We left Vang Vieng T 08:30 on 6th for a full days drive towards the Laos/Vietnam border. This would be our last Bush camp before Thailand as we are in hostels and hotels in Vietnam and Cambodia.
The drive was again on poor roads, but then improved after we skirted the capital Vientiane. We moved out of the mountains into a broader river valley. We stopped at a small market for lunch on the outskirts of the capital. We saw 3 sets of traffic lights going around the capital – the first traffic lights in Laos. After Vientiane we saw some fishing in the river and fish for sale at the roadside.
The Bush camp was in a wet clearing in the jungle among what appeared to be some school buildings. It rained during supper which turned the paths to mud so it was a difficult Bush Camp (especially dealing with the mud on our sandals in the morning).
In the morning we left at 08:15 for Savannakhet where we needed to join a local bus to take us to the border. We arrived at the bus station at 11:30 with the bus leaving at 12:00 – that gave some of us time to dry out our tents and grab a sandwich. The old service bus which was very full (and included chickens on the roof!) left on time and should have arrived at the border at 18:00. We made a couple of stops – for food (see the eggs on sticks brought on board for sale), toilet stops and to pick up and drop passengers and luggage. The bus broke down about 15km from the border – out of diesel and the driver had to fill a reserve tank before we could slowly make our way to the border.
We got to the border after19:00 when it was supposed to close, but we were let out of the Laos side (after paying a $2 fee). Peggy and John initially had a problem with their visa but this was eventually resolved after a phone call. When we walked to the Vietnamese side 7 had been let through (prior to having their Visas checked), but they refused to let the rest of us through. After much negotiating we were eventually reunited, but we could not be admitted into Vietnam that night and were offered a stairwell to sleep in for the night (hard tiles). Lu was allowed back into Laos to get us some food and drink and we settled into out insect infested floor. No toilet was available so it was a night similar to crossing the Caspian Sea!! Throughout the night motorbikes seemed to use the outside of our sleeping quarters to go across the border unhindered.
In the morning we went to immigration (first in the queue, but soon overwhelmed by several busloads of Laos). After we all got through Lu ordered 2 minibuses to take us to the local town (for ATM’s and breakfast) and then to Hue. Our minibus stopped several times including once for a blowout!! We eventually got to Hue Backpackers Hostel about midday and we are now staying here for 1 night.
Note More Photos to follow later when Picasa has synchronised.
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