Thanks for the advice Jimbo :-)

We are planning on backpacking the whole way and this overland travel is always preferable. That and being 21 year old males we tend to get restless very easily, and thus always being on the move is fine by us.

Ill certainly take your suggested crossing to and from Laos from Vinh into consideration (thanks!) and it does seem to make more sense.

Originally i wanted to start in REP, then PNH then travel to VTE up the mekong but the internet seems to bring up no info on this and according to WikiTravel the crossing at Laos' southern border appears to be periodically closed.

And we're fairly keen on the thai train ride, two of the others have never been to thailand.