Laos to Vietnam

June 13 , 2007. There was no other way of getting from Luang Phrabang to Hanoi but to fly, and Laos Airlines and Vietnam Airlines are the only carriers. We took Laos Airlines for $110US/p. The departure tax at the tiny Luang Phrabang airport was $10US for international flights, payable also in Baht and Kip.
We left right on time for an hour of very rough flight. We were constantly hitting a lot of turbulence and it was a bit scary. It was like riding a roller coaster.
At Noi Bang International Airport in Vietnam, there's a mini bus that goes to the Old Quarter. They charge $2US/p or 32,000Dong/p and they drop you off at the Vietnamese Airline office in the Old Quarter. You might get excited if they offer to drop you off at your hotel (SCAM!!!). If you take it, even if it's just a few meters farther, the price becomes $4US. And they don't tell you that until the end.