The distance from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng is only 218 kms, BUT that small distance is on the very narrow, winding, hilly, and somewhat deteriorating Highway #13. 

These road conditions and the busy truck traffic slowed our roadspeed considerably resulted in our trip taking about seven hours. The first fields and villages we passed were engulfed in smoke from the agricultural slash and burn fires. Once we started our ascent into the mountains we were treated to amazing scenery. Unfortunately, many of the photos we took from our moving bus turned out blurred and were not useable. We had forgotten the battery charger for our main camera which handles such motion much better. We weren't able to make use of the good camera until we found a Canon charger in Hanoi. 

Our first rest stop was at Manychanh where we had a chance to stretch our legs, use the "happy room," and purchase drinks and snacks. Bill was interested in the bear claws on display but decided that he really didn't have much use for them :). 

Past the half-way point we stopped at a scenic pull-over for lunch at Vista restaurant. While Sue-On ordered lunch (noodles with vegetables and fried chicken - chicken fingers and panka), Bill took a hike through the jungle down a mountain trail. The trail was a bit hazardous as it was mined with countless cow pies, although no cows were in sight at the time. Luckily he dodged them all -- he wouldn't have been very popular on the bus if he had misstepped.

The "happy room" toilets were a real bargain at 2000 kips (toilet paper included) since there no rear walls on the cubicles. This offered a spectacular view of the steep valley below and the mountains beyond. 

We're always amused at the coincidences we run into in our travels. After lunch we were called over by some excited Asian travellers. They recognized us, having seen us on the flight from Chicago to Tokyo. After a short chat we heard the "All Aboard" call from our travel host, Beam, and were soon on the road again. 

There were sections of construction along the way -- mainly the repair of potholes and the clearing of landslide rubble that had fallen down the mountain slopes. Weaving all through the construction equipment and hairpin curves were cars, transport trucks and suicidal motorcycle drivers. Along the roadside on wider sections were small rustic villages, people selling wares from stalls, scrounging pigs, chickens, dogs and cattle -- and running and dodging among all of this were children at play -- only a metre or so from the passing traffic.

We had a bit of a scare when we were flagged down by an armed soldier who suddenly appeared out of the roadside jungle. His uniform was a bit ragged and he looked very tired and thirsty. He requested water and our guide and driver lost no time in finding bottles of water for him. He quickly disappeared into the jungle.

The mountain scenery with its lush green vegetation and steep valleys certainly made the long drive worthwhile. One of the famous landforms that caught our eye and lens was the sleeping giant: a cluster of peaks that resembled a prone head with mouth, nose, eyes and brow pointing skyward.

We sensed that we were nearing Vang Vieng when we descended to flat land and passed many open and terraced fields, shacks and small villages on the outskirts. We turned onto a small rough road which would take us to our homestay lodging for the night.