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Planning and preparation

New fork and new tyres

Days 1-3 A city called Hanoise Pt 1

Days 1-3 A city called Hanoise Pt 2– The Skinny Vietnamese

Days 1-3 A city called Hanoise Pt 3 — Delicious streets

Days 4-5, North to Lao Cai and upwards to the highlands of  Sapa

Day 6, Chilling out in cool Sapa and a forced day of rest

Day 7, Sapa to Lai Chau through the highest pass in Vietnam

Day 8, Lai Chau to Moung Lay, undulating through hills and river

Day 9, Moung Lay to Dien Bien Phu, in the footsteps of the Viet Minh

Day 19, Dien Bien Phu to Moung May. Crossing into Laos

Day 11, Idling in idyllic Moung May, Laos

Day 12, Moung May to Oudomxai. 140km without breaking a sweat

Day 13, Oudomxai to Pak Mong. Overnight in a trucker stop/brothel

Day 14-15, Living it up in a French provincial town. Pt 1

Day 14-15, Living it up in Luang Prabang. Pt2

Day 16, Luang Prabang to Kiewkacham. Up, up and up some more

Day 17, Kiewkacam to Kasi. Cooling off at a hot spring

Day 18, Kasi to Vang Vieng. Unhappy in a happy town

Day 19, Vang Vieng to Vientiene. At tour’s end