Visas and visitors

Vietiane was on my route south through Laos and I would have just passed right through but there was some things I had to do here. First was extend my Laos visa. They gave me 30 days at the border but I needed 45. This is supposed to be simple enough and my guidebook says it only takes an hour. My plan was to get the extension and then take my passport to the Vietnamese embassy and get my Vietnam visa process started. I hoped it would only take 2 days.
I got up early, well, 7.30 anyway,and started walking to the Immigration office. I had a mental map of the city in my head, the office was just off the main street but somehow I missed it. I asked some traffic police but they couldn't help me at all. I kept walking but then noticed I had gone too far for sure. I turned back and asked a woman getting her photo taken by the traffic police. Her name was Thip and she was visiting from Thailand. She was leaving for Viangvieng today but we made plans to meet when she came back tomorrow.

I went to the Immigration office, filled out the forms, supplied a photo and paid. I gave the officer all my stuff and he told me to return tomorrow. The government changed the rules, you now had to wait one day for an extension. Turns out I will be a bit longer in the city than I planned. Vientiane is one of the most relaxed capitals I've ever been in and I like it. The only other capital I liked this much was Kigali, capital of Rwanda, though Vientiane is much more touristy with internet, hotels, shops and restaurants everywhere. The downtown is very easy to negotiate on foot.


The next day I went to the Immigration office at 9am, just when they told me I could pick up my extension. My passport was ready, I got my 15 days just like I asked for and was out of there in minutes. I walked to the Vietnamese embassy, about 10 minutes away. I had heard stories of people being denied visas for Vietnam and that appearance was very important. I shaved in my short, jawline beard and put on long pants and a button down shirt. This was as 'smart' as I could look. There was only 3 other people in the office. I filled out my application, supplied a photo and handed in the forms. The form was surprisingly easy to fill out with not much information being asked for. They told me I could pick up my visa the next day or wait more days with the price dropping a few dollars each day. I paid to have my visa ready the next day. I walked back to my hotel to change into shorts and a t shirt. I ate breakfast and relaxed for a while.

I met Thip in the afternoon and we hung out for the rest of the day.