Friday 11 October 2013

I'm a foreigner - get me out of here! A bus journey from Dien Bien Phu to Hanoi in 10 points

1. We were told that the bus we were going to take would be one of those big, flashy ones that stood outside of the bus station (well, we weren't actually told. I asked, the lady behind the counter nodded and waved us off). Instead the bus was a local one that was loud, stinky and dirty. There were less seats than passengers.




2. It was Tet, so people were carrying big orange trees, huge celeries, there was a cage with chickens, one guy had a big, live rooster on his arm.

3. Vietnamese music blasted the whole way through.

4. People were shouting at each other and swapped seats all the time. They were also harking into small plastic bags.

5. No one spoke English. We stopped at a petrol station. I asked a young boy where the toilet was and I was met with a blank stare.

6. We stopped almost every 45 minutes or so. I read somewhere that it's a Vietnamese tradition for the driver to do business on the way and that's why they stop so often.

7. The toilets were the dirtiest ever. Burmese toilets were better. It turned out that the cubicles were only for number 2, number 1 was done outside, next to sinks, or in the middle of the toilet, with two feet on bricks.

8. The trip took 12 hours. We stopped 50 km from Hanoi to wash the bus. I was so fed up with the trip I wanted to cry.

9. We arrived at the central station in Hanoi. My sister and I were the only ones left in the bus. The Vietnamese music was still blaring from the speakers. I felt like my head was going to explode. We asked the driver to let us out. He refused and showed us the parking - we understood that he wanted to park in a safe place before he could let us out. Parking the bus took him ages, so we forced open the door and jumped out. After 12 hours I couldn't stand the music, the honking and the smell of the bus. I preferred to die in a parking lot, hit by a car than spend another minute in that stinky can!

10. It was one of the worst journeys ever, but also one that I will remember for a long, long time.


An easier and more convenient way to get to Hanoi from Dien Bien Phu is to fly. However, it won't be as exciting!

What are you experiences of bus journeys in Vietnam? Don't be shy! Leave a comment!





8 comments:

  1. It sounds like quite a horrendous and incredibly long bus ride. I suppose it is immersing yourself in the culture though. I've tried a few bus rides abroad and they can be quite an eye opener.

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    1. Buses are probably one of those things that will always amaze you and give you a sneaky peek into the culture. However, it's not for everyone.

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  2. I can totally relate to this post, The Blond. I had a very similar experience when taking a bus from Siem Reap to Bangkok. Most of buses in South-East Asia are dirty and stinky, drivers drive like mad and you can't have a proper rest. All we always did not to think of the bad ride was eating and listening to music :).

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    1. Listening to music would be ok if it wasn't hurting my ears :) and eating, in this case, was out of the question. The stench of chickens and other people's sweat put me off food for the entire day.

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  3. Wow, your stories continue to amaze me, Jo! This one made my jaw drop. It's like right out of the movies or travel shows I've seen on tv! I'm always so very impressed how you always fully immerse yourself in the culture. But, I think the toilets would be my undoing on this one ha, ha :)

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    1. hahah yeah, toilets were a problem, but what can you do when you're a woman?

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  4. I confirm - I wanted to die!
    Hot like in hell, no water to drink and this Vietnamese radio shows!
    Now I am laughing but I thought that I will carry this bus by myself on my back to Hanoi to end this ride from hell :D

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    1. These are the best stories, sis! it's so horrible when you experience it and then it turns into an anecdote you tell people when you come home.

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