A Lao chicken bus trip.

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Vang Vieng, same day. I leave Vietianne around 10.30 h. in the morning by - as a like to call it - a local chicken bus, no more VIP airco busses with built-in toilet and comfortable reclining seats as they are common these days in Thailand. Just an old rusty bus with the locals in ragged but clean clothes and often transporting their animals with them, hence the nickname "chicken bus". Slowly the bus winds it way up into the Lao hills passing small hilltribe villages, lush forests and great views of the plains below. It's only a 153 km. to Vang Vieng but the trip nonetheless takes a full thre and half hours on wooden uncomfortable seats with frequent stops because the driver needs a pee or a smoke or both. I feel like I'm back in thailand but then twenty years ago. Already way before reaching Vang Vieng I can see the dramatic karst limestone terrain the village is famous for. This beautifull landscape is rumoured to be riddled with spirit inhabited tunnels and caves, many of which contain ancient Buddha statues and images. Needless to say that set in such stunning terrain Vang Vieng is the number one tourist destination in Laos, a must on the need-to-see list of Laos for every foreign traveller in this country.

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Photos

the loop of...
Vang Vieng

one more image of the loop..
Vang Vieng

the loop
Vang Vieng

one of the shops where I...
had a drink

another shop
Vang Vieng

shop people
Vang Vieng

more shop people
Vang Vieng