Inday Clara Travels Solo #16: I survived a 26 hour Bus trip from Sapa, Vietnam to Luang Prabang, Laos!
I bought the ticket from the hostel (Mountains Cloud Sa Pa Hostel) where I was staying. The cheapest one you could find in the area. One night is 5.00 USD. I paid 420,000 VND for the bus ticket.
On their schedule posted, it said 7:00pm but the owner of the hostel drove me to the bus terminal around 7:30. When we arrived at the terminal, there was no bus.
The bus arrived 20 minutes late but with other passengers already on board. I chose a spot inside. It wasn’t classy like the one I rode from Hanoi but it was decent enough. So my bus trip officially started at 8:00pm. Happily, I fell fast asleep.
We arrived at the Dien Bien Phu Bus Terminal around 3:30am. Went to the counter to buy my bus ticket going to Luang Prabang for 495,000 VND.
Went to the toilet, paid 5,000 VND. Fell asleep inside the bus as I waited for us to leave. I woke up around 6:00am. Grab something to eat. Went back to the toilet and paid 2,000 VND. Another person was on duty by then. I know what you’re thinking! Haha.
So the bus was a small one which would normally fit 15 persons. I thought we would be overcrowded with people but we were overcrowded with loads of stuffs! If you are a small Asian person just like me so this bus wouldn't bother you but for tall big foreign guys, this ain't your ride.
We left at 8:15am.
I thought we were already going straight with no more stopovers but guess what? Just 30 minutes after we left the terminal, we arrived at a warehouse where they loaded the bus with tons of boxes we even don’t know what was inside. So 40-50 minutes of loading the boxes into the small bus. We continued the trip. The roads were pretty much ok except for some bumpy part along the way. Luckily I chose the front seat beside the driver so I have a full front view during the whole trip.
We arrived at the Vietnam-Laos Border Crossing around 12:00 noon. Everything went smoothly. Just 10 minutes and I was done. I paid 2 USD for the passport processing and 20,000 VND for the passport stamp.
Then while waiting for everyone else, I made friends with the other foreign travellers. Yoski, the Japanese student solo traveler and Kelsey and Paul, the Canadian bubbly couple.We left 40 minutes later.
Then we stopped over at a restaurant and had lunch. Since they served a group meal, Me, Kyoski, Paul and Kelsey shared the meal. Good thing, the food tastes good and I got to know more about my fellow travellers. We paid 30,000 VND each. We left the place an hour later. Now, I asked the driver how long the drive was and he just said we would arrive in Luang Prabang around 8:00pm.
We continued our drive. Now this one was a long ride. we got pulled along the way by some officials asking about the cargo on our bus. The driver was able to settle it after 20 minutes. Now, my butt was starting to hurt. The seat was ok but just sitting for a couple of hours were taking a toll. The scenery was beautiful though. I like the one along the Mekong river when we were nearing the destination. There were stop overs for pee breaks.
Just when we were nearing Luang Prubang, we stopped over to deliver the boxes which took another hour! Good thing there was a soccer field and my new found friends were able to stretch their legs. We played soccer although I can’t properly kick a ball well. The other passengers joined in as well. And instead of getting irritated and annoyed for arriving late at Luang Prabang, we had fun instead. No w we arrived at Luang Prabang around 10:00 pm. We rode a tuktuk. And finally had our dinner around 10.30pm!
So I started from 8:00pm the day before and arrived in Luang Prabang 10:00pm. More or less, I did a 26 hour trip all the way from Sapa, Vietnam! Now, who in their crazy mind would do that? ME! If you have seen the routes I've taken, you would have probably just taken the easy way out! If you have the money, just take the plane. For me, I had no other way since going back to Hanoi from Sapa was not an option, it would still take time.
I did not regret doing that trip. I learned a lot on how to survive such one and I met great friends along the way! And by the way, we finally had the guts to ask what was inside those loads of boxes. They were biscuits. Hmmm...
Thank you for reading folks! Stay tune, I'll take you around Laos next!
i can join your treavel
good
By the way mine was a 34 hour bus trip (sleeper bus) from Hanoi to Luang Prabang. Oh, the 2USD and 20,000 are actually not legit fees, I have been told. It's illegal for IO's to ask for money. Sometimes I pay, sometimes I don't. The last time I joked, I don't want to pay, the IO chided, I don't wanna let you in. LOL.
My gosh! Your bus trip is way tiring than mine then! We are survivors! Haha..
in regards of the prices.. I don't know.. haha.. its hard when you fight them they might not let you cross the border. haha.
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Hell of a ride! Nice :) BTW, that table with visa prices is quite funny considering you've met canadian couple. "Fuck you, Canadians, you have to pay 42$!" :) Is that based on some real costs or the prices are made up, do you know maybe?
Haha. Hell of a a ride indeed! The prices ain't made up. That is what was posted on their information counter at the border. Canadians do have to pay up more compared to other nationalities....
I mean... are the prices based on economy or something? Not on GDP for sure, because relatively poor Afghans have to pay almost the same price as quite wealthy Canadians. I'm just wondering, I can't see any reasonable explanation and corelation between prices and the countries.
As what I've learned from my friends, prices would depend on the foreign policies and bilateral relations besides the economy and the forex black market... Countries can impose the MFN treatment. Most Favored Nation Treatment. For example Korea, they offer gratis visa to Filipinos but charge a certain amount to Americans..
Hehe
Next time you have to travel with me to make it lively.
I am enjoying your travel blog.
When you visit Macau?
I heard it's a nice country
Kamusta Lodi?
Thank you so much! I would love to go to Macau but I dont have plans yet. Saving up money
Well what can I say, you really are one brave lil soul @indayclara! I have been to Laos like 5 times but never dared crossing the Dien Bien Phu border. Heard a lot of horror stories from other travellers enough for me to put the plan off.
I was searching for so long about the dien bien phu border as well before i headed out.. and all i read on the internet how crazy the ride was.. and how the road was so bad.. but those stories were years ago.. so i was glad that the roads were better now.