Yeah , as stated above is a good route. You can fly , bus or train to Chang Mai, and also when coming from Vientiane there is a cheap flight from Udon Thani in Thailand back to BKK. See airasia.com
The route can be done in either direction, both are just as good.
As for advice as to what to see, I suggest you get hold of copies of the Lonely Planet for Laos and Thailand. Try your local library if you don't want to buy them.
Have fun.
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As long as you are that far up in Laos at at Huay Xai, I suggest that you do a loop by bus through upper Laos through Luang Nam Tha, Muang Sing, Nong Khiauw and then a boat down to Luang Prabang. Great scenery and sights
Vang Vieng, in many peoples' opinion including mine, is an tourist-ridden pit with lousy food and not much to recommend it.
Air flights arent really that expensive ,,budget $us100 for one one flight and you can save one or 2 days bus travel ..Vang Vieng ,,nice scenery coming in ,otherwise probably total cringe .. Posted
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Just do like at #1, that's how everyone else does. You can even buy the whole deal mini van to the border then ticket for boat via travel agents in Chang Mai.
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Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Huay Xai-Luang Prabang-Vientiane-Bangkok. Connect the dots.
Flights in/out Laos are relatively expensive. Air Asia flights between Bangkok-Chiang Mai/Rai, Udon Thani-Bangkok will cut down distance more cheaply.
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Skip Chiang mai, just a busy city, tacky tourist market. Early flight ,B,kok/ Chiang Rai , bus to Chang kong, tuk tuk to the border crossing and you will be in your guest house in Huay xai that afternoon = more time in Laos Better than Chiang mai and surrounds...imo that is Have fun
