preface

I have full admiration for the gods and Buddhas in Southeast Asia, and every trip is a pilgrimage!

Winter in Hangzhou is particularly wet and cold, so I prayed in front of Buddha: Give me a trip. I want to go somewhere closer to you. I want to bask in the sun!

So Fono took me on a trip. The surprise came suddenly, and the itinerary was surprisingly simple and smooth.

preparations for travel

1. Documents and photos: ID card, passport, 4 color photos on a white background (2 for Thailand and Laos)

Our itinerary includes two countries, Laos and Thailand. Both round-trip trips are from Pudong International Airport and Laos Vientiane International Airport. Laos is very convenient for landing visas, and we only have one flight at night.

Laos visa on arrival

Laos visa on arrival (commonly known as B3 visa) refers to a visa that is processed on site after arriving directly at an airport or port in Laos without prior application. The price is USD20, and the number of stays is 30 days. You can apply with your passport, so you can wait.

1. 1-2 color photos on a white background taken in the past 6 months, with a size of 2.5x3CM;

2. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months;

3. Arrive by plane;

4. Carry 5000 RMB or equivalent foreign currency (none of us were spot checked during the actual trip. If we do, we can make up the money)

Refer to Laos entry and exit card filling

Please refer to Thailand Entry and Exit Card

Laos and Vientiane are only separated by the Mekong River. If an individual crosses the border, he will need to pay a fare of 4000 kip to take a transit bus. The bus only travels between the Exit Hall of Vientiane, Laos and the Entry Hall of Nongkai, Thailand. However, people traveling to these two places are usually teams. The bus from the tourism agency can directly carry passengers across the border, which is very convenient.

2. WiFi and telephone

These days, I feel that I will suffocate without wifi, but the solutions used in Laos and Thailand are very convenient.

Option 1: Carry portable WiFi. This is actually a very good choice. It is most convenient to pick it up at the airport before boarding the plane, and return it directly at the airport when you come back.

Option 2: Open international roaming, such as opening the "Belt and Road Traffic Package" domestically, etc., and use the daily traffic package in Laos or Thailand that comes with the mobile phone. Now each operator caps the cap at 25-30 yuan, but I am thinking from Thailand to Laos, should the two days from Laos to Thailand be calculated as one day for each country? Friends with experience are welcome to comment at the end of the text.

Plan 3: I also chose it. I entrusted a tour guide to purchase unlimited phone numbers in Laos. The Lao local traffic card is valid for 1.5G for 7 days, RMB 50 per set. The Thai happy card has unlimited traffic for 7 days, RMB 20. I am busy because I can save trouble, so I gave it to the tour guide. Facts have proved that these two traffic cards are very easy to use.

3. Currency exchange

I also asked the tour guide with full authority. I really didn't bother with anything other than certificates and clothes.

In Laos, the old coin is used, the scientific name is "LAK". The exchange rate can be hundreds per day. The rough estimate is that 10000 kip is about equal to RMB 8. I exchanged 100 yuan old coin with the tour guide for 120000 yuan.

The Thai baht used in Thailand can be swiped by Alipay and UnionPay cards at the 7-Eleven convenience store. The baht was used for worship in night markets and temples, and was exchanged for 500 baht at RMB 120. The estimate of the use of the Thai baht is divided by 4 and how much RMB is equal to.

4. Special carrying supplies

Travel to Thailand and Laos is the best place to travel now because it's really not too hot! The daily temperature is between 27 and 32, and summer clothes are the main ones, which is comfortable, light and casual. Because the air conditioning on the car is sufficient, a long-sleeved dress is needed.

In addition to daily travel necessities, when traveling to Laos and Thailand, special attention should be paid to sun protection, including hats, umbrellas, sunglasses, sunscreen clothing, sunscreen, mosquito repellent, anti-itching water, etc.; seafood meals in the two places are mainly served, so if the stomach is not good, laxatives should be prepared; including personal regular medicines, you can consider carrying small amounts.

5. Other matters needing attention

1. Free baggage allowance: 20kg checked in, 5KG carried in

2. Time difference between Laos and Thailand: 1 hour later than China

3. Socket: Laos and Thailand have a voltage of 220V, and the sockets are basically the same as those in China, so there is no need to bring conversion plugs.

4. Pants, long-sleeved shirts, shorts, swimming pants are needed, and women can wear skirts.

5. Please note when visiting temples such as Ta Luan, Simon Temple, Grand Palace, and Xiangtong Temple in Laos: Men are not allowed to wear vests, shorts, and slippers, and women are not allowed to wear sleeveless tops, skirts, and slippers.

itinerary

D1 Hangzhou-Shanghai-Vientiane, Laos

D2 Vientiane (South Russian Lake)-Ulon, Thailand

D3 Ulong (Red Lotus Flower Sea, Ban Ching Cultural Museum, UD town Night Market)

D4 Ulong (Cliff Temple Papugong Temple), Lang Khai (Saraism Cave)-Vientiane (Night Tour: Tower Luan, Arc de Triomphe, French Street)

D5 Vientiane (Simon Temple, Tower Luan, Redwood Museum)-Shanghai

D6 Shanghai-Hangzhou

Day1

At 15:35 pm on January 1, 2020, I boarded the bus to Shanghai Pudong International Airport at the flight building of Hangzhou East Railway Station Airport. This was the first big egg I met in the New Year.

This is a new car just put into operation today from Pudong Airport to Hangzhou Wulin Gate and East Railway Station Terminal. There are four cars in total. We are the first passengers to enjoy this egg!

This is the Weichai Asian Star "Vitesta" bus. The body is black and there is no nail at all. The new Vitesta bus is about 14 meters long and nearly 4 meters high. It can carry 66 people. Among the same type of passenger cars in China, it is a veritable "giant". The front of its body adopts the European yacht design concept, which not only has a beautiful appearance, but also fully considers safety. AsiaStar experts have conducted computer simulation tests on vehicle impacts, and the results show that the impact force has been dispersed, reaching the international leading level. "At present, the life span of ordinary buses in society is 15 years, but this bus can reach 20 years."

13.7 With a length of 1.8 meters, it could carry a giant high-end passenger car with 66 people, but it is only equipped with 23 business seats. The tilt angle of the seat can be adjusted through the smart buttons on the armrest. Even if it is 1.8 meters tall, it can be almost flat. Free WIFI, video system and headphones are provided. 220-volt power outlets, car refrigerators, water dispensers, storage boxes, and toilets are also available. If you don't say that this is a long-distance bus, at first glance, you might think it's a first-class plane.

Encountering such a big egg on the first day of the New Year made all the riders very happy. Our ticket price this time was 120 yuan. It took three and a half hours from Hangzhou East Railway Station to Shanghai Pudong Airport, with parking at the halfway service station. According to staff, four such models are currently in trial operation, and the most likely time period for boarding is the last two shifts at night.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

I arrived at Shanghai Pudong Airport Terminal T2 at about 7:00 p.m.

After passing the security check, the first thing I did was to go to the legendary Rishang duty-free shop. Obviously, I had stocked up a little on Double Eleven and didn't buy anything, but it was still necessary to keep pace with the times and see the market.

It is still early to board, so I need to find a place to work. The VIP lounge No. 77 of China Eastern Airlines Huanya is very close to my boarding gate.

The result of the good food in the China Eastern Airlines VIP Hall is distraction. It is just a piece of food. When you arrive at the China Eastern Airlines VIP Hall, you will definitely not miss the "China Eastern Airlines Bowl of Noodles". You can choose noodles or rice noodles in the noodle stall, and there are two delicious big fish balls in the toppings. In addition, dry meat and vegetarian food, as well as various flavored rice such as coriander, onions, and sauce are also added by yourself. It is super enjoyable to eat.

There are half Chinese and foreign guests in the China Eastern Airlines VIP Group, so the Western cakes and desserts are also rich. There are a wide variety of breads and cookies, and they are all very attractive. There are really a lot of foreign wine. I dare not imagine myself getting drunk and boarding the plane, so I didn't try it.

Boarding at 23:45, and the flight time is about 3:5 hours. The landing visa application forms must be signed and handed over to the tour guide together with the passport before landing. The tour guide will handle it uniformly after landing. After picking up our luggage, we left the airport lobby. This red bus was sent by Lao Haipi to pick us up. The Lao driver was really helpful. In the next few days of the trip, he was the one who helped each of us pick up and put it away without having to do it ourselves!

Day2

Vientiane Boli Suites Hotel

Arriving at The Qube Hotel Suite Vientiane, a subsidiary of China Greenland Group, with the arrival of the China-Laos Friendship Year, many infrastructure projects and projects in Laos will be undertaken by Chinese companies. This is also a matter of pride as a Chinese!

Everyone went to bed late, so the next day's trip leaves at 10:00. Before that, you can enjoy the hotel's rich breakfast and thank Laos for its first meal.

At breakfast, the hard-working teacher Golden Egg also went out to take aerial photos. Under the aerial photos, Vientiane, Laos, was as beautiful as a fairy tale. Note: All aerial photos in this article are from my friend "Golden Egg's Journey".

Nane Lake

In the morning, we went out to the South Russian Lake Scenic Area. It was about a 2-hour drive from the hotel to the scenic area. It was lunch time when we left at 10 a.m. and arrived at the scenic area. Therefore, traveling in the South Russian Lake Scenic Area is accompanied by Chinese meals on the yacht, making you feel free and free.

The round meal enjoyed on the boat is very suitable for me. As a food blogger, I especially like original food. In Laos and Thailand these days, the eggs we can eat at every meal are yellow. That's because we can see chicken cages and free chickens on the roadside. This fat fish all come from Lake Nanyue. It is easy to extract thorns and the meat is very plump.

Even if it is a daily meal in Laos, there are two things that will be world-class treasures. One is Lao Beer, referred to as Lao Beer, one of the top ten beers in the world. The wort concentration of old beer is 12%, and the alcohol content is about 5 degrees. It is highly recommended to add ice cubes when drinking it. The taste is very cool and neat;

Another is glutinous rice in Laos. Laos is known as the "Hometown of glutinous rice". Glutinous rice has become the staple food of Laos. Laos is also a country in the world where very few glutinous rice overrides ordinary long-grain rice. Lao people eat glutinous rice three times a day. They usually soak it in water for one night, steam it and knead it into rice balls the next day, and eat it directly with fish sauce. This habit has a history of thousands of years. One of the key points for us is: Laos is still a country without chemical fertilizers, so the crops here are all organic. The glutinous rice in front of you is packed in a small bamboo basket. When you open the lid of the basket, take a bite with it. Natural fragrance, this is a gift from God!

When the meal on the boat was almost finished, our yacht also drove to an unknown island. This island is in the center of Lake Nanyue. It is very conducive to aerial photography and is also very suitable for taking some cultural content. We are all photographers again, so everyone is in their own place.

There is a very interesting bamboo weaving shop on the island. The craftsmen at the door were weaving there from the time we arrived on the island to the time we left. It is hard to imagine that the various bamboo weaving products in these large bays would come from simple works. The hands of a few people cover a wide range of categories and quantity, which is staggering.

In addition to bamboo weaving, there are also many seafood piled up there for sale. I feel that these bamboo weaving or seafood products will not be sold only to tourists like us, because tourists don't buy much. There are baskets and baskets of seafood, which are not easy to carry. Language is also difficult to communicate. Laos can really learn from us in doing business. It would be nice if there were a tasting or introductory text instructions.

After seeing our Qiaqia melon seeds, we have seen a lot of food exported by my country in supermarkets and convenience stores in Laos and Thailand in the past few days. In small shops in Laos, there are many puffed food.

Everyone is full of curiosity about this place. They will look at all the bamboo weaving pieces one by one, and even the way they are tied and hung is fascinating. I will also buy several small baskets that are easy to carry, such as the small bamboo baskets used to pack glutinous rice around meals on the boat, which are very popular.

While we were playing in the shop, aerial blockbusters by several teachers had already been born. South Russia Lake, formerly known as Tala Reservoir (also known as Thousand Islands Lake), is the largest lake in Laos and the largest artificial lake in the Mekong Subbasin. It is located 60 kilometers northeast of Vientiane in the lower reaches of the South Russia River. It is separated from the mountains and lakes of Niujiao Mountain National Forest Park. It is a typical lake in the forest. From a distance, the mountains are surrounded by water, the water surrounds the mountains, the bells are beautiful, and the waters are green, which fully reflects the characteristics of the Lao mountain forest country. The South Russian River originates from the Xieng Khouang Plateau and flows from north to south. It flows from the mountains into the plains within a short distance. There are many meandering flows in the lower reaches and merges into the Mekong River northeast of Vientiane. In 1971, Laos built its first large-scale reservoir on the South Russian River. The dam is 66 meters high and 300 meters long. The maximum reservoir capacity can reach 8.5 billion cubic meters. The water level of the mountains and dams has risen, and most of the original peaks on both sides of the river have been flooded. Most of the mountains exposed to the water have become small islands with beautiful scenery. The maple leaf-shaped lake surface reaches 390 square kilometers, which is about the same as the European island country of Malta, or close to half of Singapore. There are many islands in the lake, with a total of about 300. Therefore, it is also known as Qiandao Lake. The beautiful Lake of South Russia is called the "Lao Sea" by the Lao people living in the interior.

I am from Hangzhou, and Qiandao Lake is one of my favorite places to go on vacation. Nanyue Lake is really similar to Qiandao Lake.

When I left Lake Nanyue, there was also a small market outside the scenic area, selling dried fish.

What moved me the most was the pile of chicken cages on the road and the chickens running around on the side. I envy you. You must know that Hangzhou is a city without live poultry. All chickens and ducks are chilled. I basically don't buy chickens and ducks to eat locally in Hangzhou. I only buy chickens and ducks to stew when I go to the countryside during the holidays and the Chinese New Year. The good taste of local chickens and ducks is a long-standing childhood dream. Now it seems that coming to Laos can still be achieved.

The next drive will be the longest in the past few days, about 3 hours, and we are going to Thailand. Laos and Thailand are only separated by the Mekong River. When crossing the border, people and vehicles need to be separated. We need to go to the border checkpoint to queue up with our passports, 2-inch photos and entry and exit cards. However, the processing process is actually very smooth. After leaving the border hall, wait a while, the bus will come and get on the bus to the restaurant for tonight's dinner.

After Thai tea comes in, ice buckets will be served at the same time. In short, Thailand and Laos are places where ice cubes are indispensable for drinking or drinking water.

At night, we eat Thai food, and tom yum soup is very representative of Thai food.

Thai food is quite similar to Lao food, or Thai food has more natural spices.

The beef fried rice is very delicious, mainly because Thai rice is really worth eating more bowls. We finished the white rice first and added the fried rice.

In Thailand or Laos, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, and mango are the most common fruits served together.

After dinner, we excitedly checked in to the 7-Eleven supermarket. Haha, I think the thing I like most in Thailand is 7-Eleven. This time, I bought the salted egg yellow Pepsi potato chips strongly recommended by Teacher Jin Dan (I don't have them in China, which makes no sense!), There is also my favorite fresh milk, ready-to-eat crab fillets... There is no obstacle to payment. Alipay swipes it out and displays dual currency Thai Baht 90.50 and RMB 20.99. It is excellent at a glance!

Brown House Hotel Udonthani

At night, I stayed at Brown House Hotel Udonthani

Brown House Hotel Udonthani is located in Udon Thani and also offers free Tuk Tuk service to the UD Urban area and Central Plaza Udon, which is quite interesting. You can experience Thailand's unique Tuk Tuk, and this open-air swimming pool is also very charming. When we went there, there was a lawn wedding next day by the pool. The lawn was covered with gauze curtains and it looked particularly romantic when we woke up in the morning.

Show off the room. Today's trip ends here. Good night and sweet dreams. Tomorrow, we will continue to share the story of the new day with you!

(Starting from Hangzhou, the New Year's trip to Laos Thailand and Beauty Wonderland lasts for 6 days and 5 nights. This is the first and second days of the trip. Continue to share the next chapter. Thanks for reading! Photo/text: @ Tianxi lucklily)

Relevant information in the article:

The Qube Hotel Suite Vientiane

https://hotels.ctrip.com/international/43094813.html

Brown House Hotel Udonthani

https://hotels.ctrip.com/international/6055924.html

Laos Thailand Wonderland Tour [Laos + Thailand 5 Days 4 Nights Group Tour (4 Diamonds)]

Ctrip booking link: vacations.ctrip.com/tour/detail/p25292399s2.html