Two days we are on Southeast Asian soil into buildings - and are already well in the shade of the home. We take the bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. 8 hours he is on the idyllic route to the only really good road in the country, "Road 13" need.
The name "VIP Bus" could not disguise the fact that we are sitting in a not entirely new model of a Chinese bus company, as we climb just before 9, the transport of our choice. After all Gibts Air Conditioning, a driver, a small free ration drinking water and toilet buseigene - and we are lucky to have seats directly caught finish there. The more grisly details of abortion, I will spare you, the smell was annoying enough. And the track that was really idyllic as a Danube waltz at New Year. Above all, the trip felt by not counted, but well estimated at 7500 turns at thousands meters up and down a little bit like a Busfassung it.
The really beautiful jungle scenery, majestic mountains and many impressions, despite me is definitely something going on, what had never happened to me before: motion sickness. After two hours, where I went brilliantly, past wars with the good mood. And since the trip instead of the eight announced ultimately ELF took hours, this day was magnificent long for me, while my travel companion gently asleep recovery values found. Uha.
Arrived in Vientiane we went almost straight to bed, the next day should also be stressful enough. We arrive on time two hours before the scheduled Ablfug to Hanoi at the airport and want to check in when we are confronted with the news that for the return flight we still need a visa.
three sources had us in the run independently confirmed that this is not the case, because we should continue to fly Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City for transit passengers to Frankfurt and from there directly to Vienna. And these sources included the airline Vietnam Airlines itself now but they made us with the comfort we already know Lao (in this case clearly what negative) makes clear that this was not because we in Vietnam of "International" to "Domestic "need to change. De facto this meant at the Hanoi airport check out, go one floor down and check again. And for that, nor a visa? We will soon turn on the Austrian embassy, but we have overlooked that in Laos there is no roaming for our network.
And so heated debates - our original Vietnam visa was of course when you first leave the country "used" and therefore up despite continuous 7.1. expired. Now we were quite as stupid, It was our duty to catch the respective connecting flights in three other cities. In Vienna, it took three days to get a visa for Vietnam, and cost an enormous amount of money (72 €!). The explanation, we should still go and get another visa at the embassy and attach three days, makes me accordingly booked and confirmed air tickets so more frantic. were
While my aggression level and my volume more rapidly, our plane lifts off to Hanoi - without us, because we would already only to be deported back to their own cost to Vientiane (!).
Fortunately, there were at 18:10 h and is still a machine and our loud complaints have not particularly effective when staff in Vientiane at least mean that we will be transferred to this machine. Uses nothing without a visa. Mainly because of the flight Hanoi-HCMC is at 18:35 h and thus naturally would be missed. But there is a second flight at 20:35 h. However, he could get the tickets for it only on standby and we guarantee no place on the plane, telling us the representatives of Laos-Vietnam Airlines. Visa and we have none anyway.
Maybe we just fly a day later directly to Ho Chi Minh City, then we would not go on Domestic and request that no visa? No, I tell him, because there are no connecting flights to Europe - for another four days. And flying over Hanoi to Frankfurt, the next day? Does not even work because the flight is already full and should we pay extra ... I think it does not it!
Twelve flights we had booked so far already with this airline, I tell the already slightly nervous women. And then this faux pas. We now have a constant companion at the airport now but for now hungry and goes to lunch. Lao comfort, eh scho know. After his meal has first but then also affected. Normally, if it were his service to the first at 15:30 h, he explains to us, but in our case, it has always been made an exception. And so, he offers us, he rushes to the message - because he knows whom - and our demand an express visa. Costs only 60 dollars and goes fast.
Because we do not have much time and even less choice, we send him off with our passports and money to wait almost two hours and are also progressively more nervous. But he actually comes back and we can get on the crazy journey. Second option flight to Hanoi, check out there 80 minutes in order to pass immigration office to get luggage, get into the other terminal ... and then get on it: We still have no tickets! The cunning Meier us could not confirm that yes, posting!
Fortunately, the staff in Vietnam's capital, friendly, helpful and a bit bureaucratic. A few minutes of trepidation while listening Vietnamese discussions between the airline staff later, we have actually transferred a flight. What a spectacle and for Europeans as normal task can be. Shortly before the end of the check-in time we do it, then, put our luggage until now durchzuchecken Vienna and in the second option flight to HCMC.
Once there, we are left turn only 70 minutes to the Domestic to International To switch terminal, formally re-emigrate from Vietnam and our visa the authorities after two hours wondering Vietnam to stay stamped again. And it works just in time, so we actually sit just before midnight and then New Year in the right machine to Frankfurt. Hallelujah!
Exhausted and relieved Nora notes that at this time in contrast to the approach no young children among the passengers seem to be and we can treat a portion of sleep. However, it had overlooked a small nuisance, which seems not very well speak to flying - and sitting in front of me justament three rows and screams all 13stündigen flight, as if it is an opera perpetual motion.
arrival, we do still get, and even the last connecting flight to Vienna - just barely. That we have had in the meantime, eight celebrated through all time zones due to New Year - could not care less. Home is at home.
Selected Photos Southeast Asia for four weeks.
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