The last days in north Vietnam was not really pleasant. A low pressure from Russia and China came down over the country and it became completely freezing, outside as well as inside. Although we slept with clothes and five blankets each, we woke up of being really cold. The restaurants and shops don’t have heating so after two days in Hanoi we just wanted to escape (have been traveling with three cool backpackers that I met in Hue lately, a couple and the guy's best friend). Also the ride and night at the Vietnamese border where we came 3am and didn’t get the stamps and visa sorted out before 8 following morning was kind of terrifying!

But love, love, totally love Laos! :)
The weather during our ten days here has been a lot better, the country side is indescribable beautiful, prices are unbelievable lower than in Vietnam, the people very friendly and helpful, and we’ve visited some unforgettable places.

We started with 2 days in the cozy capital Viantiene before continuing to "the backpacker's paradise" - Vang Vieng. Here we stayed at lovely bungalows at the river side for 3USD a night with an amazing view over the beautiful mountains, jungle, rice fields etc. The village is all about adventure and party for young backpackers. During the days you’re visiting caves, rock climb, kayaking, trek in the jungle and most popular of all tubing from early in the morning until the sun goes down. Along the river loads of bar/clubs are situated with cheap drinks, food and “happy treatments” as they say, djs and music, volleyball, pool, lianes down the water, diving towers etc.

Luangphrabang attracts more middle age travelers with fancier restaurants and guesthouses but we had a really good time at the Mekong River village. Here we rented motorbikes and went of for the country side, visited and swam in some beautiful waterfalls, crawled in caves etc. Really like Laos and would love to get back in the future but I guess it soon will be illegal to get completely drunk and jump down in a tire on the river between hippie places, although that's not why you love lovely Laos!