Laos

30 January 

Bus from Phonsavon to Paksan

This bus trip was priced at 130,000 or 140,000 kip at the agents on the main street.  Including collection from the hotel and allegedly transport to the southern bus station, a few km out.  Naturally I go for the 130,000 ticket.

So the Tuk Tuk collects me at 7:20 Am and goes straight to the "Garden Bus Station" near the market.   Ie Right in the centre.   They put me on the Vientiane bus, which now goes through Paksan  and I am given a 100,000 ticket.      

At least my hotel was about a mile out,  so the Tuk Tuk ride offsets some of the 30,000 extra cost.

The bus left at 8:00 am promptly.  This was supposed to take 6 hours, so I figured at least 7....   They made it in just 5.5 hours, helped by a driver who clearly fancied himself as the next Lewis Hamilton.    The road is much better than the one to Viang Vieng, so it is no surprise that the buses now uses this route.

I had a hotel booked in Paksan for the night, but could very easily have caught a bus onto Thakaek after arriving.

Key Points

1 To get a bus from Phonsavon to Paksan, just go direct to the "Garden Bus Station" and buy a ticket for 100,000 kip.

2 If in January, take some thick clothes on board as it is quite cool early on and some of the locals like the windows wide open on the bus.

3  The stopping point is immediately after the bus turns right at the lights in Paksan.   I had to request the driver to stop.