Vientiane Travel Forum

greetings,

I will most likely want to fly to Vientiane to Hanoi, sometime during the end of March, although I don't have an exact date.

Does anyone know the ease of getting a seat at close to the last minute on Lao Aviation, and it that would be relatively expensive (i.e. more expensive than booking in advance)?

In case I don't fly, any advice, routings for taking the bus from Vientiane to Hanoi?

Thanks!

Vietnam Airlines do the route also I think, you might be able to book online, try Yahoo Asia, you could be lucky at the last minute but it might disrupt your plans if you find you vcan't get a seat.

Hi Ellen

Agree you might have a problem getting seat at short notice; at this time of year many tour groups using the VTE-HAN route - and small aircraft! Lao Aviation does the early morning flight Monday, Thursday & Saturday only - QV312 0745-0905 using ATR72 turpo-prop aircraft. Vietnam Airlines has a daily service leaving VTW 1740 into Hanoi 1840 and using a Fokker 70 twin jet.

You could check Expedia for an idea of seat availablity - careful with Lao Aviation website, they have a mild virus sitting there!

Hope that helps. Go well, go safe.

Mike

Thanks all!

I hate to hear that there will be tour groups! arrrgh. I'll book in advance, but did hear that Lao Aviation is a bit cheaper than Vietnam Air. During my last trip, I tried to book with Lao Airlines online, and couldn't do it....it seems that they've upgraded a bit since then.

Also, I've read that there were flights from Luang Namtha to Luang Prabang...and they were fairly inexpensive, around $35 o/w...but couldn't find it on the Lao Airlines website...anyone know the real story?

thanks again, Ellen

Hi again
Re flights to Luang Namtha (LXG): latest info on Lao Aviation website seems correct in that they only fly VTE-LXG Monday, Wednesday & Saturday flights QV601 VTE-LXG 0830-0950 returning as QV602 1020-1140. That's same as the schedule in their inflight magazine!

I was in Luang Prabang last week and no word of flights to Luang Namtha - though that doesn't necessarily mean they don't exist on an ad hoc basis!

Sorry I can't help on ground transportation - but reckon VTE-HAN by bus may be less than straight forward!
Mike

thanks again!

I think I'll definitely splurge and fly from VTE to Hanoi, but this'll mean really having my itinerary planned... (I'm doing enough long overland.....)

I really need to figure out travel times, and lengths of stay for places in Laos if I'm getting an advance air tkt to Hanoi.