Here we go then. First of all; Don't Panic. Everything gonna be fine 😊
Then for the disclaimer: Its been a while, so some details may be off. Double check everything.
You can do this in at least two ways. Train or bus. We were thinking train first, but went by bus in the end for some good reason I think. Maybe the train only goes a few days a week? Or did I read somewhere that foreigners were not allowed to cross the boarder by train somewhere? I don't really remember. Anyway, can't help much with train so here comes my How to go by bus from Hanoi to China.
First wake up, get some good breakfast, maybe buy some snack to eat on the way (and water off course). Go back to where you stay, pack up and check out. So far so good. Now get a taxi, your hotel could set you up or just find one on the streets I guess. There are multiple bus stations in Hanoi, so there could be others you could use as well, but we went from the Gia Lam station. It lays across the river from the old quarter, your driver will know.
Now for some fun. You enter the bus station looking confused. (Looking confused is always good, because then someone will help you (or maybe try to steal your stuff...)). Ok, so now you are looking confused and can't figure out where you buy that ticket. You are in a foreign country and you don't speak the language and your visa is running out today. Thats not too cool is it? Back up. First advice: Don't Panic. By now some random looking person should have approached you and is now asking you where you are going. Tell him/her you are going to China/Dong Dang(border town) or Lang Son (closest bigger city, should be possible to arrange further transport from this place if you can't get directly to the border). Now this person will take you out of the bus station and show you the minibus that will drive you. This looks a bit shady, so you ask the driver how much it costs and he tells you $20 each. Whoa! Luckily you read somewhere that the price is 60 000 VND (about $3.25) so you tell him you are paying that. He will say 80k and you settle for this because you think the price have gone up. (It had, 80k was the price everyone else payed also.)
Sit down, relax you are now on the bus that takes you to the border (or at least close to the border if you are not as lucky as we were). Bus journey lasted a few hours 3-5 maybe? Can't remember if there was a bathroom break. Anyone speaking English on the bus? See if you can make it clear that you want to go all the way to the border. People jump of and on along the way, and I think we were the only two left on the bus when we came to the border.
Congratulations you are now in walking distance of China. You remembered your visa right? Along the way to the border there will be lots of people trying to get you to change your leftover VND to RMB. Do this, no bank outside Vietnam will take it. It is worthless after you cross the border. I think it is actually illegal to bring VND out of Vietnam. Get stamped out of Vietnam and proceed to the Chinese side. On the way to the Chinese border facilities look around, because you will find the worlds largest moth sitting on a wall. Sneak up your camera, steal a picture and hope those guards didn't see you/mistake you for a spy 😊 Some papers and stamping later and you are in China. Neat huh?
Go to the line of taxis waiting, and pay the 30 RMB (~$4.40) to get to Pinxiang. I don't know if there is anything to do there, we were going to Nanning, and this seems to be normal, because even though we didn't say where we were going the Taxi took us to the bus station. Nice! Get another snack maybe and enter the bus station. Again look confused, and get that bus ticket somehow. Can't remember the price but its not very much. Wait around for a short while, and get on the bus when its time. If in doubt show your ticket to anyone and they will point you in the right direction. When you enter the bus be pleasantly surprised of the luxurious standard, with reclining seats and legroom worthy a business class flight. Really, I have never before or after been on such a comfy bus. And since you are in Asia still there will come a lady and give you a bottle of water when the bus starts rolling. Enjoy the ride, I am sure there was some half decent scenery. Can't recall at all the length of this ride. 3 hours perhaps?
Now you are in Nanning. This will be where I leave you to figure out the rest of your trip, since this is a big city and you will find connections to anywhere. But first a few last advice. You are now standing at a bus station and trying to find it on the map in your Lonely Planet (remember this are illegal in China, so put on a cover) or another guide book. To make a long story short: Give up, you are on the new bus station outside of the map. That one road you do manage to find and recognize is loooooooooong you don't want to walk. Instead you give up on life and decides to jump into a private car with that guy that asked where you were going (this is never a bad idea, am I right?) and when I say asked I mean look confused when you point at the name of that cheap hotel you plan to stay at. While the car drives on into the sunset and the driver makes lots of phone calls, remember again: Don't Panic! He is simply trying to find a friend that speak some English that can ask you where you want to go. Make it easy. Train station is fine.
From the train station that cheap place is just across the road. When you have your back against the rail road and facing down that road. (You will know the one) The cheap hotel will be the first place on the left side of the street. Get a room for 50 RMB with shared bathroom or pay some more to get ensuite. Anyways it is basic but absolutely ok for a budget traveler.
Now lay down on those super firm mattresses (they always are in china) and recover for a few minutes, then you will realize it is time for some food. Leave the hotel, follow the main road around the block, and you will find one of these places where the Muslim minority makes hand pulled noodles for about $1 for a meal. Very delicious! Realize they don't sell any beverages (or do they) so after you have finished your meal decide its to much work to find a bar and just grab a few beers and head back to the hotel. Pick up some instant noodles if you fancy that for breakfast, there will always be a water boiler available in China.
Next day take on the city, get a shoeshine for 2 RMB and find that brand new science museum with the robot band. Find out if the band is worth seeing and then let me know (we came too late).
Have a nice trip!
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