You want spring rolls??

Ahhh... Vietnam.

Sorry guys, you'll have to wait till the end of my trip to see the pics! My digital camera is kaput. Or was kaput for a very long time and I didn't fix it. Or let's just say that Canon is shit, and they have not fixed it yet. Ahah!

Today is my first day in Vietnam, and I have just crossed the Laos/Vietnam border at Lao Bao (overland). It is an experience not to be forgotten! During my trip to the border on THE dreaded cattle bus (7 hour trip) to the border (from Savannakhet which is in west Laos), I sat with this old couple (Guelain and Bernadette) from France, going to the same destination as myself. We had a very good chat and he gave many, many advice about traveling in Vietnam.

The border was a complete havoc, like an abandoned construction site. Well, that's not all. No one at all, only four person crossing it.

So, the Vietnamese bus station did not want to sell us bus tickets, so we had to take a van to Dong Ha to proceed to Hue. This is the most interesting part..

The purpose of the van pestering to bring us to Dong Ha is because they are... tadaaaa.. smuggling cigarettes!! The 3 ladies and 2 guys in the van had strapped their bodies with Lao cigarettes. Vietnamese passengers getting into the van midway were wide-eyed, looking at these ladies stuffing their shirts and pants with boxes of ciggies.

Finally, the van stopped at a police check point. Well, it did indeed look like a van ferrying tourists, alors, pas de probleme.. We did nothing to point it out, and like Superman, the tourists saved the day. Not a word of thank you though, and definitely no discount on the fare. Twice that of the local people. Not interesting...? Okay, I understand...

French people are GOOD at demanding discounts! All the while, me and my friend are to remain silent and act (as in acting) accordingly to the situation. Don't get it? It means like pretending to be staying at least 7 days at a hotel, pretending to call a friend, walk away, look pissed etc etc. They really saved the day!!!

Arrving in Hue, it was a relief as this is a bustling charming little town with lots of cyclists. I am going to rent a bike tomorrow. Please hope that i won't die, as I am more used to the left-hand drive than right.

If I still alive, I will post again from Hoi An (2-3 more days).

Bye-bye, busters!