Please be noted that at some remote border crossings, you may find some hassles in renting vehicles to get from A to B, and it takes quite much time to travel between the two countries. Daily buses between Hanoi and Vientiane (see post #93 in this thread) and between Hue and Savanakhet seem the only regular service for the tourists. The fastest way is one-hour flight Hanoi - Vientiane or Hanoi - Luang Prabang with Lao Airlines or Vietnam Airlines, about US$120-150 one way.

The bus ride from Hanoi to Vientiane takes about 22-24 hours or longer. The bus ride from Hue to Savanakhet takes about 9 hours.

***

Border crossings from north to south Laos province/Vietnam province:-

1) “Phongsali - Tay Trang" (Dien Bien Phu) – OPEN (Laos VoA: Yes)

This border crossing was open since May 2007.

2) "Nam Xoi - Na Meo" Hua Phan/Thanh Hoa or Mai Chau - OPEN (Laos VoA: Yes)

3) "Nong Haet - Muang Xen" Xieng Khuang/Nghe An - OPEN (Laos VoA: YES)

4) “Laksao - Cau Treo” (Vinh):

5) Nam Pao / Ban Heu / Cha Lo Khammuan/Quang Binh - ???? - confirmation, anyone?

6) "Lao Bao" Savannakhet/Quang Tri - OPEN (Laos VoA: Yes)

7) "Ban Pakha - Bo Y" (near Kon Tum) - OPEN
 

Other tips

Travel Tips
What to see in Vietnam
World Heritages
Vietnamese Food
Vegetarian Food
Border crossings Vietnam -Laos
1-2 days in Hanoi
Beer in Vietnam
Traffic Hanoi
Cycling Walking Tips
Cycling in Vietnam
Demilitarized Zone
Diving Clubs in Nha Trang
Fansipan Mountain
Hanoi Bat Trang Local Bus
Hue Vegetarian food
List VN Embassy in China
Ninh Binh
Quan Lan Island Hotels
Red River Cruise
Central Highland
North West Vietnam
To Learn Vietnamese
Travel Overland China Hanoi
Travelling Hue Hoi An
Travelling Vietnam Brunei Darussalam
Vietnamese Lunar Year
Vietnam visa in Nanning
Volunteer Hanoi
Western Medicine Hospita lClinic HCMC
Visit Vietnam 10 days
What to do in Hanoi
Border Crossing Vietnam Cambodia
Cu Lao Cham Island

Useful sites

1. Red Dragon Junk, Cruise Halong Bay: 5 cabin boat on Halong Bay All cruises on Halong Bay Online, Halong bay travel guide, Hanoi Halong Bay Tours, Maps to Halong,
2. Prince Cruise Halong Bay Vietnam: 4 cabin cruise on Halong Bay
3. Jayavarman Cruise on Mekong River Vietnam Cambodia: luxury cruise on the Mekong River
4. Hanoi Airlines: book flight tickets to Hanoi
5. Halong Bay Cruise: list all cruise boats on Halong Bay & Bai Tu Long Bay
6. Hotel Vietnam, Vietnam Hotels: book hotels and resorts in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia
7. Laos Travel Guide: book tours in Laos with the New Road Tour
8. Cambodia Travel: useful guides, hotels, flights, tours in Cambodia
9. Phu Quoc Travel Guide: useful information on Phu Quoc Island Vietnam
10. Travel Sapa Vietnam: tours, hotels, maps to Sapa Vietnam
11. Mekong Delta Tours: cruise, hotels, tours in Mekong, Saigon

Other new travel sites

1. Vietnam Travel Company: First Choice Tours in Vietnam
2. Hue Travel Guide: guide, maps, tours in Hue Vietnam
3. Sapa Travel Tips: Sapa guides, tourist information
4. Mekong River Tours, Mekong Amalotus Cruise, Amalotus Cruise, Amalotus Boat Mekong River
5. Amalotus.com, Amalotuscruise.com, Amalotus Indochina Sails Mekong River
6. Mekong River Boats: Mekong Tours, Mekong River Tours
7. Hoi An Travel Guide: Tours, maps to Hoi An