Public transport in Laos is represented by buses and ships. There is also a railway here, but tourists practically do not use it. It connects Laos with Thailand. But there are buses between all cities and significant villages. You will find several options for this transport here.
Usually this is a traditional salon with a roof and seats. But there are also modified pickups and even open trucks that have seats in the bed. The “tuk-tuks” known to all travelers in the East are also in use here. These are cargo scooters with a canopy and seats for passengers.
Be aware that private travel requires arrangements. True, ticket prices are quite inexpensive; in USD terms you will pay from 1 to 2 USD. Regular buses, although scheduled, do not adhere to schedules. But they can carry anything inside the buses, including animals and poultry.
For a taxi you will pay from 0.5 USD per 1 kilometer. At the same time, in fact, you can rent a car for the whole day with a driver, it will be much cheaper than renting a car without a driver. Oddly enough, you will pay from 25 to 50 USD for this option, while renting a car in your own hands will cost you from 50 USD and more. In the capital of Laos, Vientiane, taxis “live” at the airport, in the market, near large hotels.
Waterways remain serious analogues of railways and even highways. There are hundreds and hundreds of miles of them in Laos. This is mainly the Mekong River, which is navigable from the capital itself to the city of Savannakhet.
In addition to the central water artery, there are many tributaries. There are many types of vessels, from small private flatboats to real yachts and large motor boats.
Most often, tourists choose the route from Luang Prabang to Hoi Xai. It can be covered by boat in a few hours, although a major tour can take a couple of days.
Ferries from Luang Prabang to Vientiane sail every day. Of course, the boat will cost two to three times more due to its speed. But even here it is important to negotiate right away; they can give discounts of up to 5-10 USD.
There are domestic airlines in the country, most often used by the Laotian company Lao Airlines. Planes here fly from the capital to Luang Prabang, Hoi Sai, Pakse, Savannakhet. If you focus on neighboring countries, you can go to Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok or Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Hanoi.
