The bus system in Laos is a little different to the relatively efficient, air conditioned comfort of Malaysia and Thailand. It is also a hell of a lot more entertaining.
You buy your tickets on the bus, once they have tied your backpack to the roof. When the bus is full, it leaves, simple. Before departing from Vientiane, en route to Vang Vieng, theres a procession of girls selling freshly filled baguettes, pastries, water and soft drinks. Most of these "local" buses are held together by dirt and rust. They are filled with an array of goods, anything from sacks of rice, kids tricycles, dvd players, baskets of food, chickens, you name it. There are farmers, monks, old, young, a handful of travelers, all along for the slow, bumpy ride. Of course you can always take the "tourist" VIP bus, but when the price difference is enough for a nights accommodation, and no where near as fun, it's an easy choice. The 3-4 hour ride to Vang Vieng consisted of 1 near miss with a stray, bloody huge buffalo, a 4wd swerving to miss a herd of goats and many near misses with numerous motorcycles, school children and chickens. It was funny to see the older locals complete disregard for the "No Smoking" signs in the bus. The toilet stop was of course, communal, by the side of the road in the dirt. No need to be shy here!
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