Laos & China 2025 Day 1 : Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane

Saturday, January 10, 2026

Laos & China 2025 Day 1 : Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane

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AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures

Laos & China 2025 Day 1 :
Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane

(Photo Credit: Anne C.)

Laos-China 2025 Day 1: 4th December (Thursday)

Small Group (Non-cycling) Tour of Laos & China.
Day 1 - Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane:
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)>KLIA2>fly Air Asia>Vientiane (Laos)>Wattay International Airport>van>Chaleunxay Hotel>InDrive>Buddha Park>LOCA>Chaleunxay Hotel>tuk-tuk>Vientiane Night Market>tuk-tuk>Chaleunxay Hotel.

This is page 1 of a 12-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.

< Penang-Hat Yai 2025 | Go to Other Days | D2: Vang Vieng >

Route recommendations, here are some tips on travelling to and around Laos & China:

1. Traffic Directions!

Traffic in Laos, is left-hand drive and vehicles drive on the right side of the road. So do bear this in mind when crossing the road OR when sitting at the front passenger seat. I made this mistake several times and boarded the car at the driver's side with the driver giving me a surprised look 😂.

2. Getting to Laos.

We flew AirAsia from KLIA Terminal 2 to Vientiane's Wattay International Airport; buying tickets earlier to get cheaper fares. Considering the potential difficulties with luggage storage during the later train journey in Laos, we also packed light (20kg checked-in luggage for two people). Together with carry-on luggage, we each had 17kg per person. Fare was ? per pax.

3. Getting around towns and cities in Laos.
In Laos, for short distances, one can use tuk-tuks or songthaews, which can be found at most street corners. For longer distances to the outskirts, install InDrive or LOCA. For InDrive, one can negotiate to an agreeable price, but it may be difficult to hail a ride from the outskirts (as we experienced). LOCA seems to be a better bet, but as you must be able to receive the SMS verification code, it's highly recommended to get a local Laos SIM card upon arrival for reliable service and to easily receive that SMS. Pay for LOCA rides with Cash, Credit/Debit Card (Visa/Mastercard). Or with LOCA PAY, with automatic deductions for card payments after binding your card in the app. While card payments are convenient and offer instant e-receipts, a small fee (around 4% + 6,000 LAK) may apply, making cash payment preferred.

Note: Touch 'n Go e-Wallet doesn't seem to work in Laos. It works well in China and Thailand.

4. Immigration & Customs Requirements

For Laos, Malaysians are allowed to enter Laos without a visa for a maximum stay of 30 days per visit.
Click here for who can apply for the Lao eVisa and eVisa application form. This visa allows for a stay of up to 30 days and can be extended once. Alternatively, travelers can apply for a tourist visa at a Lao embassy or consulate before arrival, permitting a stay of up to 60 days with the option of extension.
Click here for Laos e-Arrival Card & e-Departure Card submission. OR one can fill in paper forms, which are available at the airport, train stations or during the flight.

5. Places & Things of Interests

There were many scenic and interesting places of interest, but one should not miss the following (Note: click on the GPS coordinates below for a directional map to the respective places):
a. Pha That Luang (ພຣະທາດຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ) (GPS: 17.97661, 102.63646) in Vientiane.
b. Buddha Park (Wat Xieng Khouane Luang) (GPS: 17.91235, 102.76482) in Vientiane.
c. Patuxay Monument (GPS: 17.97061, 102.61852), entry ticket 60k Kips (RM 11.25 / USD 2.80).

d. First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (สะพานมิตรภาพไทย-ลาว แห่งที่ 1) (GPS: 17.87996, 102.71509).

e. Vientiane Night Market (GPS: 17.96265, 102.60415).

f. That Dam Stupa (ສວນທາດດຳ) (GPS: 17.96594, 102.61106).

6. Food

a. Breakfast

- Western/Malaysian Fare (Curry Noodles is not to be missed) & Western Fare at Premium Lounge KLIA2 (GPS: 2.74435, 101.68537). This lounge is open to credit card-holders of participating banks.
b. Lunch

- Khao Piak Sen (Lao Tapioca Noodle Chicken Soup) at Delicious Noodles.

c. Dinner

Vietnamese Food (including Spicy Tomato Grouper, Stir-fried Mixed Vegetables with Chicken Innards, Stir-fried Omelet with Bitter Gourd) at The Sun Coffee & Restaurant (GPS: 17.96650, 102.61220), Xaysomboun Hotel & Spa, Vientiane.

7. Accommodations

Hotels were booked through Trip.com or Booking.com, and are relatively cheap in Laos. Do be careful when using Booking.com, as several scams have been reported. We were also almost scammed for our Vientiane booking.

We stayed one night at the Chaleunxay Hotel at RM197.06 for two rooms for a night. We had previously booked the Xaysomboun Hotel & Spa through booking.com; however, prior to the trip, we received two messages from Booking.com. First was a message asking to ‘verify’ or ‘update’ payment card details, and the second was a message that they have to increase their rates. After the second message, we felt it prudent to change hotels. Click here to read more about hotel booking scams.

8. Communicating with Each Other

When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.
In Laos, several telco companies have kiosks at the arrival hall of the Wattay International Airport. From the Unitel kiosk, we bought Unitel 5-G Physical Sim Cards and got the 5-Day 20GB card for 80,000 Kips (USD3.70 / RM15). Buy the Lao SIM cards at the airport, as in the city it could be more expensive and harder to find.

9. Communicating with Locals

Except for those in the travel industry, in Laos, most locals speak Lao. As Laos was a former French protectorate, many older locals and tourist guides speak French.

To get by, it will be good to speak some rudimentary Lao.

10. Weather

The average day and night temperatures in Vientiane were 30°C and 19°C. Useful weather forecast sites for Laos is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.

10. Navigation

Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.

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PRELUDE

The last time I visited Vientiane was during a 2016 Cycling Tour of Isan Thailand-Laos. From Bangkok, we flew to Loei via Nok Air and cycled for several days on a route that skirted the Mekong River to reach Nong Khai. From there, we crossed over to Vientiane via the First Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge.
This time round, with three other friends, we will be launching a non-cycling tour from Vientiane; travel by bus, train, and car through Laos, Yunnan, and end at Kunming.

We are looking forward to an interesting tour and started it with an early morning ride to the airport.

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DAY 1: KUALA LUMPUR TO VIENTIANE

(Click here for the Laos-China Day 1: Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane Route Map)

Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first. FB has recently changed their approach; FB Pages can only insert two links per month without charges in their posts. All relevant links have now been inserted in the comments.)

4:00 am - Enroute to KLIA2, hardly any traffic and it's all quiet along Elite Highway, at this wee hour of the morning.

But our hearts were thumping away, matching our eagerness to visit new places, experience different cultures and try new food, etc.

We were concerned whether the Premium Lounge KLIA2 was still open, but they are opened 24-hours. They serve Western/Malaysian Fare and their Curry Noodles are not to be missed. This lounge is open to credit card-holders of participating banks.
This early in the morning, we were more careful of our tummies, and so I skipped the exceptional Curry Noodles.

On board Air Asia Flight AK552 from KLIA2 bound for Wattay International Airport, Vientiane, Laos. Relaxing and hopping off by reading their in-flight magazine, but then this month's edition has several interesting articles!
Including one on meeting the wild side of Malaysia.... Now, now ..... don't let your imagination run wild; it's about wildlife and not the wild social scene!

7:00 am - Getting ready to take off. It's raining, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that it won't be raining at Vientiane.

A peep downwards at the airport as we take off, we will be away for twelve days.

8:40am - Landing approach to Wattay International Airport, the flight took two hours and forty minutes .... and I didn't manage to doze off.

Flying over the Mekong River as we approached.

Then it hit me! We have just entered Laos; the Mekong River forms a major part of the boundary between Thailand and Laos, and Vientiane sits just next to the river.

Upon exiting into the arrival hall, several kiosks are selling SIM cards and eSims. We went to the Unitel kiosk where Unitel 5-G Physical Sim Cards are available, and we got a 5-Day 20GB physical SIM card for 80,000 Kips (USD3.70 / RM15).

At the airport, there are money changers at Baggage Claim and at the Arrival Hall. The ones at the Arrival Hall give better rates, and we changed Lao Kips enough for use in Vientiane. As rates are better outside the airport, we will change some more at Luang Prabang. There is a moneychanger kiosk outside the post office, across from the Night Market. Bear in mind to change just enough for use within Laos, as the Kips are not readily accepted in other countries.

Taking a taxi to town, we were approached by a driver who gave us a good price.
Wattay International Airport is very near the town, just about six kilometers away. In fact, the Vientiane Railway Station, at fifteen kilometers, is further away.

Enroute, we noticed that there was a grand mood in town, with Lao flags hanging over the roads and on lamp posts; they had just celebrated their national day a couple of days ago.

Checking into our hotel, the Chaleunxay Hotel.

It was easy for Anneh to communicate in Mandarin with the reception, as they were Mainland Chinese. That's one thing we've noticed: the increasing presence of Mainland Chinese in many businesses in Laos. Perhaps that's one of the ramifications of the Laos-China Railway, hopefully, it will not adversely affect the unique culture of the Lao people.

Our rooms at the hotel have a small balcony, but more interesting was a box on the table top. It had interesting amenities like condoms, sex lubrication oil 😱. On a serious note, there's also a Covid test kit.

Grabbed a photo of the Patuxay Monument while crossing the road. As we were in a hungry rush for lunch, we didn't visit.

Built between 1957 and 1968, it literally means the "Victory Gate" and was dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It is the Laotian version of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, but is typically Laotian in design, decorated with mythological creatures such as the kinnari (half-female, half-bird).

Our first meal in Laos was at Delicious Noodles, Vientiane. They operate from a small, discrete shop lot, so I was surprised to find out that they have a pretty elaborate website.

Anyway, they serve Khao Piak Sen, Lao Tapioca Noodles, which were thin and round, somewhat like Penang Laksa noodles - but not as springy and slightly slimy. It's the soup that's the killer. It's usually served with short versions of Yao Char Kwai, to be dipped into the soup.

After lunch, we took a walk through Talat Sao Shopping Mall, looking for phone Sim cards, as a friend hasn't bought one. There were many shops here selling mobile phones and accessories, and only a few selling Lao Sim cards. These were asking for prices higher than at the airport, with some quoting almost double the price. Glad we bought ours at the airport.

At the far end of the mall, one can find silversmiths at work. Locals will bring their silverware or silver jewelry for repair. Lao has a long tradition of silversmithing, and intricate silver jewelry and silverware.

Using InDrive in Laos, one can negotiate the price with the driver. But there's a risk of meeting unethical drivers - we had hailed one driver and negotiated a price from 180k down to 150k, but when he arrived, he asked for 200k and refused to budge. We put on a stone face and walked out and hailed another driver.

Enroute to the Buddha Park, passing by some nice temples, buildings, and street scenes. Hope to catch a view of other notable temples ... did we just pass by Wat Si Saket?

2:30pm - Arrived at the Buddha Park, the ticketing counter had columns, walls, and a ceiling adorned with beautiful Lao carvings, hinting of more to come within the park.

A few long corridors run through the park, lined with many statues of different sizes and designs. But do stray off the pathways, as there are many other statues beyond them.

The park contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues, mostly carved in Lao style, with many sculptures of the Lord Buddha in various poses,

The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism.

There's a similar park called Sala Keoku, just across the border in Nong Khai, Thailand.

Here's some more interesting sculptures:

One of the central exhibits is this huge Pumpkin Tower, also known as Hell Cave. It's twenty meters across and high. Visitors enter through a huge gaping mouth of a deity and climb an internal staircase lined with statues and paintings depicting hell, earth, and heaven. Right at the top is a viewing platform with a tall "Tree of Life" sculpture at the centre.

This one is our favourite (see top-most photo), a Reclining Buddha almost forty meters long. This pose represents the Buddha during his last illness, about to enter Parinirvana.

A demon with double snake tails, holding another demon's head. Although it looks scary, the carving on its face is intricate, reminding me of Tā moko, those Maori face tattoos.

1. Buddha meditating, sitting on a great cobra. This is the King of Serpents, Mucilinda, who, with his cobra hood, protected Buddha from the elements after his enlightenment.
2. The Buddha meditating under the protection of Shesha, the seven-headed naga.
3. Indra, the Hindu god of weather, riding on top of Erawan (Airavata) (the three-headed elephant), through the heavens to bring rain down to the earth.

At the far end of the park are a couple of Hindu statues.

Slowly walking through the park, one will learn more of Buddhism and Hinduism.

Click here, to read more of the Buddha Park.

The disadvantage of using InDrive, is difficulty hailing a car at the outskirts of the city. Even though my mobile showed strong signal strengths in 4G, the app kept on reporting "Unstable internet connection" and couldn't work!
Fortunately, the park reception managed to hail a ride-share for us. Most probably, they were using LOCA.

6:30pm - Vietnamese dinner at The Sun Coffee & Restaurant in the Xaysomboun Hotel & Spa. We ordered several dishes - the Spicy Tomato Grouper Fish and Stir-fried Omelet with Bitter Gourd were delicious.

Touch 'n Go e-Wallet doesn't seem to work in Laos. It works well in China and Thailand , though.
We tried to pay for dinner with it, but scanning the QR code returned an error.

Taking a tuk-tuk to the Vientiane Night Market. The tuk-tuk driver said will wait for us at the drop-off point, but was nowhere to be seen, fortunately there were a few others around.

The tuk-tuk driver also pointed us to an unofficial moneychanger at a sundry shop (GPS: 17.96367, 102.60372; next to the Walkman Village, opposite the entrance to the Night Market). It gave better rates than the airport's.

Full Moon at Vientiane, photo taken with my mobile phone, Honor Magic 5 Pro.

The Vientiane Night Market has a good section with stalls selling Lao food. There were a few stalls selling Lao handicrafts, but other than that, most were selling clothing, toys, etc. from China. 😞

Across the Vientiane Riverside Amusement Park, seems rather quiet for a weekend!
Beyond the park, one can see Thailand on the other side of the Mekong River.

Tuk-tuk ride back to the hotel, passing through a quieter part of town.

Passing by the That Dam Stupa. Many Lao people believe it is inhabited by a Seven-headed Nāga who tried to protect them from an invasion by the Siamese army in Lao Rebellion of 1826-1828.

ຂໍໃຫ້ນາກເຈັດຫົວປົກປ້ອງພວກເຮົາໃຫ້ປອດໄພ!

(That's "khohai nak ched hua pokpong phuakhao hai podphai" in Lao,

meaning "May the Seven-Headed Naga keep us safe.")

We will sleep well tonight.

(For more photos of Day 1, Click Here)

This is page 1 of a 12-page blog. Click Here To Go To Title Page.

< Penang-Hat Yai 2025 | Go to Other Days | D2: Vang Vieng >

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