"Hey! I quit my job! Let's go on a trip to Laos!" (Guess what the other end of the line said? Haha) After the call ended, I immediately booked a one-way ticket. We booked Don Mueang-Vientiane with Air Asia, which had a good promotion. We'll figure out the return trip later. 5555 At first, I thought just going to northern Laos would be enough, but then I thought, since I quit my job anyway, let's add Vietnam to the itinerary. I've always wanted to go to Sapa, but I never had the chance.

This trip took place from July 12th to 22nd, 2016, and included 4 days in Laos and 7 days in Vietnam (including travel days). It coincided with the rainy season, which caused some apprehension about the possibility of rain affecting the enjoyment of the trip. However, the decision was made to go with the flow. It's important to note that this trip was not meticulously planned. The destinations were chosen spontaneously, with only a basic understanding of the route. Finding information on how to travel from Luang Prabang to Sapa without going through Hanoi proved to be a challenge. Fortunately, helpful individuals on the Pantip forum provided guidance. The group embraced the uncertainty and decided to go with the flow. The return flight was booked from Hanoi to Bangkok, as it was believed that the time spent traveling would be better utilized on the road. The choice of transportation is ultimately a personal preference. The photos are a mix of good and bad quality, as some moments were captured spontaneously. The equipment used included a Sony a77, GoPro Hero4, and iPhone 6.

This review will focus more on photos than storytelling, as I'm not very good at telling stories, haha! Let's start the trip. This trip is a review of our 11-day, 10-night trip to northern Laos and Vietnam. It was a mix of comfort and hardship. We had one other travel companion, my close friend named Elle (Elle the Elephant).

Day 1

We embarked on our journey from Don Mueang to Vientiane, arriving at Wattay International Airport in the afternoon.

Upon arrival, feeling hungry, I searched for a restaurant in the airport and ordered chicken stir-fried noodles, but received chicken with rice instead.

Upon arrival, we swiftly cleared immigration and proceeded to exchange currency. We opted to convert Thai Baht to USD and then to Lao Kip, which we found to be more cost-effective. Our exchange of 60 USD yielded 485,280 Kip, leaving us feeling flush. Next, we acquired a local SIM card from the sole provider at the airport, Unitel, for 70,000 Kip. The cost seemed reasonable, though we were unsure. We then hailed a taxi to the Vang Vieng bus station for 66,000 Kip. The journey from the airport to the bus station took approximately 20 minutes. Passengers can request the taxi driver to make stops for purchases. The bus fare to Vang Vieng was 50,000 Kip. The bus departed once full and made frequent stops along the way, resulting in a slower but acceptable journey.

The North Bus Terminal, similar to Bangkok's Mo Chit.

Around 7:00 PM, we arrived at Vang Vieng. We used Google Maps to find accommodation. Before our arrival, we had booked a room at Champalaobungalow for 300 baht per night. It was a room on the building with a shared bathroom. We stayed there for two nights. Many Thai people stay here. If you are interested, there are many reviews available.

Upon arriving at the accommodation and settling in, we had our first meal, which was absolutely delicious!

This roti costs 10,000 kip each. We each had one because it was delicious. We ate at the uncle's shop both nights. Actually, there are many roti shops, but we were afraid that other shops would not be as delicious.

Okay, I'm full and ready for bed. I'm excited to see if there will be fog tomorrow. Good night.

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Day 2

Waking up to this view on the morning of the 2nd was incredibly refreshing. The room cost 300 baht, but the view was worth 3 million! The thick fog was a result of the recent rainfall, making the air truly delightful.

Let's get ready for our trip! On our way to rent a car, we'll pass by the morning market, where we can experience the local way of life.

This looks like our fried bananas, 2000 kip each.

The price of bus tickets to various destinations varies from shop to shop. Be sure to compare prices before you buy.

We rented a car for 60,000 kip and filled it with 20,000 kip of gas (gas is cheaper than rice!). Let's go!

The first destination is Wiang Tara Villa, a rice paddy surrounded by mountains. This resort requires permission from outsiders to enter. Fortunately, there weren't many people when we visited, but the rice paddy wasn't fully grown yet. The photos still turned out okay.

There's our friend, Elle.

Note: Entry to Vieng Tara requires crossing a bridge with a toll of 20,000 kip.

Continuing on the road, the scenery is beautiful and the atmosphere is great. Driving and shooting, I don't know when I will arrive. 555

We have arrived at the Blue Lagoon. The water is surprisingly green. (I thought to myself) We chose to come in the morning when there weren't many people. Let's go jump in the water. Hehe.

This is with not many people around. Hmm.

We played just for the sake of it because we were playing alone. Our friend, L, refused to play with us. It was time to continue our trip. On the way, we saw children jumping into the water and playing. We stopped to take some photos. Before we could even brake, the children came running towards us in a group. They asked us to take their photos and then asked for money. I had read a lot of other people's posts, so I knew what to do. I just said, "No, I won't take your photos." I secretly glanced at the rearview mirror and saw the children scratching their heads in confusion. Sorry, kids, but I have to save money on this trip. Hehe.

As planned, this trip was all about following our whims. While others visited caves, we decided to skip them due to the impending rain and headed back to our accommodation to shower and change. Our next destination was Tad Gaeng Yui Waterfall. Judging from the map, it didn't seem too far from our lodging. The entrance was about 7 kilometers away, which didn't seem like a long distance. The path to the waterfall resembled the one leading to Blue Lagoon, but it was more secluded and had more ups and downs. We envied the cows grazing amidst the breathtaking scenery.

Riding a motorbike requires extra caution, especially during the rainy season. The road can be slippery, as we witnessed when we saw a foreign tourist's motorbike fall. She spoke Thai and advised us to park our car and walk the remaining distance. Following her advice, we parked our car at the guard post and started walking. The rain and slippery ground made it challenging, and L couldn't resist the temptation to touch the mud, much to our amusement. Despite the challenging conditions, we were prepared with raincoats, making the experience unique and memorable.

And finally, we arrived at the entrance of the waterfall. However, it was eerily quiet, with not a single tourist in sight. Only local vendors were packing up their shops. Looking at the time, it was almost 6 pm. We decided not to walk to the waterfall, as it would take a while to get there and back to the car, and then we would have to drive another 7 km. Oh, man, why did we even come here?

We successfully returned to our accommodation and managed to return the car. We also booked bus tickets to Luang Prabang from the same shop where we rented the car, as they offered us a special discount. Afterwards, we took a leisurely stroll to find some food and stumbled upon a Thai stir-fry restaurant that only charged 15,000 kip. We ordered the special for 20,000 kip and received a very generous portion, leaving us feeling full and satisfied. As if that wasn't enough, we walked back to a popular bakery and bought a box of delicious, large pastries each.

Two days in Vang Vieng were enough for us. While I'm not much of an adventurer, I still enjoyed the beautiful scenery and peaceful atmosphere. It was truly a fulfilling experience, just what we needed.

See you again tomorrow, "Luang Prabang".

Day 3
We woke up early on the third day, packed our things, had coffee, and sat watching the fog while waiting for the car to pick us up at 8:30. However, the car didn't arrive until 9:00. But hey, the beautiful view made up for it.

See you again, "Vang Vieng".

A small bus picked us up shortly after. It collected us from our hotels and then took us to a van. We reserved seats in the front because the back was full. After a while, the bus we were on got a flat tire. The fun was just beginning.

Fortunately, we stopped right at the village. It was drizzling, so we played around and met villagers sorting cucumbers to sell. We think Lao people are lovely, kind, and hospitable.

I apologize for disappearing all day. I'm just free now, so let's continue.
On the way to Luang Prabang, if you've ever been there, you know how beautiful the scenery is on both sides of the road. I think it's the same feeling as going up to Pai, I mean the curves, haha. Even though I get carsick, I still want to see it. The fog is thick, and the excitement is building!

After a long and winding journey, we finally arrived in Luang Prabang. The bus ride took almost 7 hours, with countless curves along the way. If you have onward travel plans, be sure to factor in extra time for the journey. Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, the van dropped us off at the main bus station, similar to bus terminals in our home countries. To get to the city center, you can either walk or take a tuk-tuk. Simply inform the driver of your accommodation, and they will take you directly to your destination.

We booked Singharat Guest House through Booking for around 800 baht. The room was okay, but the location was quite quiet and far from tourist attractions.

Let's put our things away and go find something to eat. I'm exhausted from the car ride today. Let's eat something and save our energy for tomorrow's trip. ^^

Don't miss the Lao papaya salad when you visit Laos. I don't usually eat spicy food, but I finished this whole plate of Lao papaya salad.

The price of this meal is quite expensive, probably because it's a tourist spot. But sometimes it's just too expensive!!!

Day 4
"Good morning in Luang Prabang"
It's time to travel! After breakfast, we checked out and left our luggage at the hotel. The plan was to go sightseeing first and then come back in the evening to pick up our bags before taking the bus to Vietnam. After finishing our errands, we walked to rent a motorbike near the walking street. The hotel actually had motorbikes for rent at 150,000 kip, which was very expensive. We found a motorbike rental shop for 50,000 kip with a manual transmission. Today, we exchanged an additional 40 USD because we thought we wouldn't have enough money. We also had to buy bus tickets to Dien Bien Phu, and to our surprise, there were no more buses to Dien Bien Phu in the evening. There was only one bus per day in the morning, so we had to stay in Luang Prabang for another night.

Having secured a vehicle, we sought accommodation for the night. Given our early morning departure, we opted for a modest guesthouse. Unremarkable and compact, it boasted a small eatery in front and a strategic location within the walking street district. At 60,000 kip, it offered convenience and proximity to a motorbike rental shop.

After inquiring about bus tickets to Dien Bien Phu at various tour agencies, we discovered that prices ranged from 230,000 to 250,000 kip. However, based on recommendations from fellow travelers in the Blue Room forum, we opted to purchase tickets directly at the Na Luang bus station. The tickets cost 190,000 kip each, excluding the cost of a tuk-tuk ride to the station. We arranged for a tuk-tuk to pick us up at 5:30 AM and transport us to the bus station for 20,000 kip per person. In total, the bus fare from Luang Prabang to Dien Bien Phu amounted to 210,000 kip, which we considered reasonable.

After settling our tickets and accommodation, it was already 2 pm. We were hungry, so we decided to find something delicious to eat before heading to the waterfall. If you don't rent a car, there are three-wheeled vehicles along the walking street that offer tours to Tad Kwang Si Waterfall. However, I don't remember the price. We decided to ride a motorbike instead, as it was only 30 km away.

The route to the waterfall is not difficult to drive, but there are some sharp bends.

We finally arrived at the waterfall. We rode our motorbikes very fast because we were afraid they would close the entrance as it was getting late. We paid 10,000 kip for parking and 20,000 kip for the entrance fee.

On the way to the waterfall, there are two paths: a road and a lower path. We chose the lower path, and it was the right decision. Along the way, there were many small, beautiful waterfalls. There were also many people, including Laotians, foreign tourists, and even bears! The bears were very cute.

The small waterfalls along the path were too beautiful to resist photographing. They were so refreshing.

The first glimpse of the waterfall was breathtakingly beautiful. It was truly stunning, making the long journey worthwhile. The excitement was palpable.

The water is so cool and clear, perfect for a swim! Let's take some photos and enjoy the moment.

The Tad Kwang Waterfall is much more beautiful than I expected. The water is a vibrant turquoise color, and the falls cascade down a series of rocky steps. The surrounding jungle is lush and green, and the air is fresh and cool. I would definitely recommend visiting this waterfall if you have the chance.

After playing in the water, we rode back to the walking street to enjoy the charm of Luang Prabang in the evening.

We then came across a legendary restaurant. Let's give it a try.

That's all for today. I'll tell you more about my bus ride to Dien Bien Phu tomorrow. Thanks for following along, and sorry for the wait. Sweet dreams!

"Hello, Luang Prabang"

Day 5
Morning of the 5th, the journey to Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam
The reason we chose to travel to Dien Bien Phu was because we didn't want to take a bus to Hanoi and then another bus to Sapa and then back to Hanoi, so we looked for a way to get there without having to go back and forth. We found out that we had to take a bus from Luang Prabang to Dien Bien Phu, and then another bus from Dien Bien Phu to Sapa. Many people said the road was rough, and that we would encounter this and that. The foreigners called it the "Journey From Hell". We were scared, but we thought it would be more fun than anything else. At least it would be an experience (that's what we thought before we went, to comfort ourselves).
We woke up at 5:30 am and waited for a tuk-tuk to pick us up in front of our accommodation and take us to the Northern Bus Station.

A mere 15 minutes will bring you to the Naluang Transportation Hub, where you'll find a plethora of vehicles bound for various destinations, including China, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Our itinerary today involves a 12-hour journey from Luang Prabang to Dien Bien Phu.

Luang Prabang - Pak Mong - Udomxai - Muang La - Pak Nam Noi - Muang Khoa - Muang Mai - Phongsaly - Dien Bien Phu

This is the bus that will take us to Dien Bien Phu. The scheduled departure time is 6:30, but the bus actually leaves at 7:30. We waited until the bus was full. Luckily, we arrived early and were able to choose our seats. The locals prefer to sit in the front, but my friend Elle was faster and managed to snag the seat next to the driver. The seats on the bus are very narrow, especially in the back. It was quite a struggle to stretch our legs.

On the bus, we met two new friends, Noi and Ju. They are medical students who received scholarships to study in Vietnam and speak Vietnamese. They helped us with many things and suggested places to visit. When we told them we were going to Sapa, we actually didn't know how to get there from Dien Bien. We asked Noi because she was also getting off at Dien Bien. The driver must have heard something about Sapa, so he asked in Vietnamese. Noi acted as our interpreter and told us that the driver would call to make a reservation for us. The fare to Sapa was 200,000 dong per person. We were worried about being cheated because the fare seemed expensive, and we had to pay in advance. We wondered what would happen if the driver abandoned us halfway. We were a bit stressed at that moment, but we decided to give it a try.

She slept all the way.

"Kick the seat forward and put it on your lap. Oh, this size, you can put it on our lap. Haha, it's normal for people here."

We stopped for lunch at Udomchai, a Vietnamese restaurant, but neither Elle nor I ate anything.

The bus driver picked up passengers along the way, which was expected for a regular bus service. The winding roads resembled those between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. The bus was hot, crowded, and noisy, causing me to feel carsick and sleep most of the way. Despite the discomfort, it was an authentic backpacker experience.

The car will stop for us to exchange money at Khoua Khuang before entering the Lao border. We asked Nong Noi if it was better to exchange money here or at the border.

Please Translate:

The younger sibling mentioned that the exchange rate at this shop was more favorable, so they exchanged 90 USD for 1,930,000 VND, jokingly stating that they were now millionaires.

We arrived at the Lao border around 5:30 PM, exhausted from the grueling bus ride. The bus was incredibly crowded, with some passengers standing so close they were practically sitting on each other's laps.

Finally, I can breathe some fresh air. It only took a moment to complete the task, and now I can sit and wait for the other passengers.

We soon arrived at the Vietnamese checkpoint. While waiting in line, we were cut off twice by people who simply walked in front of us. There are shops at the checkpoint where you can buy a SIM card. While waiting for the other passengers, N้องน้อย took me to buy a SIM card and set it up for me.

The Lao people are truly kind and friendly. We were fortunate to meet two young women who kept us company and chatted with us along the way.

We finally entered Vietnam smoothly. There are shops at the checkpoint where you can buy a SIM card. While waiting for the other passengers, N้องน้อย took us to buy a SIM card and set it up for us. Lao people are really lovely and kind. Luckily, we met two girls who kept us company and chatted with us along the way.

The car is driving into Vietnam. We are the kind of people who see the sky, the sunlight, and the beautiful nature. We can't help but take out our cameras to take pictures all the time. We take a lot of pictures. 5555

We are very excited. The Vietnamese people looked at us like, "What are you so excited about?" But the work is very good, and we are very happy. We were tired from the car ride all day, but now we are refreshed.

The image is not very clear, I apologize.

"The destination is merely an incentive for us to embark on a journey. It is the journey itself that awaits us to appreciate its beauty."

After nearly an hour from the TAY TRANG checkpoint, the driver told the younger sister to tell us to prepare to get off the bus. The bus to Sapa was waiting on the side of the road. We were confused and stunned. It turned out that the driver and the Sapa bus driver had sold us ghost tickets. We didn't have to go to the Dien Bien Phu bus station to wait for the bus the next morning (I'm really sorry for the information about Dien Bien Phu to Sapa). Along the way, the bus stopped to drop us off, and the bus to Sapa was already waiting for us. Goodbye, younger sister and younger brother. Thank you very much for all your help.

We boarded the bus in a daze. It was a sleeper bus, and it was almost full. As soon as we got on, we took motion sickness medication. The bed was quite cramped, forcing us to sleep with our legs bent. On top of that, we had to keep a close eye on our belongings.

I'll be back later. I have to go to work first. I want to travel, but I also have to work. 5555

Day 6
5 nights and 6 days in Sapa-Hanoi
We rested at Sapa Lake until morning (it gets light very early here). Around 5 am, people started to gather.

Following Google Maps, we aimed for a quiet and private location near the city with convenient access. However, the priority was silence, as Elle gets easily annoyed by car horns. 555

After a tiring uphill walk, we found Sapa Accommodation, which perfectly matched our specifications. We immediately inquired about the rooms, which cost around 850 baht per night. We decided to stay there for all three nights. The receptionists were incredibly kind and allowed us to check in as early as 7 am. After checking in, we slept from morning until evening, accompanied by a light drizzle and a comfortable cool breeze. We decided to rest and gather energy for tomorrow's exploration, as we had been traveling for almost 24 hours and were quite exhausted. We opted for a full day of rest to recharge. This is the essence of my self-directed trip.

This is the same hotel where we are staying. We had breakfast here.

After a long afternoon nap, we ventured out for a stroll and some food. (If we weren't hungry, there's no way we would have left our room, haha!)

This is something I don't know the name of, but I think it tastes good. It's 20,000 pickled.

The first meal in Sapa was fried rice followed by bread. I walked back to my room to sleep and save energy for tomorrow's trip.

Day 7
After a good night's rest, it was time for breakfast at the hotel. The buffet mainly consisted of bread and pho, which was delicious.
However, we noticed that other tables were served one plate per person, while the reception gave us two plates each. Could we refuse? No way! 55555
We are not very keen on eating outside due to hygiene concerns, so the hotel breakfast is very important to us. We went all out and enjoyed a hearty meal.

With our bellies full, we set out to find a motorbike to rent. After asking around at several shops, we decided to find one closer to our accommodation.

We rented two separate cars for 80,000 baht each. To prevent scams, we took photos of any existing damage on the cars beforehand, as a deterrent against potential fraud. (We always do this when renting cars, regardless of the location.) We then filled up the gas tanks to ensure we were fully prepared for our journey.

Today, we set out on a long motorbike ride to Silver Waterfall and Love Waterfall. Let's go!

The scenic views along the way to the waterfall were breathtaking. We stopped to take photos at approximately three different locations.

We arrived at Silver Waterfall. We only took photos from outside because we would have had to pay to enter.

We continued riding towards Love Waterfall as the rain began to fall. We felt ourselves ascending higher and higher, but the views along the way were breathtaking.

We have arrived at Love Waterfall, but we were unable to enter due to heavy rain.

Let's go back. We've been riding for a while and our friend Elle found some fruit. She must be tired of Thai bananas, so she bought two kilos.

After riding for a while, we turned around and took the other route (there are two ways to get to the waterfall from Sapa). We stopped at the Sapa Fansipan cable car station, which is relatively new and may also be a hotel. The cable car ride costs 600,000 VND per person, but we didn't take it because it was too expensive!

We will be going down to visit this village. ^^ We don't know which way to go yet, but we have to get there.

I had leftover bread from last night for lunch today. I'm going to ride my motorcycle now before it starts to rain.

Our next destination is the village you see below, which is on the same path as Cat Cat Village. We didn't enter the Cat Cat Village because we had to pay an entrance fee. We just thought there might be a more beautiful place with fewer tourists, and we actually found it.

The view on the way to Cat Cat village was amazing. We took a small shortcut that we thought the car wouldn't be able to handle, but it did!

"Dude, let's take the normal route, my car can't handle this," said All. We agreed and rode our motorbikes along the usual path towards Cat Cat Village.

We were looking for a place (we saw it on Instagram) and couldn't find it on Google Maps. We tried our best to find it, but we gave up. 555 But luckily, we rode our motorbikes to the village and before we reached Cat Cat Village, we found the place we were looking for. We wanted to scream in Vietnamese. It wasn't far away; we just hadn't been this way before.

The Haven Sa Pa Club House & Hostel, a prominent landmark visible from afar, serves as both a hostel and a restaurant.

Without hesitation, we parked our car and started snapping photos. The owner, who had recently renovated the place, was incredibly kind and we hit it off immediately. We exchanged Facebook information and it was a shame that we had already booked our rooms for the next three nights. If we visit again, we will definitely stay at her hostel. It's incredibly affordable, costing only around 250 baht per person, including breakfast and breathtaking views. We'll definitely be back!

This is all I wanted to see. ^^

It would be great if I had someone to come with me.

We spent nearly 3 hours chilling here, sipping hot Vietnamese tea. It was truly blissful. As we talked, we remembered the owner mentioning that this place sometimes transforms into a sea of mist. So, we decided to return tomorrow morning. After saying our goodbyes, we continued our ride, passing by the Cat Cat village. Glancing at the fuel gauge, we noticed it was getting low, so we decided to turn back. Today's journey was definitely worth it, achieving the goals we set out for.

What is the point of a destination if there is no journey to get there?

We decided to rent the car for another half day, arranging to return it at 11:00 tomorrow. We paid an additional 50,000 dong.

Will we see the sea of fog tomorrow? We'll have to wait and see.

Days 8

On the third day of our Sapa adventure, we focused on sightseeing, relaxing, and eating. Most tourists opt for trekking tours, but we decided to skip it due to laziness. We were content with simply experiencing the sights and sounds. We woke up early at 5:30 AM to catch the sunrise at Haven Sapa, but were slightly disappointed as we only saw distant fog instead of a sea of clouds.

We continued our journey along the same path we took yesterday, unsure of where to go next. Consulting our map, we realized we hadn't visited Ta Phin and Ta Van villages yet.

The receptionist at our hotel tried to persuade us to purchase a tour for this route, citing its potential dangers. Indeed, the road was a rough gravel path, but we felt confident in our ability to navigate it safely. After riding for about 4 kilometers, we reached a scenic viewpoint. Arriving early in the morning, we encountered neither vendors nor other tourists, allowing us to capture stunning photos without any distractions.

"We traveled thousands of miles to find something that would fill our lives with energy."

The same old angles, the same old shots, but the view still makes my heart race!

The first viewpoint passed, and I continued riding alone as Elle wanted to soak in the atmosphere privately. It was fine with me if she didn't follow.

Photographed from the viewpoint, not entering the village.

The morning mist and light create a beautiful atmosphere.

However, before I could take my fill of photos, an elderly Hmong woman approached me to sell her wares. She wasn't just selling; she was practically clinging to me! I had no choice but to make a quick escape.

The first viewpoint we stopped at was captured on our way back when children were selling goods. The locals were quite persistent, making it a bit difficult (mentally), but we didn't buy anything.

We returned the car and took a nap to prepare for our afternoon trip to Khao Ham Rong, but we had to cancel due to the rain. So, we continued sleeping.

We have to return to Hanoi tomorrow. In the evening, we walked out to find a bus ticket to Hanoi for 11 USD. We bought it from an agent near Sapa Lake, including a taxi to pick us up at the hotel. We chose the 10 am bus so that we would arrive in Hanoi not too late in the evening and could continue looking for accommodation.

The final night in Sapa was filled with rain, but the atmosphere was still pleasant in its own way.

"Walking, sightseeing, and eating, everything is really tempting to buy. But our purpose is to travel. Okay, let's go to sleep."

Day 9

Today we had to return to Hanoi. I didn't want to leave. At first, I thought I would stay here another night because I didn't really want to visit Hanoi, but whatever, it's not like I come here often. The two sisters at the reception were so lovely. They gave us two breakfasts for three days. 55555 They tried to speak Thai with us because many Thai people stay here. We exchanged Facebook and they sent us off in a taxi. It's amazing how easy it is to make friends abroad.

The taxi arrived slightly late and took us to the bus station. We waited until we boarded the bus. I like the Sleeper Bus here. We should have something like this at home.

I'm not sure if the seat is small or not, but it's quite uncomfortable because I can't stretch my legs. I'm so tired.

Until we meet again, Sapa.

The car arrived in Hanoi around 4 pm. We still didn't have accommodation, so we continued walking in the Old Quarter area. We found a place to stay at a price we could afford. We stayed at the Old Quarter Centre Hotel for 850 baht per night. After checking in and leaving our belongings, we went for a walk in the area to find something to eat. (All said)

On the way to Hanoi

After lunch, we went for a walk and bought some snacks. Then, we went back to rest and prepare for our visit to Uncle Ho tomorrow.

Day 10
This morning in Hanoi
Breakfast at the hotel. When in Vietnam, you must try pho.

Today, we checked out of our hotel before exploring Hanoi, but we left our luggage at the hotel and will pick it up later in the evening. My friend Elle wanted to visit Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum, so we indulged her wish.

We are waiting for bus number 9 near Hoan Kiem Lake. The bus fare is 7,000 VND, which is quite affordable. As for taxis, don't even bother.

I'm not sure where the bus will stop for us to wait for another bus to Uncle Ho's tomb. We waited for another bus for a long time, so we decided to open Google Map and walk. It wasn't too far, almost 2 km. We walked through the market, through the community houses. The houses here are very narrow, but they are tall.

A short walk, less than a kilometer, brought us to a pizza restaurant where my friend Elle suggested we grab a bite to hold us over.

And finally, we wandered to Uncle Ho's museum, but it was closed for lunch. We didn't have to go in, haha.

A short walk will take you to Uncle Ho's mausoleum, but it's closed. If you plan to visit, be sure to check the information beforehand.

Our next stop is the back pavilion of Hanoi Citadel. Let's walk around.

After walking until our legs were sore, we learned a lot. Then we took bus number 9 back to the hotel to get our luggage.

The hotel was generally satisfactory, except for the staff. The staff member attempted to persuade us to take a taxi to the airport from her. When we inquired about transportation options, she informed us that the buses had stopped running, despite it being only 6:00 PM. However, buses to the airport operate until 10:00 PM. We did not believe her and proceeded to the Long Bien Bridge to wait for the number 17 bus. As expected, the buses were still running, and several passed by. We boarded the number 17 bus, which cost 9,000 VND, significantly less than a taxi. We enjoyed the scenery as we traveled to the airport, arriving in approximately two hours.

As planned, we spent the night sleeping at the airport. It was an experience that had it all.

A good night's sleep, but I have to wake up early tomorrow. I have to go back to Bangkok tomorrow.

Day 11
Today we are leaving. If we have the opportunity, we will definitely come back.

Vientiane-Vang Vieng-Luang Prabang-Dien Bien Phu-Sapa-Hanoi

A journey spanning two countries, covering 11 days and 10 nights, traversing a distance of over 3,300 kilometers.

The journey was a mixed bag of comfort and hardship.

The experiences we gain are simply a matter of daring to venture out into the wider world.

A journey of cross-cultural friendships and encounters with diverse individuals.

See you again My Vacation time