The next day we miraculously rise early and keep with the plan to hitch hike to Vang Vieng. Locals in the book shop next door help us to write a sing in Laos, which we hope says Vang Vieng and not falang, falang!With ukulele, guitar and children's balloons in hand we are look like some sort of personified travelling holiday. Lots of smiles pass our way; of course we look ridiculous but don't care. There is a great atmosphere in the air and we are all on a high. Despite the fact we start at 2pm and many locals tell us that local people don't understand the concept of hitch hiking so no one will pick us up; we are having a good time and remain optimistic. After a couple of hours a minivan stops and offers us a lift for 50,000 kip each, sounds like a lot in kip, but this is less than half of the price we would pay for a local bus, it's all ours and has air con, brilliant! Cruising in style, the route down to Vang Vieng is absolutely breath taking; we stop at a viewpoint along the way to take photos of the setting sun. A bus load of monks are also taking in the viewpoint, clad in orange robes, they look absolutely stunning against a setting sun backdrop. We arrive into Vang Vieng early evening and stop in Central Backpackers for the night. It looks like the Hilton after the places we have been staying in recently for only 40,000 kip per night. Things just keep working out for us somehow, no stress required in Laos- I love this country!