Korean Job Discussion Forums

jhyum · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Location: Anyang

From what I can tell there aren't any direct flights to Laos from Incheon. Anyone know the cheapest route of entry?

jlb · Joined: 18 Sep 2003

Bangkok is the big hub. Then one of the cheap, local carriers to fly into Laos.

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

There are twice weekly trains from Beijing (China) to Hanoi (Vietnam) taking 2 nights for under US $200.

Then there are daily buses from from Hanoi to Vientiane (1 night) for under US $50.

But realistically, the high price of flying from Korea to China wreck havoc on any perceived saving by going overland, rather than flying the whole way (which you can do on China Southern or China Eastern airlines via China).

If you took a ferry from Korea to China, that would make a significant saving. But still at about US $500 each way all up / $1000 return to do overland - it is getting into the price range of being better value flying the whole way.

You could fly to Europe for $1000 US from Korea at certain times of the year, so Laos is not really the bargain people think. Four years ago, I flew Incheon to Bangkok for 300,000 won return including tax. Those were the days when SE Asia was appealing!

farrepatt · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

I've never been into Laos myself, but am planning on visiting while I am in SE Asia this winter.

The best two options I found were:

1) Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane (I believe around $75 USD each way)

2) Flying or taking a train to Udon Thani in Thailand and then taking a bus across the friendship bridge into Vientiane. I think flights from Bangkok to Udon Thani are about $40 USD and the bus is just a few dollars (2 hours I believe).

You could fly from Bangkok straight to Luang Prabang or Vientiane, but I found those flights to be more expensive (in the $200 range). Of course it would probably give you more time in Laos.

From Korea, I think flights into Bangkok are usually cheaper than the rest of SE Asia (excluding maybe Singapore). As others mentioned you can get in by bus or plane from Vietnam as well. I'm not sure how much that would cost though.

rokgryphon · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Actually the train from Bangkok goes through Udon Thani and stops at Nong Khai, that is the border town with Laos. The night train leaves Bangkok at about 7 pm or so and arrives at about 8 or 9 am. I think for an Air Con sleeper it is about 1000 Baht each way, I made that trip this summer. It is actually quite a comfortable ride although the train people make everyone go to bed at about 11 when they go to sleep so that is when the dining car closes etc. Get a bottom sleeper if possible since the person on the bottom controls when they change from seats to a bed, so if there is someone else on the bottom that wants to sleep as soon as the train pulls out of the station you will be forced to go up to your top bunk then. Once you get into Laos it is about a 10 minute ride into Vientienne proper.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

you can also fly from chiang mai to luang prabang on lao airlines which runs about $150 or you can take the slow boat to luang from the border. Its a 3 day trip from chiang mai, 6 hour bus ride to the border at chiang klong, you then either overnight it there or cross the mekong and stay in huay xia. next day you and about 100 other backpackers board a boat at around 11am, you arrive in pak beng at sunset get a guesthouse there, next day you continue the trip down the mekong to luang get there around 5p.

i'm debating between doing that next month as that runs about $50 total plus visa fee or flying it. people either love or hate the boat trip

another option is to buy a discovery airpass here in korea from bangkok airways, you have to buy 3 coupons but it runs $100 per int leg and $60 for a domestic leg so you could fly from bkk to vte, vte to luang and luang back to bkk for $260+taxes. lao airlines for the main routes are fine.

one more cheap option is air asia to udon, it runs around $20 and grabbing a bus to non khai which will take an hour or two

been to laos twice and its absolutely lovely and the beer is superb

bangbayed · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul

I agree with hogwonguy. That's the best way to get to Laos, if you have some time. Cheap and you really get to enjoy the country. And you'll also get to spend more time in Luang Prabang, which is the real highlight of Laos, not Vientiane. I guess you could fly into Luang Prabang, but when I went 10 years ago, I saw the plane and wouldn't want to step foot on it.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

mediano tzu · Joined: 13 Oct 2006 Location: The 'rea

I'm planning on taking the speed boat from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang. I've heard that the slow boat is way too crowded and that the place where they put you overnight in Pak Beng is really bad, full of huge rats and such. Also my friend was robbed there, and while I realize that can happen just about anywhere, it doesn't exactly bode well.

But if anyone has nice things to say about Pak Beng and the slow boat trip then I'd be happy to hear about it.

rokgryphon · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

I think in Pak Beng that you are on your own for finding a place for the night. Not sure I was not on the boat to Pak Beng, just in town when the boat got there and knew a guy on it. The boat is not too crowded, usually, we took the boat about 1.5 hours downriver towards Luang Prabang just to get our motorbikes to the next road, once our 4 bikes were off the boat there was a lot more room. Pak Beng is a kind of cool town to stay over night, some good restaurants lots of Beer Lao and other extra curriculars of course.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

the vip buses up from bangkok are really comfortable and get you to the border near vientiane right when it opens. not a bad trip at all.

quick suggestion to maximize your time while there. spend very little time in the capital and soak up vang vieng and luang prabang.

ernie · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Location: asdfghjk

everyone seems to love luang prabang and vang vieng and hate vientiane. my experience was exactly the opposite.

luang prabang was beautiful and eerie, but SO many old people. and not very cheap. and in the middle of nowhere (i guess it IS laos, after all). vang vieng was the opposite. SO many 18 year olds coming from bangkok to do the wasted tubing thing. tons of dirty hippie types who are way to blissed out to make a sentence, let alone a conversation. nowhere decent to eat or drink unless you want friends or family guy blaring in your ear.

i understand that vientiane isn't so immediately attractive, and it's a bit expensive, although it's dirt cheap for a world capital. good food, friendly, chill people, and the girls are fantastic! every day i'd rent a bike and head east to the 'forest wat' and the outdoor swimming pool. one of my favorite cities in the world.

jhyum · Joined: 23 Apr 2007 Location: Anyang

Thanks everyone for the tips. I will think about these options and choose depending on how much time I have. I can't wait!

PINI · Joined: 14 Jun 2007

I'd definately recommend taking the slow boat down the Mekong into Luang Prabang. You can easily get up to the far north of Thailand from Bangkok in a day and stay in one of the many guest houses near the border. Then it takes 2 days cruising down river to get to there. When I did it, the first day was about 8 hours on the boat followed by a night in one of the dwellings in the jungle, then another 7 hours yhe next day into L.P.

Is it uncomfortable? Yes. Are there rats in the jungle? Of course. Remember, it's often not about the destination, but about the journey. The jungle dwellings aren't that bad and a good place to indulge in the local delicacies (O or Guanj in abundance!)

Have fun!