Vietnam-Laos Bus Route Opens

July 21st, 2006

A 600-km bus route links central Vietnam to southern Laos, with ongoing connections to Ubon Rajthani in Thailand.

Vietnam and Laos opened a bus link between Quy Nanh in Binh Dinh province and Pakse in Champasak, Laos. The route is intended to draw overland tourists across the border between Thailand and Vietnam.

The new service, luanched on July 04 2006, covers 600 kms. and take some12 hours for a US$ 16.00 fare. The buses, operated by Binh Dinh Trade and Transport Joint-Stock Company, currently run 4 weekly trips on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The service starts in Vietnam’s coastal city of Quy Nhan on Route 19 and heads to Plei Ku in Gia Lai province before turning onto Route 4 and the trip north. The road passses through the mountains to Kon Tom province and the Lao border at Attapeu province. The bus then travels to Xekong before entering Champasak and its provincial centre, Pakse. Pakse is a key tourist city in southern Laos. Currently, there is a regular bus service linking it to Ubon Rajthani in Thailand. The visa excemption for Thai visitors to Laos and Vietnam is expected to drive Thai tourism to Pakse, which become an overland gateway to central Vietnam. Ubon Rajthani is  easily accessible from Bangkok using either full-service or low-cost airlines. There are also daily rail service. News reports stated that the transportation authority of Vietnam had given permission for the company to extend the service to the Laos capital, Vientiane.

Source: TTR Weekly - July 19-25 2006

Tags: Holiday Vietnam Vacation,

Entry Filed under: Vietnam Destination, Laos Destination, Thailand Destination