The border crossing of Chiang Kong (Thailand) with Huay Xai (Laos) It is peculiar ... the two countries are separated by the great river Mekong And the only way to get from one place to another is to venture into a mini wooden boat. The long and hard journey lasts about two minutes.
Once we set foot on Laotian land and obtained the visa for 35 dollars (plus one dollar because it was Sunday?!) We have to decide on our future: Where are we going to go and what are we going to do? Huay Xai if it has nothing, so one thing we already have clear, we will leave here as soon as possible Said and done, in an hour our steps are on the way to Luang Namtha, little town where we will spend the night on our way to our first destination: Nong Khiaw.
Luang Namtha is famous for its trekking and ecotourism offerIt also has a lively night market where we have eaten an entire duck with sticky rice and of course, we made contact with the national star: the BEER LAO!
Here, apart from finding a dog that yawns if you pet him, a man dressed as a military man who sits next to us and watches us quietly for half an hour and a woman from the Hmong ethnic group who after teaching us bracelets and hats offered us opium and cocaine We have done little.
The next day we catch the local bus Nong Khiaw address, an experience. Already in case the Laotian roads are a hard test for the stomachs of the travelers (an average of 35 or 40 km are traveled every hour, and 97 sharp curves). To this we must add the typical travel aventurillas like these:
The driver suddenly stops because he is hungry and wants to have breakfast. After 5 minutes of resuming the trip, it stops again after receiving a mysterious call: it turns out to be the owner of the restaurant where we had been warning that we have forgotten a clueless and hungry man who only wanted a yogurt.
The yogurt man arrives laughing and showing his lemon treasure that almost cost him the trip.
We have also made stops at local markets, where they show super colorful birds, squirrels, and other animals ... that if all dead and hanging by a thread. But without a doubt the best thing was to go through several villages built on the edge of the cliffs on the slopes of the mountains, with hundreds of children who with their big eyes look at you in amazement and greet you with the most beautiful of smiles.
We have only been in the country for a few days, but it promises.
Transportation: cross from Thailand to Laos
- To get to the border we went to Chiang Kong from Chiang Rai on a local bus that costs 65 bahts and lasts 2 hours. There we take a tuk tuk that runs 2 km to the border crossing through 30 bahts / pers. The passage is done by boat, for 2 or 3 minutes and costs 40 bahts / pers. The visa is processed on the other side.
- Mini Van from Huay Xai to Luang Namtha It cost us 90,000 Kips / pers and lasts 5 hours. We leave at 15.00.
- Local bus from Luang Namtha to Pak Mong It cost us 70,000 Kips / pers and from there a shared van or tuk tuk to Nong Khiaw that costs 20,000 K / pers.
Accommodation
In Huay Xai we didn't do night. In Luang Namtha we stayed at the Manychan and we reduce the price from 60,000 to 50,000 K for being ground floor. He agreed because it was the only one that had Wi-Fi. Double and bathroom inside.
Visa
Once the Mekong is crossed, you just have to fill in a couple of forms and submit a photo of meat. In 15 minutes you have it ready for 35 dollars. On Saturdays and Sundays they charge one more dollar.
