Hanoi to luang prabng in Lao by bus?

Question

hi- i am doing HCMC al the way upto Hanoi, then lao and into thai, ( bus ) someone as told me to get to Luang Prabang in lao, i must go -hanoi- back down to VINH - vietienne( lao) and up to LP . BUT then i will have to come back down to vietienne, so i am back tracking twice. Surely there must be somewhere to cross in the north into Lao ????? No flying. , any useful info on borders and visas is appreciated. Many many thanks

Answer 1

You have to go down south from Ha Noi to Border Cau Treo or "Cua Khau Cau Treo" In Ha Tinh . There are no border crossing up there in Ha Noi . There are no roads connection in Truong Son Mountain go to Laos from Ha Noi.

Answer 2

I did much of that bus route in reverse last summer!  It was beautiful and fun... but oh my it was a lot of hours semi-stuck to the vinyl bus seats!  I'd do it again in a minute though.  Luang Prabang is definitely worth going to. It had amazing outdoors activities, including my personal favorite: a day trek which involved wading through a river inside a cave with candles.

As far as I could discern, the border crossings into Lao are rigid.  I went from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Laung Prabang to Vietienne to Vinh.  I was, however, under the impression that there was a legit Lao-Vietnam border crossing further to the north than Vinh.  However, perhaps roads are a limiting factor...

Have fun!