A Challenging Entry Into Laos

What was it I was saying in my last post? Something about a cycling tour being full of surprises…⁣

Let me start off by saying WE’RE IN LAOS! Sorry we left you wondering what was going on. We crossed the border today and it was the easiest border ever.⁣ If only we’d managed the visa process better.

I started off the day thinking, “you best be worth everything we’ve been through to get here, Laos” and I can already see it will be. It really is stunning and we’ve had blue skies today for the first time in weeks.⁣

It’s been bloody steep at times! Seriously steep; I think I pushed my bike for 2 miles. Stew managed to cycle it all! I don’t know how he does it.

If you’ve been following our stories over the last couple days you’ll know that obtaining our visa to Laos was not exactly straightforward. What an adventure that unfolded. ⁣

We had 7 days on our Vietnamese visa when we got to the border. We expected to get a visa on arrival, but you can’t do this anymore at Na Meo! Rules changed in 2020 and different borders have different rules. It took us 3 days to cycle from Hanoi, so we decided we’d play it safe and head back to Hanoi via public transport. We managed to cover 200 miles in 24 hours by taking a bus at 11:00am, then a train at 11.20pm. We arrived in Hanoi at 3am with no where to stay and our bad planning meant we spent a whopping £40 on a hotel – oh it was fancy! In 24 hours we managed about 3 hours sleep. We woke at 8am the next day and went straight to the embassy where we got our visa – then for the long road back to the border. ⁣

We arrived at the border last night, but we were so tired and we knew Laos was hilly so we stayed one last night in Vietnam. We met a German cyclist who’d had the same problem as us. Today the three of us cycled to the nearest town in Laos and at 7.00pm we will have dinner together.⁣

Staying that last night in Vietnam was a good decision because today was hillier than I imagined.⁣ Laos is going to test us.

All is well that ends well, we’re here and we’re very happy! @ ວຽງໄຊເມືອງປະຫວັດສາດ