Thang Beng to Vinh

Oh what it is like crossing from Laos to Vietnam using Route 8 from Thang Beng  to Vinh (Route 8 turn-off on north south route 13 in Laos). I picked up a songthaew at the turn off from route 8 and paid 35,000kip for the 102km ride to Lak Sao. Nice scenery and so I spent most of the time hanging off the back taking photos despite the murky rain, much to the amusement of the locals. In Lak Sao I hooked up a room at The Hotel Phout -Thavong across from the market (which has 2 rooms for 30,000kip  and many more from 50,000kip). The  Sourlya hotel across the road  changed 10$ into kip  for me as I had run out of cash and needed some for the last leg (there is also a  bank down the road, but the rain made me lazy enough to take the money changer's fee). At 6:30 the next morning I was up and looking for transport to Nam Phao, the border crossing town in Laos, 32km away. A driver shouted out "Vietnam" and I jumped in. After some negotiating with the fare as always I secured it for 20,000kip and  shared the ride with a Vietnamese lady going home to Saigon.  It turned out it was actually her private hired tuk tuk and of course they wanted me to pay 80,000kip but as there is nothing really to do or see in Lak Sao I had checked the going rate the night before and calmly told them that unless I paid the rate of 20,000kip I would be taking the public tuk tuk for the same price, which is when they knew I knew what I was talking about and let me on. The road now is sadly paved all the way which was a desparate shame because I had been craving some rough travel across the muddy roads that Laos is known for in the rainy season especially. It would have been fun in the dirt, as you bump around wildly as the rain lashed down all the way. South East Asia has just got too easy! Exiting Laos was just as easy. I wasn't asked for a 1US$ stamp fee and changed the left over kip into a handful of Vietnamese dong.  The better money changer is on the Laos side, not on the Vietnam side. At this time the US dollar rate is 17,000 dong  for 1US$, while official rate is 20,000. Vietnamese immigration was 1km down the road and i walked it in the pouring rain...it is called Cau Treo. The formalities were straightforward and this is simply that you need to have a Vietnamese visa in advance. They are simply not issued here! A 1 US$ stamp fee (also known as a bribe for the officer to do his job) was asked for but i gave them 10$ as I had run out of 1 $ bills and funnily the 10$ was given back to me with my passport, so they clearly didn't have change!  A small van took me to Trung Tam 26km down the hill. I paid only 50,000 dong, which is the local price, but you will most likely asked for any where from 70,000- 100,000 and run the risk of being booted out in the middle of nowhere.  So the lesson is to pay when you arrive in Trung Tam. They dropped me on the main street and I picked up an onward mini van to Vinh. If you are in need of refreshment as I was and are new to Vietnam, 1.5l of water is 8- 10,000dong, 500ml is 5000dong.  You are likely to be asked for a lot more, especially by the boarder as people assume you are new to the country and try it on.  There are noodle shops along the road, which are tasty, with amazing stock and fresh herbs. I was only overcharged on the bus for the 60km to Vinh (150,000dong) and then got dragged out in central Vinh and pretty much left alone on the side of the road. I had no idea as to where I was and traipsed around for an hour trying to figure out my direction and destination at the same time.  This is no easy affair for sure, even though I carry a light rucksack and so am fairly mobile compared to other travellers.  No one wanted to speak to me or help, but just looked a bit annoyed at being bothered, but I eventually found a girl in a jewelers who spoke fragments of english and was directed to a nearby hotel. The place was very plush with high prices to match, but finally after some encouragement they spoke good enough english and with patience in the situation I found myself a cheap and clean place up the road to sleep, as this place was way out of my league and budget. 4 days of slow travel ended and I was knackered, filthy and still dusty from Laos, then soaked from the Vietnamese rain on top.  Yet here I was, finally in Vietnam and excited to be back here after 10years. Coming into town you get to a big roundabout, highway 1 goes left towards Hanoi, right heads to Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City as it is now referred to. Straight on is Ho Chi Minh Square, which is significant as the idol and refuted grandfather of Vietnam was born near by. I set off to explore and take in the new costs and living conditions of the place today.  Walking left in the cool, grey sky for 2km and the main road took a right turn, where there is a big Super C supermarket with a food court on the top floor.  I ate and gratefully ate big portions of food for 20,000dong, at a fixed, non-negotiable price, which I was desperately in need of before finding my end destination.  Time was moving on and I needed to find a place to stay soon. The bus staion (Ben Xe- pronouced 'bin sair' ) was 2km up this road on the left.  Hotels 500m either side of the bus station can be found and I paid 160,000dong (8 US$).  I finally collapsed exhausted from the walk and the draining journey of the past few days.  Getting used to the traffic in Vietnam is a little hectic, especially when tired and I could still hear it outside. Chaos with motos, cycles and buffalo frequently travel up the roads the wrong way... bikes are everywhere.  Just remember to look both ways and walk slowly across. Do not stop and everyone will steer around you I recall as I fall into a deep sleep. .. travelled by Trevor Warman.. July 15 2011 Read more Posts from other Around the World Travellers