getting from Vientam (Hanoi or Sapa) into Laos???

hey travellers - please can someone help me out with my big question now about 1) can i go by Road..safely...from Hanoi or better still from Sapa into Laos??? AND 2) can i easily get visa at border crossing (how much SHOULD that cost?) ? i hope i can get reply asap as will get there next week sometime...thanks a million, Karen

getting from Vientam (Hanoi or Sapa) into Laos???

Hi Karen. Turns out that I too am interested in the same subject on the same day. I have read the Lonely Planet Greater Mekong guide for advise and they say (p366) that the more northern routes between Hanoi and Laos are difficult by land and recommend Lao Bao crossing far to the south. They also say you can get a Lao visa en route but if going the other way, need a Vietnam visa beforehand. Sapa sounds harder to cross into Laos than from Hanoi being further north. We plan to go to Laos later this year so are not as rushed for good info as you are, but also would sure appreciate some recent travellers%26#39; experience and advise.

getting from Vientam (Hanoi or Sapa) into Laos???

ok thanks...some travllers here (I am in Hue, Vietnam right now) have siad its easy to get visa at border and that it should be possible to cross over from Hanoi...i hope someone will confirm it still...if u hear more please share...thanks Karen