Lao Bao Travel Guide
One of five border crossings between Vietnam and Laos, Lao Bao is the most-used. It's an important stopping point on the route that connects the old Vietnamese capital of Hue with the Laotian city of Savannakhet.
- Worth It?
- The scenery leading up to Lao Bao is beautiful, but the town is only worth visiting as part of a Laos-Vietnam border crossing.
- What to Do
- visit the Vietnamese market
- Best Time to Go
- from January to June when the weather is sound.
- How Long?
- An hour or two is more time than you'll want to spend here.
- Trivia
- book a tourist bus from Dong Ha to Savannakhet for a painless and comfortable ride.
The border crossing is easy to negotiate. Buses regularly arrive from Dong Ha and drop tourists directly at the border. If you accidentally board the wrong bus, you may get dropped off in two miles shy of the border in Lao Bao village, where you'll have to arrange a motorcycle taxi for the final leg. Crossing the border requires you to walk a little over half a mile.
Before you cross the border, take a moment to peruse the massive market. It has all the seedy charm of a border-town market, with a range of smuggled goods from Thailand. Don't be afraid to bargain, because chances are the merchants aren't afraid of gouging you for all you're worth.
Laos theoretically offers 15-day visas on arrival, but you're much safer arranging a tourist visa ahead of time.
Travel to Lao Bao - Getting There
Lao Bao is along the National Highway, just over 50 miles from Dong Ha. Hue is 95 miles away and has the largest airport in the region. Most of the flights are domestic, but these days you're increasingly likely to find an international connection or two. Travel time from Dong Ha through to Savannakhet in Laos is around 8 hours.
Lao Bao Things to Do
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