Sunset at the Nam Song River, Vang Vien, Laos


A journey through South-East Asia

Route Thirteen
Vang Vien, November 22


A long day on the road today for me and Bianca. We moved from Luang Prabang to Vang Vien, taking the bus (another one-option-decision).

One hundred ninety kilometer in seven hours on the route thirteen, the one that is 'paved all the way'. A road like a giant grey snake, turning endlessly through jungle, passing miniature villages, climbing up and down mountains, hitting uncounted pot-holes.

Tip and Kira were on the bus, too - a nice surprise. Peter and Isabel stayed in Luang Prabang, we met for a last dinner yesterday evening. 'How to say goodbye' - this is the one chapter missing in the guidebook. What to say to someone you met on the road, someone you shared a meal of fried fish, papaya salad and sticky rice with, someone who lent you a sweater when you were freezing? We said 'enjoy your journey', 'take care' and 'have a nice life'...

But that was yesterday, and today it's Vang Vien, a small town, nestled in a bend of the Nam Song river, surrounded by karst mountains, famous for its scenic sunsets that seem to last for hours - and for floating down said river in inner tubes, preferable at sunet time.

Part 6: The Lao way


this travelogue is part of the subside travelzine
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