We decided to splurge in Vang Vieng and went ahead with booking the best room in Vieng Tara Villa. If you have not heard of Vieng Tara, you are missing out on something big. Something of a big deal on Instagram:
You open doors to mountainous views like this. Stand in the middle of bountiful paddy crops. The sky is decorated with hot air balloons every sunset and sunrise. Well, at least that was my expectations derived from the Instagram pictures.
Here comes the real question:
Is Vieng Tara Villa worth the bucks?
Overview
- Choosing your room type
- Reasons to book Vieng Tara Villa
- Reasons NOT to book Vieng Tara Villa
- Conclusion – your decision.
Choosing your room type
Within the resort, there are three different room types to choose from and the prices vary greatly. I quite have a definite answer to which one to choose – either you go all in or nothing at all.
Only resort customers are allowed to take photos on the premises, which explains why many people actually considered this resort including backpackers.
Villa with mountain view ($$$)
Obviously the most expensive, spacious and clean out of the three. It is also the only option that offers you stunning mountainous view without taking a step out of your room thanks to the full glass windows and door.
With that said, this room comes at a hefty price tag, double of what you would need to pay for the Bungalow with river view.
Superior double room ($$)
First of all, it is a distance by foot away from the reception and restaurant – this also applies to the bungalow with river view.
Although still relatively spacious at 28 m², we noticed unlike the villa or bungalow, it is located on the ground floor which may attract more insects inside the room.
Bungalow with river view ($)
The first option for budget travellers who wants to take photos with the view. From the reviews, the rooms here are very old and even from the exterior, the hut apparently looks more run-down than the villa.
Reasons why you SHOULD book Vieng Tara Villa:
Stunning views
Having been there and done that, I have to say the view is quite of a killer – definitely did not disappoint us. Hot air balloons pass by our villa twice a day and sunsets over the mountains are amazing.
Only downside: we were there during plowing season which I will discuss more below.
Free tuk tuk transport to and from the city centre
Some find it a hassle to make full use of this complimentary service by the resort. We, on the other hand, cannot emphasise how much we appreciate it!
Although they mentioned that it is only available every 30 mins but since we were one of the few customers in the resort using this service, the staff immediately drives us to the city upon request.
From the city, we could easily request a pick up via WhatsApp. We also avoided the toll fees since we took the resort’s tuk tuk most of the time.
Great breakfast
Not sure why the reviews of the restaurant are not quite positive! My breakfast was delicious and absolutely enjoyed it. I chose the egg and baguette which was very similar to Vietnamese’s banh mi op la, it was served with a side of salad and fruits. Drinks are available at the self-serve counter which includes coffee, tea, milk and Ovaltine.
A glimpse into locals’ life
One of the most memorable things in Vieng Vang was walking down the neighbourhood right outside our resort. There are a few tuck shops and a one-stop shop that we rented our tuk tuk and did our laundry at.
In the evening, neighbourhood children hang out in the river along the entrance of the resort. They have fun jumping off the bridge while taking a bath. A few hours later, adults gather to wash their bikes and do night fishing in the same river.
Reasons why you SHOULD NOT book Vieng Tara Villa:
Inconvenient location
Located on the other side of the bridge meant that you have to travel a distance to the city centre where most restaurants and night market are at. Furthermore, you have to pay the toll fees every time you go across the bridge to the resort.
Staff lack of hospitality training
To be fair, none of the staff is rude. None of them made our stay in Vieng Tara bad. However, none of them goes the extra mile to make it good. The staff had average to poor understanding of English – one of them only says ‘Yes’ regardless of what we asked.
Hospitality could be improved if they would like to up their game and match their service as a reputable resort, not only known for its scenery but customers’ overall experience.
Paddy fields change according to season
A huge plot twist: we were there during the plowing season which meant that we were not standing in the middle of lush green paddy fields. So if you are travelling between April to June, we suggest that you forget about the green paddy.
What’s your decision?
We did not regret our choice of splurging here and saving our kip elsewhere. If we didn’t stay in this villa, our time in Vieng Vang would have been much duller. For sure staying in Vieng Tara Villa is a big plus to the trip.
Are there any other resorts you’d recommend in Vang Vieng?
