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frazerHX · 05-01-2013, 04:53 AM

Hi folks,

Thought this trip might be of interest to some. Three of us picked up 250CC Honda Baja dirt bikes in Vientiane in Feb 12 courtesy of James (Jim) Barbush at Remote Asia Travel. Picked up at James' place and headed north up route 13 to Vang Vieng. It look longer than expected because of a puncture and then getting caught in hailstorm but we made it.

Road to Vang Vieng was around 40-50% paved:

Some scenic bits.

Ah yes....the puncture repair....

and the second puncture repair in Vang Vieng...

Some fantastic riding and scenery around Vang Vieng.

Spent 2 days in Vang Vieng and then headed north to Luang Prabang. Much improved road. 90+% paved and very scenic. Approx. 160kms to LP if I remember rightly.

Luang Prabang......some might think its a bit boring....OK it's laid back but well worth a few days.

Hired the bikes for 6 days in total ($35 a day) and shipped them back to Vientiane for $65.00. Recommend the trip and hope the photos are of interest.

Cheers,

frazerHX

supernovadw · 05-01-2013, 05:51 AM

I recognise quite a few of those pictures! I did a similar trip in January 2011, I don't know what's happened to the road from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as you say it is only 40 to 50% Paved? When I rode it I would say it was around 70 to 80% paved from Vientiane to Vang Vieng...

It did take us quite a while from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as well however this was probably due to the fact that we were riding Honda Waves two's up with bags, I'd say it took us about 7 to 8 hours!

You are right about Luang Prabang, it is rather boring hey! Having said that some of the waterfalls are really nice! I usually find them a little boring but the fact that you can swim in some of them makes it much better hey!

Nice pictures, sounds like you had a good time!

One thing I certainly wouldn't be doing is wearing shorts on a ride like that though! You'll be amazed at how quickly the road wears away skin!

Vientianeboy · 05-01-2013, 07:57 AM

Luang Prabang boring? You are kidding me!

terry57 · 05-01-2013, 08:04 AM

^
Agreed, I've never found it boring. Anyway fantastic trip and that road from V to LP would be quite a ride with all those turns and nasty buses bolting around.

Sore arse I bet.

liveinlos · 05-01-2013, 08:47 AM

Excellent post. Thanks for the photos

charleyboy · 05-01-2013, 09:23 AM

Beautiful pics and thanks for posting.
Charley.

bushwacker · 05-01-2013, 10:37 AM

Quite enjoyed the shops ... thanks for posting ... cheers

Bangyai · 05-01-2013, 10:56 AM

Nice thread and great pictures. Takes some prople agaes to work out how to post pictures on here but you seem to have had no problem

Thanks for sharing

Gravesend Dave · 05-01-2013, 11:50 AM

That,s something I want to do in the future,get a good taste from your photos thanks!

Oh just out of interest,how much for the puncture repairs?
Like the way the bikes just dropped on the swing arm!.

roamer · 05-01-2013, 02:00 PM

Great photos.

Thank You.

frazerHX · 05-01-2013, 06:29 PM

There was a lot of road construction/repairs on the VT-VV road in Feb last year so yeah hopefully the road is now much improved. The bikes came with one tool kit so the first puncture repair was effectively free (with the generous help of some locals 20km south of VV) and the second in VV was a few quid at most.

I said that some people found LP boring... not me I thought it was an amazing place, plenty of waterfalls to visit, caves, trips on the Mekong etc. etc. Well worth the trip and the freedom of the motorbikes.

@terry57 - yes definitely a sore arse after the second ride - around 165km.

Cheers,

frazerHX

cdnski12 · 06-01-2013, 02:03 AM

GF & I took a bus from Vientiane to LP in 2010. Jez was my neck sore for a few days. Next time I'd fly or take a M/C like you did. Luang Prabhang is one of my favorite places. I love the temples & cruising on the Kong River. Flew in for a visit in 1972; but was pinned down by M/G firing on the old Bailey Bridge. Continuous gunfire in surrounding hills all nite. A rocket hit a house 100m from where I was staying. Scared the bejesus out of my hippy ass. Para Military Police told us to clear out of town. Didn't need a 2nd warning. Back to Airport and caught a C-46 to Ban Houysai. No one told me there was a full scale war in progress!

rossconew · 06-01-2013, 05:00 AM

Really enjoyed your report, thanks.

beerlaodrinker · 10-01-2013, 10:11 AM

Great pics, thanks for taking the time, i was in vang vieng a few weeks ago, seems to have changed heaps since my last visit, no more bars on the river

Phuketrichard · 12-01-2013, 08:42 AM

Great report an pics;
next time head way up north ( luang Namtha/Meung Sing) an see the real Lao's
Fantastic scenery an the roads on a 250 would be great, u like going up and down and around and around . Did it in a car and we averaged less than 35kms/hour!!

beerlaodrinker · 21-01-2013, 11:49 AM

ive been rummaging around my computer and found a few luang prabang pics and some of vang vieng, not trying to hijack your thread but i hope you dont mind if i post them i will do a pic thread myself when ive a bit more time , just on the lunch break now

Tourists respecting Lao culture?

LOL fair enough make the odd cultural blunder myself sometimes

05-01-2013, 04:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
frazerHX Newbie Last Online: 20-04-2013 02:20 AM Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	Motorbike Trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang Feb 12. Hi folks, Thought this trip might be of interest to some. Three of us picked up 250CC Honda Baja dirt bikes in Vientiane in Feb 12 courtesy of James (Jim) Barbush at Remote Asia Travel. Picked up at James' place and headed north up route 13 to Vang Vieng. It look longer than expected because of a puncture and then getting caught in hailstorm but we made it. Road to Vang Vieng was around 40-50% paved: Some scenic bits. Ah yes....the puncture repair.... and the second puncture repair in Vang Vieng... Some fantastic riding and scenery around Vang Vieng. Spent 2 days in Vang Vieng and then headed north to Luang Prabang. Much improved road. 90+% paved and very scenic. Approx. 160kms to LP if I remember rightly. Luang Prabang......some might think its a bit boring....OK it's laid back but well worth a few days. Hired the bikes for 6 days in total ($35 a day) and shipped them back to Vientiane for $65.00. Recommend the trip and hope the photos are of interest. Cheers, frazerHX Last edited by frazerHX : 05-01-2013 at 04:59 AM.

12-01-2013, 08:42 AM	#15 (permalink)
Phuketrichard Member Last Online: Yesterday 03:17 PM Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phuket Posts: 585	Great report an pics; next time head way up north ( luang Namtha/Meung Sing) an see the real Lao's Fantastic scenery an the roads on a 250 would be great, u like going up and down and around and around . Did it in a car and we averaged less than 35kms/hour!! __________________ "I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol or insanity, but they've always worked for me" HST To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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05-01-2013, 05:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
supernovadw Member Last Online: 19-05-2013 07:16 PM Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Vientiane, Lao. Posts: 171	I recognise quite a few of those pictures! I did a similar trip in January 2011, I don't know what's happened to the road from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as you say it is only 40 to 50% Paved? When I rode it I would say it was around 70 to 80% paved from Vientiane to Vang Vieng... It did take us quite a while from Vientiane to Vang Vieng as well however this was probably due to the fact that we were riding Honda Waves two's up with bags, I'd say it took us about 7 to 8 hours! You are right about Luang Prabang, it is rather boring hey! Having said that some of the waterfalls are really nice! I usually find them a little boring but the fact that you can swim in some of them makes it much better hey! Nice pictures, sounds like you had a good time! One thing I certainly wouldn't be doing is wearing shorts on a ride like that though! You'll be amazed at how quickly the road wears away skin!

05-01-2013, 07:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
Vientianeboy Member Last Online: 17-05-2013 07:27 AM Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Vientiane Posts: 111	Luang Prabang boring? You are kidding me!

05-01-2013, 08:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
terry57 Thailand Expat Last Online: Today 09:42 AM Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: perth and bangkok Posts: 10,830	^ Agreed, I've never found it boring. Anyway fantastic trip and that road from V to LP would be quite a ride with all those turns and nasty buses bolting around. Sore arse I bet.

05-01-2013, 08:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
liveinlos Member Last Online: Yesterday 12:53 AM Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Isaan Posts: 311	Excellent post. Thanks for the photos

05-01-2013, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
charleyboy Member Last Online: Today 07:36 AM Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cha-am. Posts: 446	Beautiful pics and thanks for posting. Charley.

05-01-2013, 10:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
bushwacker Member Last Online: Today 08:50 AM Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Nakhon Sawan Posts: 219	Quite enjoyed the shops ... thanks for posting ... cheers

05-01-2013, 10:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bangyai jungle bunny tester Last Online: Yesterday 10:23 PM Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Shit Creek, Turdsville. Posts: 5,204	Nice thread and great pictures. Takes some prople agaes to work out how to post pictures on here but you seem to have had no problem Thanks for sharing

05-01-2013, 11:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
Gravesend Dave I am in Jail Last Online: Today 03:20 AM Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,552	That,s something I want to do in the future,get a good taste from your photos thanks! Oh just out of interest,how much for the puncture repairs? Like the way the bikes just dropped on the swing arm!.

05-01-2013, 02:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
roamer Member Last Online: 12-05-2013 03:30 PM Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pattaya Posts: 54	Great photos. Thank You.

05-01-2013, 06:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
frazerHX Newbie Last Online: 20-04-2013 02:20 AM Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 15	There was a lot of road construction/repairs on the VT-VV road in Feb last year so yeah hopefully the road is now much improved. The bikes came with one tool kit so the first puncture repair was effectively free (with the generous help of some locals 20km south of VV) and the second in VV was a few quid at most. I said that some people found LP boring... not me I thought it was an amazing place, plenty of waterfalls to visit, caves, trips on the Mekong etc. etc. Well worth the trip and the freedom of the motorbikes. @terry57 - yes definitely a sore arse after the second ride - around 165km. Cheers, frazerHX

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06-01-2013, 02:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
cdnski12 Member Last Online: 19-05-2013 12:52 AM Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Trail, BC, Canada Posts: 130	GF & I took a bus from Vientiane to LP in 2010. Jez was my neck sore for a few days. Next time I'd fly or take a M/C like you did. Luang Prabhang is one of my favorite places. I love the temples & cruising on the Kong River. Flew in for a visit in 1972; but was pinned down by M/G firing on the old Bailey Bridge. Continuous gunfire in surrounding hills all nite. A rocket hit a house 100m from where I was staying. Scared the bejesus out of my hippy ass. Para Military Police told us to clear out of town. Didn't need a 2nd warning. Back to Airport and caught a C-46 to Ban Houysai. No one told me there was a full scale war in progress!

06-01-2013, 05:00 AM	#13 (permalink)
rossconew Newbie Last Online: Yesterday 08:29 AM Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Melbourne, Australia/Pattaya Posts: 29	Really enjoyed your report, thanks.

10-01-2013, 10:11 AM	#14 (permalink)
beerlaodrinker Thailand Expat Last Online: Today 10:22 AM Join Date: May 2011 Location: vientiane Posts: 1,156	Great pics, thanks for taking the time, i was in vang vieng a few weeks ago, seems to have changed heaps since my last visit, no more bars on the river

21-01-2013, 11:49 AM	#16 (permalink)
beerlaodrinker Thailand Expat Last Online: Today 10:22 AM Join Date: May 2011 Location: vientiane Posts: 1,156	ive been rummaging around my computer and found a few luang prabang pics and some of vang vieng, not trying to hijack your thread but i hope you dont mind if i post them i will do a pic thread myself when ive a bit more time , just on the lunch break now Tourists respecting Lao culture? LOL fair enough make the odd cultural blunder myself sometimes