I decided to cross the Mekong to explore the village of Ban Xieng Man on the opposite bank. I had been warmed that some private ferries in the area would overcharge tourists and that I should only use the official local ferry.
I found where I had to go in Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to catch the local ferry, and I was walking down, the ferry was coming in.
Photo by Author — the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to Ban Xieng ManPhoto by Author — the view across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ), Laos to Ban Xieng Man
I waited as a van, truck, and motorbikes exited the ferry.
Photo by Author — the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to Ban Xieng ManPhoto by Author — off-loading of the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to Ban Xieng Man
And I waited in the queue to board.
As a tourist, I was changed more than a local to use the ferry. But not excessively more, and I was happy to pay.
Photo by Author — the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to Ban Xieng Man
As I waited, a monk that had been on the ferry strolled by.
Photo by Author — the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ), Laos to Ban Xieng Man
As I boarded the ferry, I couldn’t help but admire the captain's chair.
Photo by Author — the captain's seat on the ferry across the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ) to Ban Xieng ManPhoto by Author — onboard the ferry crossing the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ), Laos to Ban Xieng ManPhoto by Author — onboard the ferry crossing the Mekong from Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ/ຫຼວງພະບາງ), Laos to Ban Xieng Man
The view along the Mekong was spectacular.
The crossing took around 10 minutes. I spent more time in the queue than I did crossing the river.
