Land Border crossing from Laos too Vietnam

While we resent that we had to leave Nong khiaw and our most dearest restaurant Deen's. (Thank you India for your delicious foodies) we had to move to our new destination! Vietnam. Nina's whole reason for traveling as Pho lover (pho is the famous beef noodle-soup) and the time was nearly there.

We looked how we should cross the border as most of the "backpackers" fly into Vietnam. A lot of money we do not wish to be spending on a flight, we prefer to spend that on nice meals! As live is to short to eat boring food,, right?!?

We found out a way some people seem to do the other way around. From muang khua to vien dinh puh. This would let us pass the border near Sapa and would geographically be so much more logical then fly in and take a 10 hour bus ride back the way you came from. So we gave it a shot.

Starting with a boat trip up to muang khua in a boat which had a lot of trouble going upstream. Understandable though, we did this way on a kayak the day before and the river was relentless. Once arrived we came in a "nobody wants to be here town", merely a transit village. We found us a room and just went to bed. Next morning at 5, rise and shine, we had to find a local bus to the vietnam border. Scared as we were. Already thinking we missed it. It of course arrives atleast a hour late as always. There we go! 

Border crossing was peanuts, you hear these horror stories but the good thing of a border that almost no foreigner uses is that the people are quite fair. We got stamped out and in without any hassle. The next hours on the road were something... First of all there was no road, would't even call it a dirt road. Nonetheless, we arrived safely in Vien Dien Puh, a almost tourist deserted city. A city were the French lost the war and their vietnamese colony. 

In search of a hotel we crossed paths with the ruby hotel. As Nina did her homework this was supposed to be fairly good. Once agreed on the price we were welcomed with open hands in the best hotel room thus far. A bed, so soft and comfortable & a normal blanket, such a rare thing in Asia & last not least a strong hot shower. We just had to stay in all day (might that the rain had something to do with that as well). Later in the evening we asked the proud owner a nice place to eat. With the use of google translate he asked if we wanted vietnamese. Of course!! Before I know it we where on his motorbikes trying to keep up with the owner. When arrived we found ourselves in the owners favorite chicken restourant. He ordered all kinds of food and beer for us and races back to his hotel while we waited with wide smiles on our food. We were in love with vietnam right away!