CAU TREO (LAO BORDER)

This border post is 96km western of Vinh, and the last 25km or so climb through some spectacular steep and forested country. The border is open from 71m-5pm daily, and there is absolutely nothing there except the border post itself, so stock up on water and snacks in Tay Son as you pass through.

From the Vietnamese side it’s 1.5km to the Laos border. You can walk this, or if a motorbike has brought you up from Tay Son, it’s permitted to take you through the ‘no man’s land’ between the border posts.

Getting There & Away

Vinh is the junction for transport to the border. Buses leave from the central market bus station, ten times a day between 6am and 2pm (10,000d). The bus takes you as far as town of Tay Son (formerly Trung Tam), from where it’s 26km to the border. You can wait for a local bus to take you the last stretch, or hire a motorbike to take you there directly. The cost (50,000d) is the same for both. These are prices for locals, and you may need to negotiate.