Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam to Muang Ngoi Neua, Laos by bus and boat
Got up at 4:45 this morning to take the bus down into Laos from Dien Bien Phu. There were several other people who were on it who had stayed at our hotel. It was almost entirely full of westerners (4 from the Netherlands, a Russian, a couple Brits, and the two of us, besides the other 2 Americans). My knees were pretty much touching the seat in front of me. I think it might have been the tightest fit in any bus I've ever been in. Tighter than any plane, too. It was an extremely scenic bus ride with lots of mud, rough roads, and remote villages thrown in. There was a bit of roadwork along the way including a couple new bridges going in. During lunch, we all began to talk about the boat ride. Others were interested and we talked about trying to charter a boat to Muang Ngoi Neua in case there wasn't one going today, as the southbound boat apparently goes infrequently. Turns out a driver was bringing some people up from the river village and was going back anyway, so we got a good rate and he made a chunk of profit. We waited around for the bank to open (at Muang Khua where the bus stops and the boat leaves from) and several of us got money there. There didn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to which cards were accepted or how much money you could get. And the ATM outside the bank would work with some kind of proprietary Lao card, I think, but not MasterCard or VISA. The boat ride was awesome. The breeze was pleasant, so it was comfortable. It rained some, but we didn't get wet (only from some of the rapids!). We paid 100,000 each (about $12.50). It was so worth it. Very beautiful. My girlfriend felt a little sick in the bus (the road was very twisty) and is tired tonight, but feeling okay. See my Asia photos: http://www.jpwphoto.com/f561024062
Comments
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nice view also music your muan lai
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My recent trip to northern Laos. https://youtu.be/-6l9b4ULK_s
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thov kom yawm saub txai ib haiv hmoob rov qab mus rau qhov ib hmoob siab nyiam ua tsaug ntau ntau.
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wow thank mu
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sorry. what kind of your video. perfect
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A few points of interest (e.g., the fast and seemingly chaotic rate of construction, the kids frolicking in the water), but on the whole I found the scenery monotonous and the whole trip rather boring--made bearable by the liberal use of fast-forward. On the other hand, If you plan to visit these places in the near future, this video could provide some very useful information.
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Very good trip, amazing! Thanks for video
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เอัมป้าอาขายสังเด
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good one. thanks.
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From where the journey exactly starting ? is it from Vietnam ? or from Laos ? the bus and boat rides are in vietnam ?
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nice video and laos music, thanks
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Thanks for sharing this nice video. Salute to Viet and Loas people. These are what i experience in early 70s in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia where development are very minimal but we have clean air and water! Now all the rivers are heavily silted and primary forest are gone! We must remember that development comes with a price.
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I wondered how good the food displayed on the side of the roads in Vietnam tasted .... what with the diesel buses driving by a metre away spewing fumes on the rice, peanuts, sugar cane .... etc. Admittedly I never got sick from street food in S/E Asia in 4 years of travel.
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Thanks for the video! Laos is an amazing country! Love it!!
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I like it
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Wow... U guy have lot of fun in my country, I'm no time to go back there.
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great video i feel very danger when go to Laos and Vietnam. i lived there and came from there, but i'm still afraid to go there. they drive very dangerously and many people are trying to rob you. you made home safely is a good thing. i had been in Laos in 2011 and i feel like not to go back again. i always looked out for my safety when i was in Laos. at nite is worse time. i got robbed some small stuffs, but i made back to US safely.
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Ha..ha. need more fund investment
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