1065 km in 5 days - 34 hours on the road We had to leave LP like thieves! We booked on Tuesday morning our ticket to Dien Bien Phu to leave the very next day. It was confirmed so it left us one more day to explore the region. We went to the waterfall Tad Phong. We came back in the afternoon we had a late lunch and then we were about to go for a rest before enjoying our conversation class and a BBQ! Once at the hotel, we were about to pay the room and have a nap! BUT the hotel manager told us that the agency called and we should go there as soon as possible. We left the hotel and rushed to the agency! There was a problem, the bus which was confirmed and supposed to leave on Wednesday was CANCELLED! It was not acceptable, what can we do???? We found the following solution leaving within the hour with a local bus. It meant give back the bikes, finish packing and getting ready for the bus ride and find a Tuk tuk to take us to the bus station. We were in such a hurry so we did not really realise that we were beginning a very long journey. We forgot about the celebration and all! - LP Oudomxai: (Tuesday 22nd) 207 km 8 hours – terrible journey - the road was in a bad state and it was raining even in the bus where we sat! We slept in a guest house right in front of the bus station. We did not get sick! A funny story happened with the key. We got the key 499 for the room 499 but we could not open the door, the night watcher helped us and half asleep someone opened the door. Everyone was surprised! A guy used the key 466 to open the room 499 we were assigned. At midnight it was a confusion that made everybody laughed - Oudomxai (Laos) - Dien Bien Phu (Vietnam) - (Wednesday 23rd) 230 km – 8 hours inclusive one Lunch break and one border crossing. A second day travelling, also with locals but in a mini bus. It was interesting to observe Lao people even from the tribe going abroad. Some of them travelled with animals, goods and lots with a small bags. We had the feeling that they were not used to travel especially when we crossed the border, it was a new experience for them. Some of them did not even had a passport. The officer gave them a A4 paper wrote down their names and glued a pictures. That was enough to go to Vietnam. At some point in the minibus, we were 24 people, two animals and one kid! We arrived exhausted but we enjoyed the sceneries! We drove through the mountains and tribes villages! Magnifique!!! DIEN BIEN PHU – ONE DAY REST – THURSDAY 24thWhat to say about DBP – We stayed one day just to rest before going to Sapa –North Vietnam. It was the first town after the border crossing but it is also a historic place where Vietnamese fought against the French in 1954. After 3 months, the French capitulated and Vietnamese won their independence. Museums and tourists attractions (A1 Hill and bunkers) open from 7 to 11:00 and 13:30 to 17:00. That day, we left the hotel quite late and when we just arrived at the museum it was closing and the same for everything! We went to the cemetery, after for a coffee and matcha tea and walked around. We also had some Vietnamese classes two evening in the row at the place where we had diner! We managed to fix our computer: it took 90 minutes and cost 7€! In Europe we would have had bought a new one! It would have been too expensive to fix the screen! - Dien Bien Phu – Sapa (Friday 25th): 272km – 10 hours. A very nice journey in Northern Vietnam. We met Edouard on the way. Once in Sapa, the magic was gone. Sapa looks like a circus where tribe people ask you every two seconds to go their place and do homestay. We were disappointed. We were expecting a place like Luang Prabang! It is not only very touristic but also an ugly town, expanding without structure! Prices for hotel and food are very expensive and not even good! Two reasons to leave Sapa within 16 hours: 1 it is said to be the Alp Tokenise as the French described it but also a place where you can trek, go to paddy fields and enjoy the nature but well we did not like it! Too many tourists!!! 2 we applied for a project to teach English at the Hope centre, located 5 km away from Sapa. We could have gone during our first trip but time was ticking for us (to get out of the country). We tried our luck a second time but we did not manage to go to the centre and the guy did not get back to us neither. We stayed at his backpackers hotel but it is a place to avoid. Sapa – Hanoi (Saturday 26th): 356 km – 8 hours : We were about to change from hotel when I suggested to leave today. A spontaneous action but a real one! We went to an agency and we booked two tickets and a taxi. We left within 5 minutes Sapa. At 8:30 we got in the bus and left Sapa, the rain and the circus behind! No regrets! What we appreciated it during the journey is the sceneries! Paddy fields, mountains and only green tones! THANKS MOTHER NATURE !
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