Thanks to Menh, my relative in Malaysia. He help us to arrange the hospitality in Mong Cai. Yesterday, I got the phone number.
We started to ride at 11am. We arrived border. We were noticed to pay RMB 10 for crossing the border! It is ridiculous. Then, we wanted to take the elevator, but failed. Then, we had to carry our heavy bikes When we reached China immigration, we got stuck! The Chinese immigration asked us why we use UK passport, not Hong Kong, Chinese Passport. We spent 5-10min to explain. Then, we were stopped by the Chinese Custom. They requested us for unloading panniers. “Okay , fine!” I think. But, they didn’t check our language after unloaded. We spent around 45minutes for crossing border.
Later, we arrived Vietnam border. Just a river, all the culture and things are different. We only see the alphabets, instead of Chinese. But, the Viet immigration officers don’t speak English. Maybe, less English speakers would cross it. And, no custom checked our stuffs!
Entered to Mong Cai. The first thing is to get a sim card and foreign exchange(SIM THÉ, in Viet). We looked around the town. Suddenly, it’s raining. Then, we found a finical institute. We moved inside. I tried to contact with them. But the worse is: they can’t speak English, and I don’t speak Vietnamese. Suddenly, there was a young beautiful lady, white shirt, to ask us” What may I help you?” ” We got lost.” I said. I showed a number to her. Then, she’s nice to help us call my relative. Then, she allowed us to stay in the insinuate. Then, I exchanged currency with her privately.She is nice to offer a cheap rate for me. We stayed at the bank for 30minutes. Then, my uncle came. We rode to home with just 15 minutes.
We stayed at elegant four stories house. It is still under construction, but it will be finish in two months. After tasting the noodles breakfast, we went to visit the market. Inside the market, over 90% stocks are imported from China.
We originally want to go today. But, the road from Mong Cai to Ha Long is under construction; my uncle doesn’t recommend us to ride because there is 180KM off-road. We may probably take ferry to go.
Maybe, I still one more day should be great, because I met two adventurers, Jason and Ben, on the street. I invited them to visit our house. Then, we chatted and drank tea with my relatives. My uncle asked to learn French from Ben.
Jason is Irish-Canadian; Ben is French. We both have same heading, so we plan to go together.
At night, we went to local café to access the Internet.
