embark on a journey to Vang Vieng.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Savannakhet, Not So Boring, Just Spectacularly Grandiose.
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"San Dee Happy, Readers Happy"
SandyHappy
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 10:26 AM
