A Guide to Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng, the adventure capitol of Laos. Stunning kharst cliffs, wild jungle, tubing along the river and some of the best nightlife in the country.
WHAT TO DO AND SEE
20km north of Vang Vieng, surrounded by limestone cliffs, is the small village of Ban Pha Tang. The main road, which also forms part of Highway 13, is lined with shops selling fresh seafood, dried fish, fruit and vegetables. We walked along the markets to the bridge over Nam Xong River. Here you can purchase fish food to feed the fish below. It is also the best spot to see the namesake limestone cliff, an iconic image of Vang Vieng.
If you’re planning to visit Vang Vieng than it’s likely you’ve heard about tubing along the Nam Xong River. Spending a day floating down the river, meeting fellow travelers and stopping for drinks at the riverside bars.
Pack your waterproof bag, make sure you have some breakfast and then head to the tubing center (opposite Hally’s coffee on google maps) to rent your tube for the day. Expect to pay around 60,000KIP for the day plus a 60,000KIP deposit. You must return your tube before 8pm to get your whole deposit back. Tip; make sure you check their clocks when returning your tube as they have reportedly set it forward to try and catch tourists. The hire includes a ride to the starting point at Mulberry Farm, 3km up-river. Depending on the flow of the river it generally takes about 3-4 hours, not including stopping at the bars. I would recommend making sure you’re at the river by 12pm to make the most out of it. As you approach the bars keep an eye out for people throwing ropes to help pull you ashore where you can join in the drinking games, volleyball or simply bathe in the rays of sun. Government law states that only 2 of these tubing bars can be open at any one time, so everyone will be traveling down-river together. The final stop is at Smiles Bar, a 500m walk from the tubing center.
Despite the 2012 crackdown, which banned all tubing due to a series of tourist deaths, it was slowly reintroduced along with strict government-enforced rules. While it may not be the masses of drunken backpackers scarcely avoiding death-traps that it once was it is certainly the top thing to do in Vang Vieng
Hire a kayak and set out on the beautiful Nam Xong River. Drift along the river, past stunning limestone cliffs and jungle. Several companies operate half, full and multi-day tours which also offer you the chance to see some of the many caves surrounding Vang Vieng. We decided to opt for a full day of kayaking and were driven upstream where we set off with our guides down the river. We trekked through thick jungle, explored hidden caves, ate a locally prepared Lao barbecue lunch and cooled off in the Nam Xong’s water.
There are several caves surrounding Vang Vieng that are worth checking out. Tham Sang Triangle is a well known route consisting of four caves. This includes Tham Sang, or Elephant Cave, which is home to an elephant shaped stalactite. A visit here will also give you the opportunity to see how locals live in the Tham Sang village. Descend down a sequence of wooden ladders into Tham Loup and it’s grand cavern. It was once used as a home for many locals during the Vietnam War. Tham Hoi, or Snail Cave, is a long, untouched tunnel stretching 3km into the mountain. Tham Nam, also known as the Water Cave, can be explored on a tube by pulling yourself through the cave via a series of ropes.
Other caves include Tham Non, the largest cave in the area. Tham Jang is south of town, easily accessible by tuk-tuk or bike. It offers decent views of the town and its’ wooden platforms are very well lit. A 200 meter hike from the village of Ban Na Thong will take you to Tham Phu Kham cave. The base of the trail leads to another must-see attraction, the Blue Lagoon.
Located 7km out of town the Blue Lagoon is one of Vang Vieng’s best-known attractions. Relax on the grass or hang out around one of the many tables beside the Azure blue water of the lagoon. Try the rope swing or climb the bamboo ladder to jump from the heights of the large climbing tree. This is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. We were very entertained watching the crowds of Korean tourists, clad in fluorescent orange life-jackets, as they apprehensively jumped into the unknown of the deep water. The lagoon is reachable by tuk-tuk or cycling. Entry to the lagoon is 10,000KIP plus 5,000KIP for parking.
where to eat and drink
The nightlife in Vang Vieng, once famous for it’s unparalleled backpacker party scene, has an abundance of bars and restaurants to choose from. Here are just a few of my top recommendations.
For chilled vibes head to Jaidee’s Bar. Serving kebabs, falafels and burgers they offer the closest thing to a hangover cure that we could find.
I couldn’t resist a visit to the Aussie Bar. A massive selection of mouthwatering burgers and one of few places outside of Australia selling bundy and coke. It’s a must for any Aussie missing the taste of home.
After a responsible meal before our night out, we made our way to Sakura Bar for Happy Hour, 8pm to 9pm. Happy Hour in Vang Vieng means free drinks! No catch! Rows of generously poured rice whiskey line the bar and you simple choose your mixer, either coke or sprite. Drink up in the huge beer garden featuring beer pong tables or find a space among the people dancing and inhaling balloons inside.
Once happy hour at Sakura ends you have about an hour or so to make your way to Viva! Their happy hour runs from 10pm to 11pm and guess what!? That means more free drinks! We floated between these two bars until Sakura shut at midnight. I learnt a very valuable piece of information that night; Koreans love to party! We danced our hearts out with some of the world’s most enthusiastic tourists on the tiered dance floors at Sakura Bar. The rice whiskey hangover, totally worth it.
How to get here
Located between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Vang Vieng is easily accessible by bus from either location. From Luang Prabang busses take around 6-8 hours depending on road conditions and 3-4 hours from Vientiane. Roadworks were taking place during my travel in 2018 causing the main road between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng to completely close during certain hours. Make sure you check the current road conditions before traveling to avoid getting stuck.
