Vinh to Vientiane

This is also a long drive but it actually takes much less time than one would think. Patrick and Louise decide their Ami will struggle in Laos so they leave it at Vinh and it's transported to Than Hoa. They hitch a ride with Steve and Janet in the Vietnam hire car which we are not sure can be driven into Lao. We have done all we can to prepare documents but it's up to the customs officials in the end. The drive becomes foggy as we drive up the mountain. Arriving at the Cau Treo border we are all whisked through very efficiently by out Lao agent, Cong, an old friend from 2008. As the cars go through the border the Citroen DS of Kees and Minke decides to split a high pressure suspension pipe and sprays LHM oil all over the road. I wait for a while but Kees urges us to go on and he will fix the problem. It takes him several hours and he finally gets into Vientianne after midnight. The rest of us make it easily by mid afternoon.

Vientiane is a charming town as yet unspoiled by the modern world although car numbers are slowly increasing. There are fine restaurants here and lovely people. Lets hope it stays that way.