Flights
There are direct flights from Bangkok to both Vientiane and Luang Prabang (from Suvarnabhumi!!). Flying is convenient, but there are cheaper alternatives. In Thailand, I prefer to fly domestically to Udon Thani, then take a bus from there to the border crossing at Nong Khai.
Bus & taxi from Udon Thani
Both minivans and the regular, cheaper buses depart from Udon Thani Airport and the city bus station. The journey takes about an hour and costs around €5. Once you’ve crossed the border, you can take a regular bus to Vientiane for a few cents. Taxi drivers will also approach you directly and ask for around €10. The advantage is that they can help you get through the border much faster!
Vientiane
The city on the Mekong became the kingdom’s capital in 1563. After the city was almost completely burned down in 1827, with only the temples left standing, it was abandoned to the jungle for many years. In 1887, it became part of French Indochina as a protectorate. After gaining independence in 1945, it was conquered by the communist Pathet Lao in 1975, and the country closed itself off completely from the outside world until the 1990s. In recent years, the capital has seen more and more tourists and is flourishing.
Luang Prabang
The former capital and royal residence has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. What makes it one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast Asia is the survival of the old royal-city architecture alongside the characteristic buildings of the French colonial era.
The city has just 66,000 residents. More than 3,000 of them are Buddhist monks who live in 34 historic temple complexes. And although the number of cultural tourists has grown enormously, the city has so far successfully avoided huge hotel complexes like those in Thailand.