2019 Q8 4ND: 15 Oudomxay - Boten - Huay Xai

“If a problem can be solved, there is nothing to worry about. If it can’t be solved, then worrying is pointless…” 

(The Laos/China border at Boten)

Day 15: 15 Dec 2019 (Sunday)
Route: Oudomxay - Boten – Huay Xai
Distance: 343km 7:55hrs 

Hotel: Keophila Hotel, Huay Xai

07:00 - Breakfast in the hotel room. Cooked rice for lunch later as there is no halal food in this part of Laos.
07.15 - Drove out of Oudomxay in the heavy morning mist with limited visibility.

(Driving in misty condition)

(The mist is clearing up)

(Early morning hustle bustle in the village)

(A quiet thatched-roof house at the end of the village)

(Cool weather on high altitude)

09:00 - Stopped for refuelling at Bosavanh Petroleum, Namor. There were major road works, dusty drive for most of the stretch to Laos/China border town of Boten. The on-going massive construction of the 414 km Vientiane – Boten Railway is progressing well to connect Laos capital city to Chinese rail system in Mohan at the China border.

(Hyper development along the remote Laos-China border)

(A brief stop before approaching the Laos/China border)

09:45 - Reached Luang Namtha/Boten juction. The road condition worsen as we drove towards the Laos/China border.

(A dramatic transformation of remote Laos)

(Damaged and dusty road ahead)

(Driving with care, competing with cows and buffaloes)

(China is turning tribal villages into industrial hub)

(Dusty and muddy road all the way to the border)

(Long-haul trucks coming from China)

(The entry point for China Railway into SEA)

(On-going China-built infrastructures of highways and railways)

10:15 - End of the road for us when we reached Boten International Custom Checkpoint. Our vehicle was not permitted to go any further because of the massive roadworks at the border and the congestion of lorries and tankers coming and going from/into China. Managed to have some photo shots around the check-points and at the only milestone left standing.

(Chinese entrepreneurs have settled in Boten)

(Boten soon to be a major transport hub between Laos and China)

(The border crossing point from Boten, Laos to Mohan, China)

11.30 - Decided to drive direct to Huay Xai which is 184km away. And it was still quite early.

(Had to turn back to Luang Namtha junction)

(Found the one and only milestone to Boten)

(8km to the China border)

(A photo opportunity)

(Mighty Bigfoot first time at Laos/China border)

(This building was supposed to be the border check-point)

(Not knowing which way to take)

(Arrived safely at the junction to Luang Namtha)

(A better road heading to the town of Luang Namtha)

(A car in the ditch, taking a sharp corner too fast)

11:45 - Coffee break at Dynamic Petroleum, Luang Namtha. As it was still early and we will not be staying in Luang Namtha, we took the bypass road to Huay Xai.

(A gas station at the outskirt of Luang Namtha)

12:15 - Stopped at Phouphet Poukham Waterfall viewpoint, a new attraction not far from Luang Namtha.

(There is a restaurant at the rest area)

(A new R&R near Luang Namtha)

(The entrance to the garden)

(Limited time to explore the area)

(A viewpoint of surrounding area)

(The layout of the Rest Area)

(Villages on the hill)

(Another accident involving a lorry)

(A long and winding road, heaven for bikers)

(Huay Xai is end point of Laos national road 3)

15:30 - Reached Huay Xai and checked in Keophila Hotel for Kip120,000/night. Huay Xai is the capital of the Lao province of Bokèo, on the border with Thailand. The town lies on the bank of Mekong River opposite Chiang Khong in Thailand on the other side.

(Our room is facing the Mekong River and the sunset)

(Chiang Kong on the other side of the river)

 2019 4ND: 16 Huay Xai - Golden Triangle Laos - Phayao👉

👈2019 4ND: 14 Luang Prabang - Oudomxay