Friday, November 27, 2009

Nam Ou boat

*miao* in laos: 28/11 - 24/12 :)

As per title, planning to travel downriver along the Nam Ou, from Hat Sa to Muang Khua, Muang Khua to Nong Khiaw, & Nong Khiaw to Luang Prabang. Starting from 15/12 (market day in Hat Sa). Anyone interested in sharing a boat, drop a note to laomeow at gmail dot com before 7/12!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Luang Prabang province - transport information

** Please refer to the latest version here. This page is no longer updated. **



Compiled from various sources. Please let the cat know of any errors - drop an email to: laomeow at gmail dot com. Contributions & updates (photographed, handwritten, or links to info on other websites, etc) most welcome & much appreciated. Created: 05 July 2008. Last modified: 23 November 2009.


LUANG PRABANG TOWN

Luang Prabang northern bus station
* 10 September 2009 timetable (Ian Taylor)

Translation:
(upper whiteboard with blue & red words)
Luang Prabang - Bokeo - Huay Xai
- Morning departure 9:00AM AC bus second class, fare = 135,000kip
- Evening departure 5:30PM ordinary bus, fare = 110,000kip
- Night departure 7:00PM AC bus VIP, fare = 135,000kip

(lower whiteboard with black words)
- To Oudomxay - 9:00AM, 12:00PM & 4:00PM 50,000kip
- Ordinary bus to Luang Namtha - 9:00AM 75,000kip
- VIP AC bus to Huayxai (Bokeo province) - 9:00AM 135,000kip
- Ordinary bus to Huayxai (Bokeo province) - 5:00PM 110,000kip
- VIP AC bus to Huayxai (Bokeo province) - 7:00PM 135,000kip
- To Sam Nuea (Houa Phan province) - 8:30AM daily 120,000kip
- To Phongsaly - 9:15AM daily 110,000kip 45-seater bus

* 28 December 2006 timetable
(most recent info for transport to Nam Bak, Nong Khiaw, Vieng Kham & Phone Xay)

Old info for reference:
10 Feb 2009 info (bomchacha)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luang Prabang southern bus station (Ban Naluang) (photos)
* Timetable (16 October 2009) (christay2009)

Old info for reference:
28 Dec 2006 info
Dec 2007 updates (tools4fools)
To Vientiane - total of ~10 departures between 6:30AM & 19:30PM
To Phonsavanh (Xieng Khouang) - additional 18:30PM departure (Thur & Sun only)
Vientiane-Phongsaly & Vientiane-Luang Namtha buses stop here ~14:00PM
Jul 2008 info (ongkh)


* October 2008 updates
To Phou Khoun - 60,000kip (ordinary bus)
To Sayabouly - 9:00AM & 13-14:00PM (ordinary bus)
To Vinh (Vietnam) - 18:30PM (Thur, not sure about other days)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luang Prabang 琅勃拉邦 - Kunming 昆明 'bus station'
* December 2008 info
Kunming Shilin Bus Service Co. 昆明石林汽车服务有限公司, located at IA165 in this map, along HWY 13 near the badminton stadium.
Sleeper bus (卧铺客车) to Kunming - 7:00AM daily
(via Pak Mong 巴勐, Oudomxay 勐赛 aka. 芒塞, Nateuy 拉堆, Boten 磨丁, Mohan 磨憨, Mengla 孟腊, & Simao 思茅; arrives at Kunming train station's long distance bus station 昆明火车站长途汽车客运站)

* February 2009 update (bomchacha)
To Oudomxay - RMB60
To Mengla - RMB100
To Kunming - RMB200

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luang Prabang speedboat landing
Destinations & fares (10 September 2009) (Ian Taylor)

Old info for reference:
Sept 2008 info (Ian Taylor)


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Luang Prabang slowboat landing (photo)
Destinations & fares (26 March 2009) (Archmichael)
archmichael_MG_9322_Tarif the Transports_gif
* 10 September 2009 update: no change in fares (Ian Taylor)
To Pak Beng via Tha Souang: slowboat departs daily (including public holidays)
To Nong Khiaw & Muang Khoua: depends on demand (can be chartered)

Old info for reference:
Sept 2008 info (Ian Taylor)





NONG KHIAW aka. MUANG NGOI
Not to be confused with Muang Ngoi Neua (~1 hour upriver by boat).
To Luang Prabang - 8:00AM, 10-11:00AM (second departure usually waits for passngers coming downriver from Muang Ngoi Neua).
To Sam Neua - bus from Vientiane passes through ~9-10:00PM or later
* To Vieng Kham - 10:00AM 20,000kip (December 2006)



PHOU KHOUN
* 17 October 2008 info
Ask at any shop/restaurant/guesthouse at the 3-way junction, locals will point out the man who will sell you tickets & flag down the correct bus for you.
To Vientiane - any bus passing through, 80,000kip
First Xieng Khouang-Vientiane bus passes through at ~10:30AM.
First Luang Prabang-Vientiane bus passes through at ~11:30AM.

Hmong New Year dates 2009

In Laos, celebrations last for about 2 weeks.

Phonsavan area:
started on 17th November 2009.
Photos + description of 2008 celebrations here, here & here.

Luang Prabang area:
16th - 30th December 2009.

Lak 52 (Phonhong district, Vientiane province):
16th - 30th December 2009.