Lo Huu Duc Anh (Hanoi) and Trinh Hoang Duy (HCMC) set off with a preliminary schedule and two five-wheeled backpacks of camping equipment weighing up to 20 - 30kg. Their half-month trip to explore Northern Laos began with an overnight sleeper bus trip from Hanoi to Vientiane.
An unpredictable journey
Before leaving, they imagined Laos as a peaceful country with a slow pace of life, standing out with the beauty of the temple and nature. But after two weeks of wandering from Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Phonsavan to small towns and experiencing unpredictable things, Duc Anh realized the land of a million elephants in variety and much more depth.
Going into the rainy and stormy season, it is inevitable that unexpected things will happen. The routes through the mountains and forests are prone to landslides and the traffic schedule has been changed, some places in Northern Laos have not yet developed tourism, so renting a car is also more expensive and more difficult.
Speaking about the most adventurous and unpredictable moment, Duc Anh recalled the journey from Luang Prabang to Phonsavan to the Chum field. They were halfway through when they encountered a landslide due to heavy rain, many passenger vans and trucks were buried in rocks and soil. After a while of struggling, the car also escaped the subsided soil, but still had to wait for the car from Phonsavan to run back to clear the road before continuing.
At that time, both had the choice to return to Luang Prabang and leave the next destination, or continue going until it was almost dark. When Duy said: "Just continue", Duc Anh was both happy and worried because he knew that deciding to stop or continue could lead to a different crossroads.
While confused, they met Mr. Xay, a local. He not only asked enthusiastically but also walked dozens of kilometers in the dark rain to find a car to ask for help. After that, he also helped the motel, asked about the vehicle information and even borrowed a motorbike from two Vietnamese friends to have a means to go sightseeing. Receiving the right help at the right time, Duc Anh was surprised by the kindness and warmth of the Lao people, and was also shocked by his risk of his life.
Enjoy the rainy season in Laos
On normal days, Laos is already deserted, and during the rainy season, there are still few tourists on the roads. Every corner here is covered in brown, from rivers, roads to vehicles, typically in any motorbike or car, there is a thick layer of soil on the wheels. The rain in Laos often comes and goes quite quickly, after the rain is the aroma of the soil and the green color of the leaves.
The rainy season for many people is not the ideal time to travel, but Duc Anh finds that traveling in unfavorable weather also has its own beauty. "Going on a rainy day, the journey has more layers of experience than on sunny days or in good weather. It is both seeing the scenery through the rain, learning how to adapt... and being more adventurous than enjoying the sunny day.
Duc Anh confessed: I personally quite enjoy the feeling when there are unpredictable changes in the schedule. Partly because he had prepared for the rainy season tourism spirit, partly because Duy - his friend who went together for the first time, despite bad weather, he did not want to give up. The return trip in the rainy season will be easier and more enjoyable with a companion who is comfortable, knows how to listen and share.
Storm No. 3 hit, causing many roads in Northern Laos to collapse, even the villages were seriously flooded, causing the camping plan in Phou Hou Lon to be eliminated. As soon as they thought they had lost some of their interests, Nam Ngum Lake appeared, they found a place to set up tents, cook and fish to interact with people living along the lake.
Amidst consecutive rains and muddy trails, they still hope and in fact, in the last morning in Vang Vieng, they encountered a hot air balloon slowly flying in the sky with the sunlight at the beginning of the day falling down the mountains covered in fog. When in Luang Prabang, they enjoy a peaceful ancient city that has been forgotten by time with the hearth of the ancient pagoda, the small street filled with the scent of coffee and porcelain. Coming to the Chum fields, they had a time to "mingle" in a wild, deserted land but hidden in strange historical connections.
At the end of his journey to Laos, he learned how to enjoy seemingly tiring moments such as waiting for hours to clear the road after a landslide, the days of walking in the rain... All of those experiences made memories after the trip not only have photos and videos of the destination but also a memory with a new friend.
