There are not many convenient connections from Vietnam to Laos. Either you make a one-way ticket from Saigon to Vientiane (the capital of Laos) or you drive more than 24 hrs on Cambodia ($ 20 extra visa again) purely to Laos. But those who make it to the middle of Vietnam, the only expect about 10-12h bus ride and there Jetstar cheap flights within Vietnam has offered, I have let me fly for 40 € to Vinh (located between Hanoi and Hoi An, north from the direct center). Lonely Planet in I had read that all the buses coming from Hanoi to Vinh always go as it is the Road conditions allow otherwise. For Hanoi traveling this usually means an extension of their travel time by at least 10h. So I was in good spirits in Vinh also easy to get on a bus and let me go to Vientiane. Having arrived in Vinh, I was surrounded by about 20 taxi drivers, I think that had long been seen no more tourists and for most Vietnamese tourists a living ATM. So I can only offer every time a price for which they should let me get to the bus station. The offers ranged from 60000-300000 Dong, which is already a pretty big price range. On the recommendation of the only a little English-speaking natives of I an official taxi let go. This is then turned on his taxi meter and is set off, but he had no idea where he was back and spoke to my misfortune, not a word of English. But they had not tampered with his hard-working taxi meter, because the price intervals are increased from second to second, instead of every mile, rose with him the price of every hundred meters. I have him with hands and feet trying to make it clear that his meter does not work and that is the the purest Verarschung, but he is quite comfortable with 40kmh down further and has not said a word. Also go to my request at least he did not respond faster. I have to be Knees pressed so that it presses on the accelerator and show him that he should go faster as we get over it all, but no reaction from the driver. I suspect that the taxi meter is set so that the price jump higher intervals when driving a constant 40-50kmh. Well, as it may, at some 66,000 dong he has me on a main road out and let me try to convey owner. But as I in no way here to the hotel was, I paid him and tried to find someone who speaks English and could tell me how do I get to Vientiane. A true act of desperation. Far and wide, not a soul with just a small vocabulary of English. Finally, but I have found in a phone shop one employee who has at least understood what I wanted. First I wanted to refer to a taxi, but I did not want to be ripped off again, I was wondering if I can not then go on foot. They kindly gave me the walk on a sheet of paper and painted me point out that there are about 3km. Yes, and I thought, before I pay 2 € for a taxi, but I go with 20kg on his back and midday heat through the streets of Vinh. As a backpacker you get very quickly into the position of a cent to spend too much and takes into account things that could have been done in the home never. save 2 €, it is clear, because in return you get Here's a decent meal ;-) So I made the trip and about 2km left me behind, when suddenly the employee from the phone shop with a scooter is standing next to me and offered me to drive the last part. Apparently I must have felt sorry for her, for she wanted no money for the trip. So I stand at the bus from Vinh and introduce myself already mentally address the fact that the next bus until the next morning. Well, think, not the next day, but on the next day. Spend two days in Vinh? No chance, because this is nothing. No man understands me, no sights. The place is in my guide book did not mention properly. What should I be so here. Then I got an idea. When I first time to the border creates (about 100km), then I may be purely to Laos and I am at least been there. What happened there is another problem, which I must now do not worry. With great difficulty I could make the people at the bus stop clear that I wanted to the border crossing to Cau Treo. One then has sensed his chance and offered me a minibus for 100,000 Dong. Sure, it's just a bit more expensive than before the 2km taxi ride. Now I'm sitting in the minibus, full of hope still to arrive in Laos. But rather than drive off quickly we first scoured the entire road from Vinh to find more passengers and Bus to get full. When it was finally over, the Clock was after five and I remembered that the border crossing was only open until six. I had sat for a slot in front of the driver and next to me one more Vietnamese. Gradually, most of the passengers got out and just move my seat neighbor and I have remained on the bus. I learned then that he wanted to go to Laos and was ever a fellow traveler to have calmed down, which I could point the way. Together we speak but could not, because he could not speak English. 18.30Uhr against the bus is in a small village outside a hotel stopped suddenly and asked me to get off, but not only me but also my neighbor. Hmm ... that's not the line I thought. What we are here. You tried to show me that I should go into this hotel to sleep. "No, i dont want to sleep. When I go to Lao. "No, no, no Lao, sleep here, 7 Lao". At seven to Laos, so it's now half past seven, so why wait in the hotel. Then I realized that the border has actually been to and that is the only hotel in the vicinity and I could probably continue until the next morning. All right, I had always been expected to have a need to spend in Vietnam after. But I did not expect that a room costs in this village 250 000 dong (about 11 €). Suddenly I realized I only 450,000 dong in cash on me and had far and wide, no ATM's. So I had to find out how much was to be tomorrow's bus ride. I was told about 300,000 Dong. So I had only 150 000 left to pay on hotel rooms. To my surprise, did not want to deal with me and was not willing to give me a better room. What now? Perhaps they even let me sit on the front of the reception chairs and spend the night? But even that was denied. Ah yes, here you have not spoken a word of English and all communication was by sign language or the smattering of Vietnamese, who had explained in my guide. As my seatmate next to the minibus all the time I has followed up and the event with, I tried to ask me if I could share a room with him. So I took him in the arm and tried to show that I mean that we share a room. He probably got scared that I'm gay and let me give that another woman who was standing behind the reception desk with him sleeping in the room. Well, all I probably have no other choice than to sleep outside on the street. A hammock and a sleeping bag I had it, what should happen already so great. Oh, did I mention that it had begun about 2h before rain. The first rain in Vietnam and now is going where I have to sleep outside. Even in this situation, I tried the people at the reception with sign language to communicate that I'm going to go outside to sleep in the cold. have touched my slightly theatrical drama must be my neighbor very well, for he suddenly said, come, we go to your room. Like, I think he has ne accompaniment. That was probably only ne white lie and he actually had a room with two single beds. Blessing in disguise I would say. Now I am standing there with a complete stranger Vietnamese who understands not me and I do not even understand, and wants to share my room the next morning to Laos. That'll be something. Probably He robbed me of the night and he and all my valuables from the field. Since it was first 19h, we have gone together to a small snack and have eaten something. For the first time I'm not sure what kind of meat that, I can not rule out that was the dog meat. I'm still tempted by dogs barking and Schweinerunzeln my roommate to ask what it is, but he has shown only on the meat and said that I should eat it. More than one bite I did not get down and confined myself to the rice. In the room he then turned on the TV and a blend of "Only love counts" viewed with the Vietnamese soldiers clapped every two minutes and have as an extra showpiece have been looking forward to a Michael Jackson impersonator. Oh God was that bad I thought. But never mind, eyes and sleep, tomorrow is an important day.
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