My plan for this self-driving trip is to start from Xishuangbanna, travel through neighboring Laos, and finally reach Chiang Mai, Thailand... Take a new and challenging self-driving route. Three Kingdoms and Six Cities, the entire journey is 892 kilometers, and you will pass through the mysterious Golden Triangle halfway. Does it sound exciting? Come on! Join us in the south of the colorful clouds, sing with mud and flowers, dialogue with civilization and rainforest, and explore endlessly! Let's go…

The first stop is Xishuangbanna
On the first day, first of all, we flew from Beijing to Xishuangbanna. Many things are like traveling. When you make a decision and take the first step, the most difficult part is actually completed, and the rest is left to the travel itself!

Xishuangbanna is one of the best place names in China in my opinion. The ancient Dai language was "Mengbala Naxi", which means "ideal and magical paradise." So, where is Xishuangbanna worth visiting?
Popular scenic spots such as Xishuangbanna Botanical Garden, Wild Elephant Valley, Rainforest Valley and other places are very famous and recommended by many people. However, I would like to recommend something special to you-Xingguang Night Market.

I have always preferred night markets, so I must not miss them! This is definitely the most pyrotechnic place in a city.

Xingguang Night Market, you can feel its dream by listening to its name. And there are delicious snacks everywhere. If you are brave enough, you can try this, as shown in the picture... Anyway, I'm not lucky enough to enjoy it.

The dotted streets are beautiful. Slowly approaching, I began to hear noisy human voices, mixed with the atmosphere of Yunnan.

Accommodation recommendation: Xishuangbanna Shawanli Boutique Theme Inn

It is very close to the Xingguang Night Market, within about 300 meters, the scenery is beautiful, there is a swimming pool on the second floor, which is very clean.

The room was tidy and the bath water was good. Breakfast was okay, and I especially liked rice noodles. The view from the restaurant on the second floor is very good. The pool is blocked out in the afternoon, which is great so that you don't have to get tanned. So happy!!

Day 2: Manting Park

A must-check scenic spot in Xishuangbanna. This is the oldest park with a history of more than 1300 years. It was once the royal garden of the Dai King. It is said that when the Dai Princess came to the park to play, the beautiful scenery of the park attracted the soul of the Princess, so it is also known as "Garden of Soul".

When you enter the park, you will spontaneously arise, creating a feeling of returning to nature, deeply feeling the ingenious combination of nature and artificial. All the scenery is pleasing to the eye, relaxed and happy, so it is a good place to relax.

Manting Park is full of joy at night. The first thing is to watch a cultural performance of "Lancang River·Mekong River Night".

This visual feast combines the cultural characteristics of six Lancang-Mekong River Basin countries: China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. The entire party combines ethnic customs, exotic scenery, and humorous on-site interactions. It shows us a Xishuangbanna full of diverse cultures. After the performance, you can also set up river lanterns and make wishes, or go to a bonfire dance.

Day 3: Customs clearance at Mohan Port

The gate of the motherland is so solemn. Do you feel awe-inspiring?

Today we are entering Laos through Mohan Port. After crossing the Mohan Port, I became illiterate, so I could ask a local place in Laos that speaks Chinese to pick it up, or I could walk with just a smile.

Here are some tips for friends who drive to Laos by themselves:
When Chinese vehicles leave the country, they must go through the following procedures with a valid driving license, driving license, and vehicle registration certificate (green book).

Handle at Mohan Port:
(1) After the vehicle arrives at the Mohan National Port Joint Inspection Building, park the vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The car owner brings his valid personal entry and exit certificate, vehicle driving license and driving license, and goes to the transportation administration certificate point on the right side of the entrance of the Joint Inspection Building to apply for a vehicle driving license. Here, you need to submit the driver's license and the vehicle's driving license. The fee is 6 yuan per family car.
(2) Go to the certification point established by China Customs to apply for free vehicle exit customs vehicle inspection cards. Car owners are required to provide vehicle driving license.
(3) After processing the above certificates, Che will handle the personal valid entry and exit certificate and go to the armed police inspection point to apply for the armed police inspection card, and sign and seal the personal valid entry and exit certificate. The accompanying personnel can pass customs clearance and leave the country after inspection and sealing with their valid personal entry and exit documents. After completing the above procedures, the owner returns to drive through the border inspection point of Mohan Port in China. Here, armed police inspectors need to check the personnel and vehicle certificates handled. After customs personnel inspect the vehicle, they need to stamp the customs vehicle inspection card and exit the country.

About Mohan Port

China's national gate is very powerful. People need to apply for a Laos visa when leaving the country. It is best to apply for the visa before departure, which will save a lot of trouble. Otherwise, although Laos can get a visa on arrival, it will delay time and have to fill out the form, which will be a bit troublesome. But overall, it feels that as long as the procedures are complete, it will go smoothly.

After customs clearance, we officially entered Laos, a country that is very mysterious to me. Laos gave me the impression that it was a relatively poor country, probably to the point where people could not eat. But after I went there, I found that the consumption level was not high and the conditions were a little poor, but it was not yet as expected.

The people there are very simple and their lives are very simple. You look at their lives as if they are very difficult, but in fact they are very satisfied. Original lifestyle, contented mentality. So don't use your concept of happiness to judge others. If you have food and drink, Lao men can marry N daughters-in-law, and women can marry, and they will have something to rely on in old age! I am very happy! Along the way, I received the most beautiful smile in the world.

The first stop in Laos: Luang Nam Tower
Let me remind everyone that as soon as Dan entered Laos, it was obvious that the road began to become very difficult. There are muddy and muddy roads and roadways with shell pits, sometimes bumpy until takeoff. Look, our car has become like this. So it's best to drive a hard-core SUV, which will be more comfortable.

Today we are arriving in Louang Namtha Province in Laos, a province in northern Laos with the capital of Louang Namtha. The province is bordered by Bojiao Province in the southwest, Udomse Province in the southeast, Myanmar in the northwest, and China's Yunnan Province in the northeast.
In the evening, I had a local specialty hot pot ~ Lao hot pot, which tasted good.

Of course, I recommend you to try the best beer in Asia (Lao Beer) that is praised by Time magazine in the United States. It tastes light and tastes good, but to be honest, I still think our own Tsingtao Beer is delicious.

Accommodation recommendations: Pou villa.

It is a mountain hotel located halfway up the mountain in Nanta City, and the environment is really good.

Each room has a small balcony and clean and soft towels. Breakfast was delicious and the fruits were sweet. A hotel where you can take photos. I think it is a better hotel in the area! I like the room layout very much and the Wi-Fi is very powerful. The main reason is that the signal is very bad as soon as we enter Laos.

Remind everyone that in Laos, the Internet speed of all Chinese phone cards roaming is very slow. And there is often no service in mountainous areas. So, you can buy a local phone card, which is still relatively easy to use, but it is definitely not as good as the domestic phone card.

Day 4: Laos, a country without smog
Today, we will continue on our way. After the rain, the sky is fine. After turning the mountain road, we encounter a beautiful road! I couldn't capture its beauty.

We arrived at Nam Ha Park before noon: Nam Ha National Reserve in Nam Ta Province was rated as Asia's top ten best eco-tourism attractions. The Nam Ha National Reserve is covered with dense forests. Many ethnic minorities live in the reserve, and many animals and plants make it home.

This is a holy place for hikers. Walking through the virgin forest, you may encounter Asian tiger turtles and big black bear turtles, so you need to have a guide to follow. You can follow the guide and live in an indigenous village at night. Isn't it interesting? And I'll just take a photo.

The trip to Laos was more like a walk deep in my soul, and I gained a lot. The sky in Laos is so pure that people are jealous, and the people of Laos are so simple that people can let down all defenses. We are leaving for Thailand tomorrow. I can't wait to see it!
Hotel recommendations:
At night, stay at a hotel very close to the Hoei Port ~ The M Bokeo Hotei

How can I put it! It's just that the location is better, but the facilities are older. Breakfast is coffeeˇ Egg fried rice. What kind of pairing is this? It's okay.
Opposite is Huishai Port, which is really close to the hotel.

Day 5: I never thought about it in my life. I actually passed by the Golden Triangle
Today, we are leaving Laos and entering Thailand. We looked at the map and, oh my God, I am actually in the "Golden Triangle" area.

My hair stood on end. But I was just passing by, so it was still very safe.
Popularize a knowledge point: Houay Xai Port in Laos is connected to Chiang Khong Port in Thailand

Entering Thailand, I feel much more relaxed all of a sudden. The first is to apply for visa procedures and vehicle entry procedures, which are very convenient and quick. The Thai police who cleared the customs were all smiling and feeling very friendly. It won't be as nervous as in Laos. Snacks, water and coffee are also prepared in the lobby for passing passengers. Isn't it very thoughtful?

The first thing I do when I enter Thailand: learn a temporary driver's license

There is a very interesting situation when driving from Laos into Thailand: you need to switch from the right side to the left side, and all local vehicles are right-hand rudder models. In addition, we also need to apply for a local Thai driver's license. This is a new bill specially formulated by Thailand for Chinese people in 2018-2019. All Chinese tourists who drive to Thailand by themselves must pass the temporary driver's license test before driving in Thailand. Otherwise, it is illegal.
Many friends are very concerned about the procedures, fees, and driver's license issues for driving into Thailand, so I will answer them one by one.
Regarding entry:
(1) Procedures: For foreign vehicles entering the country, they need to apply for entry permits to the offices of the Land Transport Department located in the border prefectures through the Thai Travel Agency 10 working days in advance.
(2) Fees: A handling fee of 500 baht will be paid for each vehicle entering the country for tourism purposes, and a handling fee of 2000 baht will be paid for each time for other purposes. In addition, each vehicle will be labeled with a license label, with a label fee of 500 baht per car and 200 baht for motorcycles.

Regarding temporary driver's license procedures: On the day when foreign vehicles enter the country, foreign drivers with foreign driver's licenses will be led by the travel agency that handles the entry procedures to the local office of the Land Transport Department to study for more than three hours and obtain a temporary driver's license. The fee is about RMB 200. (But don't worry, the whole process is very simple)


Thailand's first stop: Chiang Rai White Temple

Chiang Rai White Temple, this is a fairyland that is not like the world. Lingguang Temple (commonly known as the White Temple) in Chiang Rai is unique and unique for its pure white.

Under the sun, this white temple roams in the blue sky, shining brightly, like a beautiful work of art. Countless lenses are inlaid on the outer wall of the white temple, reflecting dazzling silver light under the sun.

Note:
Dress: You are not allowed to wear short skirts, shorts, or suspenders. You must take off your shoes before entering the hall.
Only the exterior of the temple can be photographed, and photography is prohibited in the temple
There is a one-way street after entering the temple, and retrograde traffic is prohibited! Don't go back, especially Naihe Bridge.

Recommended accommodation in Chiang Rai: Wiang inn Mansion

Two things are great.
1. The location is good, the night market is a two minute walk away.
2. good breakfast

The only downside is that the towels are a little hard. I like everything else very much.

Day 6: Chiang Mai with the gentle breeze

Chiang Mai is second only to the capital Bangkok in terms of development. The city has beautiful scenery and plants. Chiang Mai has a beautiful natural environment and cool climate, making it a famous summer resort.

Chiang Mai, a rose in northern Thailand. Some people come to Chiang Mai just to take a quick look, check in at an Internet celebrity store, and then leave in a hurry. Some people come for the grand Water Lantern Festival, eager to realize a certain wish. Some people came for Teresa Teng and longed to understand this small city full of "joy and joy". But in fact, Chiang Mai gives me the feeling that it is a very suitable city to live in. Only by living here can I truly appreciate the coziness of Chiang Mai.

I never imagined that I would play a water fight with baby elephant elephants in Chiang Mai and celebrate a water-splashing festival.

From being afraid of this big guy at first, to finally liking touching him, kissing him, and shaking hands. One afternoon at the elephant camp, I began to get to know this big guy again. They are actually very gentle. I think that humans and animals should get along harmoniously and treat each other gently in this way.

In the evening, be sure to go to the highest mountain top in Chiang Mai to see the whole picture of Chiang Mai. It is really beautiful. After going down the mountain, be sure to visit the night market in Chiang Mai. It is very interesting. There are many handicrafts and snacks, which are very interesting.

I bought a super fashionable vegetable basket bag and spent 50 yuan!


Chiang Mai hotel recommendations: Wintree City Resort

The room is very spacious and bright. The hotel does not provide disposable items and is very environmentally friendly, so you have to bring your own. Breakfast was ok, you can receive several Chinese programs on the TV, and there are many drinks and snacks in the room, but only mineral water is free. Apart from choosing from the night market, there are no shortcomings! However, there are many twin cars at the entrance of the hotel, which can be walked at any time, making it very convenient to travel. The pool is clean and beautiful.

At this point, our self-driving three-country journey is over. The scenery I saw and the people I met along the way were all destined to be beautiful. Looking forward to driving ourselves next time.

Where will we go next time for self-driving?