I don't think even pictures would have prepared us for this stunning bus ride from Luang Namtha to Udomxai! only 180 odd kilometres that took 6 hours to cover because of the amazing altitude and curved roads the poor struggling bus took. Spectacular vistas peppered with traditional stilt housevillages and the color of their woven fabrics. the 40,000Kip was worth very penny and every hour, even when the bus had to stop to get repaired! magic.
Udomxai is a cross roads of trade between laos, vietnam and china. Lots of mandarin heard, written and spoken. the market was chocka with plastic and other mass wares from China too. not much to see here but pleasant for an overnighter. the market is actually pretty lively and vibrant-we saw more unidentified charred critters on skewers for sale. i also found a stall that sold lovely Lao rice baskets for 10,000K, turns out the cheapest I was able to find in the country as clearly other tourists found them as endearing as me in other towns and they were 40,000 and up!
Lots of hostels, but we went for the Villa Keoseumsack which wasnt far from the bus station (we wanted to get the 8am bus to Luang Prabang) and clean, central etc. on the Main road along the stairs/footpath that climbs up to the main temple. Rooms large, clean, fridge, back newer building. Cost 60,000K???
Food picking seemed slim; a lot of Chinese places, so we opted for a Lao place near the hotel, worked by two very petulant daughters who clearly wold much rather be somewhere else! Food OK, beer cheap.
Udomxai is a cross roads of trade between laos, vietnam and china. Lots of mandarin heard, written and spoken. the market was chocka with plastic and other mass wares from China too. not much to see here but pleasant for an overnighter. the market is actually pretty lively and vibrant-we saw more unidentified charred critters on skewers for sale. i also found a stall that sold lovely Lao rice baskets for 10,000K, turns out the cheapest I was able to find in the country as clearly other tourists found them as endearing as me in other towns and they were 40,000 and up!
Lots of hostels, but we went for the Villa Keoseumsack which wasnt far from the bus station (we wanted to get the 8am bus to Luang Prabang) and clean, central etc. on the Main road along the stairs/footpath that climbs up to the main temple. Rooms large, clean, fridge, back newer building. Cost 60,000K???
Food picking seemed slim; a lot of Chinese places, so we opted for a Lao place near the hotel, worked by two very petulant daughters who clearly wold much rather be somewhere else! Food OK, beer cheap.
Bus tricks
the 8 am bus to Luang Prabang is a popular one with the tourists, so need to get there early to lock in a ticket then get on bus to stake a seat, as the locals do the same and start piling bags of rice and their other stuff. the ticket stand opens at 7am, so get ready to queue. if with another person, divide and conquer for one to get the tickets and the other to get breakfast. i went to the Siso bakery next to the roundabout up near the bus station selling good egg baguette sandwiches and coffee. the coffee ladies at the bus station are also good too. It's another fab bus trip with lots to see on both sides of the bus so make sure your camera battery is charged and get a window seat!
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