'''From/to Laos''':
There are infrequent songthaews to Sam Neua.
Songthaews leave Sam Neua at around 06:30, and Vieng Xai around 07:30-08:00.
'''From/to Vietnam''':
There is every second day a public bus to Hanoi. But beware: there is an ongoing scam. Foreigners have to pay US$20-40 for onward transport (officially, its US$5), or they simply are kicked off the bus again. As all drivers take part in this scam, there is no cheap alternative. Even in the next bigger villages, they take part in the scam, so there is no way to work around it.
Food and drink are seriously overpriced for foreigners in this place.