Getting from Vietnam to 4000 Islands

zraselle

Hi All!
Travelling around S.E.A this summer and going from Bangkok to Cambodia, down to HCMC and up around the Vietnam coast to end up in Hué. Now my question is does anyone knw how to get from Hué to the 4000 islands in Laos? Is there a way to go directly? I am struggling to find info on this.

Much appreciate any advice! Thanks

breadmonkey

I don't know exactly but if you have a Lonely Planet or something similar it should contain a map indicating the border crossings. That should give you an idea of where you need to get to and how direct it might be from your current location.

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. No idea how up to date this is, was jsut the first gogole hit.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.travelfish.org/maps/visa-crossings.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/visabordercrossings/172_visa-and-border-crossing-news---please-read-this-before-postting-&usg=__t1A5G5TAg_eCZ_3akK3SsqMtvYY=&h=764&w=500&sz=70&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=Ik5_9mRzgQa5zM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=90&ei=npGuTePQA9DzsgaxmoTYDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dvietnam/laos%2Bborder%2Bcrossings%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D715%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=120&vpy=50&dur=3713&hovh=278&hovw=182&tx=117&ty=154&oei=npGuTePQA9DzsgaxmoTYDA&page=1&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

Squirm

Well this doesn't really answer your question but would you consider going to Laos from Hoi An, rather than from Hué? I didnt think Hué was a very nice city at all, whereas Hoi An was beautiful, really gorgeous. Anyway, I didn't take the route you are asking about so can't help from my own practical experience. However, this site here ( http://www.travelfish.org/board/post/vietnam/4429_travel-from-hoi-an-to-siem-reap ) has a travel itinerary on it that looks like it might help. Also, if it is any use to you, I found that once you are actually over there it is much easier to travel around than you might expect and much, much easier to get info on all your options than it is via the internet from home. Also, you won't necessarily want to stick rigidly to your plan, as you will meet people with recommendations etc along the way and will stop in areas you really like and want to spend longer in. Vietnam was/is a fantastic country, so make sure you have time there to do it justice!!

Climber

Hi Zraselle,

I did this a few years back, in the opposite direction i.e. I travelled from the 4,000 island region to Da Nang, onto Hue and all the way up to Hanoi.

So for your trip you can get a bus from Hue (Vietnam) to Savannakhet (Laos). This is a long bus-ride, make sure that your ipod battery is charged. Take another bus from Savannahket through Pakse and onwards to Muang Khong.

I spent Christmas on the largest island, Don Khon, in 2001. It was a very special experience and well worth the long busrides and bruised arse!

Enjoy

zraselle

Thanks a mil for the advice everyone, lots to think about, it sounds though that we won't have too much trouble getting buses around the place when we get over there! Just don't want to miss seeing the 4000 Islands etc while we're passing through so trying to figure out the best route down and back up.

beagle001

Great spot and worth the trip,you can get a bus from Hanoi into Vientiane but as a previous poster said its a long spin.
A lot of the buses down the south of Laos just tip along and will let you up on the roof of the bus with some of the locals as the insides are baking hot.
Great craic but its at your own risk,also a good tip for anyone taking buses i Asia is a nice set of ear plugs.