12 Reasons to Take the “VIP” Sleeper Bus to Luang Prabang from Huay Xai
1. Your definition of the word “VIP” is very open to interpretation.
2. The sound of locals 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 are rocked to sleep with the constant and sudden breaking of the driver.
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 in Laos at 2am in the morning.
7. The sub-zero AC temperature is a perfect match for your cold, dead heart.
8. You prefer brushing your teeth outside a questionable 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 locals standing in 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 put complete and utter trust in the hands of Laos teenage 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.
3 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!