Vang Vieng is once known for its riverside parties, now established itself as the small adventure town of Laos. Situated between the two major cities – Luang Prabang and Vientiane, it is the perfect stopover for travellers.
We took it slow by spending three days in this town but 2 full days would be just right.
Overview
- Hot Air Balloon Ride
- Tham Chang Cave
- Nam Xay Viewpoint
- Vang Vieng Night Market
- Cave Tubing
- Kayak along Nam Song river
- Zipline above the Blue Lagoon
- Swing and Dive into Blue Lagoon 1
- Where to stay?
- Getting Around Vang Vieng
What to do in Vang Vieng?
Day 1: Admire Vang Vieng from above
Surrounded by karst hills, situated along the Nam Song river, Vang Vieng is one of the most picturesque towns in Laos. There’s no better way to admire its beauty from above.
6:00 AM
Sunrise flight with Hot Air Balloon Ride
Laos offer one of the cheapest hot air balloon rides in the World. Is there a faster way to go 800m off the ground effortlessly than taking a hot air balloon ride? We think no.
There is only ONE tour operator in Vang Vieng and they are authorized by Laos Department of Civil Aviation. However, they are MANY tour agencies in town – charging a standard rate of US$90 includes pick-up and drop-off. You may choose either the sunrise OR sunset flight, both offers 30-40 minutes in the air.
There were two staff on board including one pilot. You could say we almost had the balloon to ourselves with just one other traveller on board. Not many safety instructions were given except “Get in now.” and “Jump lightly for smoother landing.”.
Price: US$88/pax (We booked a day tour plus the hot air balloon flight with the official operator.)
Google Maps (We found them opposite Hallys Coffee)
8:00 AM
Breakfast at a local roadside cafe
Drop-off is included in the hot air balloon package but we landed on a grass patch near our resort, so we decided to walk back.
We skipped the resort’s complimentary breakfast for a cafe by the roadside and had a toast which was extremely yummy. However, the iced coffee which was WAY too sweet for our taste buds! The cafe is a very homely and well-decorated little hut, also a great location for dinner or to hang out with a cold beer.
Lotus Restaurant
Google Maps
11:00 AM
Tham Chang Cave
We, unfortunately, missed out Tham Chang Cave because we thought it was included in the full-day tour we signed up for (see day 2). Too many caves in Vang Vieng to remember! It is easy accessible, about 20 minutes walk from the main street in the city centre. You will pass by the prominent orange suspension bridge before you reach the entrance.
This cave is considered the most important cave to the locals. It also served as a bunker in defence against Yunnanese Chinese invaders in the early 19th Century. Today, the inside is brightly lit and the formation is well-maintained. It can also get pretty chilly inside the cave so it is an escape from the heat in Laos!
There is a mini blue lagoon right outside the cave that is called the hidden gem by many – no extra fees needed to take a dip in this pool.
Entrance fees: 15,000 kip
4:00 PM
Sunset at Nam Xay Viewpoint
Nam Xay Viewpoint (say: nam psy) is probably the most famous viewpoint for its sunrise and sunset scene. In addition, some geniuses chained a motorbike on the top of the hill which made it the most instagrammable spot and we really thought the idea was beyond cool.
Sunset here is absolutely gorgeous! Check out our detailed guide to Nam Xay Viewpoint below.
Entrance fees: 10,000 kip
8:00 PM
Vang Vieng Night Market
The only night market in Vang Vieng but was a little underwhelming compared to markets in Luang Prabang or Vientiane. Nevertheless, it is worth checking out if you are keen to get yourself a few VV tank tops which I did!
There are also a few BBQ restaurants at the end of the night market street for your dinner choices. Alternatively, I highly recommend Victor Place for fresh steamed river fish, really good (and spicy) eggplant dip or to satisfy your pizza cravings!
Day 2: Full adventures in Vang Vieng
7:00 AM
Hotel breakfast
Our resort, Vieng Tara Villa offers a variety of breakfast set which I ordered something very similar to Vietnamese’s banh mi op la and can’t actually go wrong – served with a side of salad and fruits. Drinks are available at the self-serve counter which includes coffee, tea, milk and Ovaltine. Then off we went, ready for the entire day of adventures in Vang Vieng!
8:30 AM
Full-day Adventure Tour
We booked this tour together with the hot air balloon ride mentioned above. It was 200,000 kip per person and it includes pick-up, all the activities and related entrance fees we have listed below, lunch and drop-off at your accommodation. There will be a tour guide to bring you around but he simply guides but here to explain anything.
Tham Xang (Elephant) Cave
Honestly, this cave has nothing much to see except literally one elephant-shaped rock. We spent less than 10 minutes here so I would suggest skipping this cave if you are not taking up a tour package.
Cave Tubing at Tham Nam Water Cave
We walked across locals’ houses and paddy fields to get here from the Elephant Cave. The view was pretty cool.
Prepare to get wet here, or your bum will get wet at least. Everyone will be given a helmet with a headlamp and a black tube to float. The helmet is so important because the entrance of the cave can get low during high tide and obviously it hurts to knock your head against one of the sharp rocks.
There are two tent rope set-up inside the cave to guide you in and out so it’s hard to get lost. The whole journey should not take more than 20 minutes. This was unexpectedly a fun activity!
Tip! Go in as the first one in your group – increases your tension by a fold. It is so dark inside you don’t know what to expect!
Entrance fees: 10,000 kip (Included in package)
Lunch prepared by the tour guide
We were seated at some benches beside the cave while the guide prepare the grilled skewers together with packed fried rice. The skewers were pretty decent but still, don’t have high expectations here.
Kayak along Nam Song river
Although we kayaked in the muddy water of Nam Song River, the weather and breeze made up for it. It was a really relaxing session seeing locals fishing along the river banks and passing by bars that offer tubing along the river.
If you wish to opt out of Kayaking, you may rest in a cafe and meet us later for the Zipline.
Zipline above the Blue Lagoon
From the endpoint of Kayak, we took the tuk tuk to the Blue Lagoon 1 where the zipline facility is located. Included in the package, there are 12 platforms to complete, which were pretty exciting and most importantly, it is definitely worth the bucks. You could oversee the Blue Lagoon and paddy fields while on the zipline.
Swing and Dive into Blue Lagoon 1
Well, the water is not blue during rainy season! It however, did not rain on the travellers’ parade! The lagoon is still packed and people cheered for anyone who dived into the water. We chose not to go in because it was way over-crowded.
Our day tour ended here. I would definitely recommend taking the tour to save the hassle of getting around since we don’t ride motorbikes.
Entrance fees: 10,000 kip (Included in package)
8:00 PM
Dinner at Happy Mango Restaurant
A perfect location to gather and chill. We met with a few friends here and had a lovely meal. Happy Mango has diverse offerings from Thai food to Beijing duck wrapped in Roti – surely there’s something for everyone. Not to mention their mango drinks are so good! Mango sticky rice is also very popular as there were many takeaway orders for it.
Happy Mango Thai Restaurant
Google Maps
Where to stay?
Resort
You could call this a splurge in this small town of Laos but the view of Vieng Tara Villa is hard to come by. We actually deliberated if we should stay in this resort but the conclusion is…yes.
Hotel
A quiet mid-range hotel located along the Nam Song River – after all that’s what Vang Vieng is known for right? Villa Nam Song has the perfect location to unwind with a sunset view over the river. Check best prices on booking.com
Hostel
The best hostel for party people is none other than Nana Hostel. The pool near the entrance is always so happening. Even if you don’t party, the location is superb. Check out more reviews here.
Getting around Vang Vieng
By Tuk Tuk
Our first option since it was a complimentary service provided by our resort. We took it to and fro the city centre for sure. Going further out of the city, we either hired a private tuk tuk or went with a tour. It is a safe and fuss-free option.
By Scooter
It is the easiest option if you are experienced with riding one and you have the flexibility to go wherever you want to. It should cost about 50,000 – 70,000 kip to rent an automatic scooter for the entire day.
By Bicycle
The paths are not very bicycle-friendly and renting a good mountain bike can also be a little challenging in Vang Vieng so make sure you check and test it well. It should cost only 30,000 kip to rent a mountain bike for the entire day.
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