12 Reasons to Take the “VIP” Sleeper Bus to Luang Prabang from Huay Xai
The following is meant to be a humorous and therapeutic account of taking the overnight bus for the first time from a couple of admittedly well-to-do travelers. After all was said and done, for being a very different and unique experience than we had originally imagined, we all simply adored the gorgeous country of Laos, its amazing food and more importantly the welcoming locals!
1. Your definition of the word “VIP” is very open to interpretation.
2. The soothing sound of hocking up loogies all night puts you right to sleep.
3. You enjoy spooning with complete strangers in a 5×3 feet wide bunk.
4. You prefer the constant and sudden stop-and-go throughout your evening voyage.
5. The presence of live poultry on board relaxes you.
6. You prefer loud karaoke lullabies sung at the top of the driver’s lungs at 2am in the morning.
7. The sub-zero AC temperature is a perfect match for your cold, dead heart.
8. Your nightly ritual involves brushing your teeth outside a quaint and rustic rest stop in the middle of nowhere with the constant fear of being left behind.
9. You are a social butterfly and are comforted by the company of an overstuffed bus with people crowding the aisle.
10. You have a slight foot fetish and enjoy random people gently grazing your extremities as they pass by like two ships in the night.
11. You place complete and utter trust in the hands of teen drivers along the windy and treacherous roads leading to Luang Prabang.
12. You are a sadomasochist and wish to inflict as much physical, emotional and psychological pain as humanly possible on yourself while backpacking through South East Asia.
This joint post has been brought to you by the crushed hopes and dreams of Western travelers: The Passive Observer, Josh and Becky– bunk mates in overnight buses and single bed hotel partners in life.
8 comments
what a fine piece of literature 👌🏽
Everything I’m reading about the sleeper bus from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang is starting to give me nightmares. Is the bus ride really that bad? It can’t be as bad as two mind numbing days on the slow boat, or the possibility of crashing towards a painful death on the speedboat, is it? Are there really no other options to get to Luang Prabang from Huay Xai?
Sincerely yours, and in desperate need to a ray of hope,
Joanna
Hi Joanna– thanks for the question! Unfortunately, I think this bus is really the only viable option from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang, at least after the research my group did in trying to find transportation between the two. It really depends on your willingness to trade off comfort for a single night with the opportunity to not only experience the awesomeness of Luang Prabang (food, culture, sights), but also the amazing experience of the tree-house ziplining that I’m assuming you’re doing in Huay Xai as well. If you asked me, I think it’s totally worth it! Just remember to book with a friend so you don’t have to share a tiny bunk with a stranger. And don’t forget the ear plugs and/or headphones. Good luck!
I’ve taken this bus in september and this was by far the worst bus trip during my backpacking adventure, but it was an experience, something I won’t forget!
I actually laughed reading this post, everything is true plus the bus has no suspensions at all (road is bumpy as hell), so you have to deal with huge vibrations for hours and hours.
Haha, I wish I read this before, as I am in this bus right now.. It’s still all true, the aisle is stuffed with people curling up against you if you are in one of the bottom beds which I am. And crying babies everywhere!
Anyone reading this, unless you really need to feel what it’s like to be part of one stinking pile of human beings, look elsewhere!
Hi,
I need to do this journey alone. I can deal with the discomfort and the flood of humanity, but what gives me nightmares is the thought of sharing the bunk with some stranger. I am travelling alone 🙁 The other options to travel like the slow boat, speedboat and local bus have been ruled out. Is there an AC sitting bus? I have not been able to find that info.
Thanks
Hi, have you taken this bus eventually? How was it today? I’m thinking of taking it and the comments here freak me out a little bit..
Thanks
Is the bunk really 5ft by 3ft!!. I am 6ft tall. Nooooooooooo!