SaPa (our last stop in Vietnam) and relaxed Laos

After having spent some beautiful days in SaPa in the north of Vietnam, we decided to finally move on to Laos.

First we did some research in the internet concerning the border crossing. THE BOOK (Lonely Planet) did not say much about it because the most northern border was not open yet, when it was being published. We had heard stories of looong stressful jouneys on horrible roads with bus drivers stopping the bus in order to collect more money from passengers, and worse... So we were ready for an adventure!

At 7:30 in the morning we were picked up at our hotel with a minivan. Eventhough we had been told we would get a "tourist bus" (what ever that is?!) it seemed this was going to be the van to take us to Dien Bien. our last stop in Vietnam before the border. Some more backpacker tourists and two Vietnamese were picked up, there bags stuffed under the seats and in the trunk, and off we went towards Dien Bien.

After 10hours we arrived in Dien Bien. We were 11 tiered people looking for a room. We went from one guesthouse to the next hoping to find a cheap place to stay - and maybe a discount because we were so many.

4.30 the next morning we stood up and got ready for the next bus trip.
The bus stopped to get some rice noodles packed unto the roof. At 7.30 the driver stops for breakfast. We've still not left the town.
At some pint a generator is packed in infront of the passenger door, and some bags filled with vegetabels squeezed under seats...
After about 3 hours we reach the border and after another 1 hour everyone has got a visa for Laos. 32US$ plus 1$ overtime charge because it is Sunday and 1$ stamp fee. ;)

We get out in the border town Muang Kuah.

Some of us go on, six of us stay in the town and rent a room.