Blog 8 - Vientiane and 4000 Islands

We head to Vientiane with the expectation of heading from there to Hanoi in Vietnam. The bus cost 50,000 kip (about £5) and the journey was hideous, winding, bumpy roads and a big hangover = sick beck!

We find a hotel fairly easily however when meeting up with friends later in the day, it seems they had much more trouble. I suppose it depends on your budget. Out room was 90,000 kip for the night. We also had a private balcony. I have to admit that I moaned the whole time we were looking about carrying my bag. It is so heavy and I didn't care about finding a cheap place but if we want to say as a group then we have to look. There is an amazing hotel on the river front called the Riveria for about £20.

Vientiane is ok as far as cities go, it has some lovely bakeries and nice coffee, a good indian restaurant but it is quiet, usually used as a transit hub by travellers with most people only staying 1 day, so we did the same.

We wanted to go to Hanoi however because of the Chinese new year, we could not get a bus for at least another week and the flights were very expensive. We quickly changed plans and decided to head to the 4000 islands at the bottom of Laos and then head into Cambodia before Vietnam. Our visa for Vietnam is expiring but we will just buy an extension when we get there.

Lena was diagnosed with a kidney malfunction from excessive drinking, so headed back to Bangkok to see another doctor. Her flight is also in 2 weeks so we say goodbye.

Iris wanted to go and see the caves so it just left me, Simon and Scott to go to the 4000 islands. It is about 10 hours away to Paksi and then a bus change and 3 more hours to 4000 islands so decide to do this travelling in the evening and get a sleeper bus. To say a bus, it was more like a hotel on wheels. Simon and I had a double bed and we pretty much slept the whole journey. Best £12 spent on travel so far. The second bus was a bit of a mission. There are 3 bus terminals in Paksi and obviously we were at the wrong one. W had to get a TukTuk to another bus station 7km away but eventually got there.

We arrive at the 4000 islands. There are only a few major islands as most are not habitable. We stay on an Island called Don Det in Mr Mos river Bungalows but there is no beach and not really much to do so only stay the one night before moving on to Cambodia. Also the electricity goes off at 10pm!