I crossed from Thailand to Laos by canoe – 11/29/2023 – Robson Jesus

When I was visiting Vietnam, my eighth country, I became friends with Jairo Lins. He invited me to cross the border from Thailand to Laos by boat, using the Mekong River. This river originates in Tibet and goes to Vietnam, being the main river in Southeast Asia. Well, we arranged to meet in the city of Beijing, the place where we had spent my birthday together, and from there we went by plane to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

We arrived in the city in the early hours of the morning, and when dawn came, we took a bus to Chiang Khong. I was a little anxious and curious, because it would be a two-day journey along the Mekong River to reach the city of Luang Prabang. I was surprised when I arrived at the Huay Xay pier, because that was when I came across the simplicity of the “boat”. At this exact moment I noticed that my thought was: “this trip will definitely be exciting”.

Me, Jairo and other foreign travelers started the journey at nine in the morning, with the boat that had capacity for approximately fifty people. On the first day of the trip, the boat stopped in several villages, in order to transport local residents – it is widely used as a means of transport in this region. Observing that horizon was spectacular, giving me the feeling of having returned to times when nature was almost untouchable. All we had to do at that moment was literally enjoy the trip, appreciate the forest, the river and exchange glances and smiles with local residents.

The trip lasted ten hours, which wasn’t bad at all given the green scenery with animals, wooden houses and a sunset that I won’t soon forget. Around six o’clock in the evening, I arrived in the small town of Pakbeng, with approximately two thousand inhabitants. As I didn’t want to move around too much, I booked a room close to the port. I already felt tired, so a small room and a shower with hot water were enough for me.

Jairo and I decided to share a room, and after storing our backpacks, we went to discover a little more about this village. Extremely welcoming people, and an enriching cultural shock. We could taste the homemade food: rice, chicken and vegetables. We also tried a beer that was brewed right there in the region.

The next day we woke up at seven in the morning and continued our journey on another boat, but with the same structure. Our pilot, Mr. Abiduh, shared a little of his story. He had been doing that same stretch for twelve years. It was clear that he loved his work, which was also the main source of income to support his family.

Throughout the trip, we started to stop in villages to have small meals. It was an unforgettable experience, and what struck me most was seeing the shy happiness of those children playing cards while sailing along the Mekong River. Almost arriving at our destination, Luang Prabang, we stopped on the banks of the river to visit Pak Ou. A small cave that houses more than four thousand small Buddha statues, all taken by devotees. When the trip came to an end, I had no doubt that this section would become one of my recommendations to all travelers. So they canoe to Laos.

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