A guy name Alex has an update on the Lonely Planet site today about the Sam Neua - Na Meo (L) - Nam Xoi (V) - Mai Chau route. Because of the motor size restriction in Vietnam, only a Honda Daliem or a Minsk is going to be able to use this crossing. Anyone living in Hanoi could easily drive their motocycles to Sam Neua for a weekend visit to test this. Updates are encouraged.
QUOTE from Alex
http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/messa ... d=0&from=1
Hello!
We crossed from Laos to Vietnam via the Na Maew-Nam Xoi border on March25/05,
here is what we experienced.
the border is open 7 days a week from 8 am-7pm (so we were told) and you have to
have your Vietnam visa in advance.
We journeyed from Louang Prabang to Ponsovan by bus. there is one bus daily at 8:30 am,
takes 9 hours and cost $6.00. Please note that the new Ponsovan bus terminal is open - so
you arrive 4 km out of town. The guesthouses all have touts waiting to drive you into town.
Ponsovan to Sam Neua - bus leaves at 8 am, takes 9 hours and costs $5.00
In Sam Neua, it is not posted, but the bank will exchange baht or USD to Dong
at a lousy exchange rate (13000/1 USD)
One route is to go directly from Sam Neua to the border that leaves at 7 am from
the bus station - takes 2 hours, not sure of the price.
Or you can stop in Vieng Xai and see the caves, before going on. Sam Neua to Vieng Xai
there are frequent morning buses from the station - we left at 10:30 and it took an hour
for a cost of 7000 Kip. (In Vieng Xai, there seems to be only one functioning guest house at this time - Naxan G.H., 20,000 Kip a night.)
From Vieng Xai to the border, we caught a truck at 7:00 am, it cost 15000 Kip and took 1.5 hours.
At the Na Maew - Nam Xoi border, things were very smooth, it took about 1/2 hour to get across,
they charged us a fee of 2000 Kip for something-or-other. At this border, they seem to routinely check all bags.
An interpreter at the border told us that there was one bus to Mai Chau from Nam Xoi that left Saturday mornings costing $10.00. We were unable to confirm this.
He also tried to sell us on a hired vehicle for $100.00 for the same trip.
We walked up the hill a bit and were offered the same ride by another car and driver.
The doctor at the border who we had talked to a bit (I am a nurse) came up after us and
arranged a ride for us in a jeep with driver for $50.00. he insisted we pay up front, and
we did since it seemed the only option. But it was no problem, the driver spoke no english
but took us straight to Mai Chau and even drove us around till we found somewhere to stay.
So look around, I am sure you can find a car for this price or cheaper.
After a few days in Mai Chau, we borded the public bus at 7 am. There are apparently
busses at 5 and 6 am also, and one in the afternoon, but we got conflicting info on this.
The bus charged us 50,000 dong each and 20,000 dong for each pack, and the bus was
STUFFED with people. It took about 5 hours and dropped us in Ha Dong on the outskirts
of Hanoi. From there, we caught the #2 city bus just outside the bus terminal for 2500 Dong,
it dropped us about 2 blocks from Hoan Kien Lake in the old Quarter in Hanoi.
At both Mai Chau and Ha Dong, the local Xe Om Motorcycle taxis assured us that there were
no busses, and tried to sell us their services - The busses do exist!
Anyone who can add to this info, feel free - hope it helps!
UNQUOTE
