Vientiane / Luang Prabang Province · Laos
Route 13: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
Route 13Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang
The mountain section of National Route 13 between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang is one of Southeast Asia’s most dramatic highland drives, climbing from limestone karst to the 1,400 m Phoukhoune plateau before descending to the Mekong.
Heading north from Vang Vieng the road follows the Nam Song valley past karst towers before the gorges north of Kasi, where a 14 km ascent gains over 1,300 m on a narrow sealed road with back-to-back switchbacks and 20% grades. The Phoukhoune plateau opens at the top before the long, spectacular descent through forested ridges to the Mekong valley at Luang Prabang.
Scenery
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Route 13: Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang on the map142.5 mi · point to point
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Character
Corners
busiest around mile 63Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%242.7 – 1,431.7 mPoints of interest1 stop
- That Phousi ViewpointViewpoint143 mi in
Hazards
- Sharp hairpin switchbacks with grades up to 20% between Kasi and Phoukhoune
- Heavy logging and trade trucks on a narrow road with no hard shoulders
- Dense fog and reduced visibility in the wet season
- Livestock and pedestrians crossing through villages
- Road washouts and landslides after heavy rain
- No road lighting, dangerous after dark
Sources
“Route 13 passes through mountainous terrain with dramatic karst scenery north of Kasi before reaching the Phou Khoun plateau at around 1,400 metres.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
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