Vang Vieng is among the un-touristic travel place of Laos featuring idyllic karst outcrop and calm river. You will find the most informative guidances for your Vang Vieng travel.
Vang Vieng at glance
Vang Vieng is a serene oasis of Laos setting along the Nam Song River with verdant nature of karst mountains and rivers. Tourists travel to Vang Vieng mainly for relaxing, outdoor activities and admiring the natural setting landscape of this rural region. Vang Vieng is the top cave exploration place in Laos with 17 caves for your adventures. The typography and geography make Vang Vieng a land of active traveling with opportunities to do hiking, cycling, ziplining, kayaking, tubing, ATV driving, etc.
Vang Vieng’s lame past was the place for parties with mushrooms of illegal riverside bars. The backpackers took tubing down the river and met up at the bar down the end of the route for drinking. Things have changed drastically when Laos government banned the drug use and closed those riverside bars since 2012. More important, the travelers these days tend to appreciate the luscious sceneries and respect the indigenous cultures.
When to visit Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng, Laos is about 239m (784 feet) above sea level and characterizes the tropical climate. The weather in Vang Vieng is divided into dry and rainy seasons. The temperature in Vang Vieng is pretty moderate which ranging from 20 – 26 Celsius degree (68 – 79 F).
Rainy season comes from May to September with April, May and June as the hottest months at average 26°C (79 F). Meanwhile dry season go with the coolest months on December and January when the temperature just around 20°C (68 F).
Since the typical landscape in Vang Vieng are verdant countryside, winding rivers and karst cliffs, it’s indeed more stunning in rainy season with luscious rice paddies and plunging waterfalls. Then October turns out the most ideal month to visit Vang Vieng.
How to get to Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is around 150km (93 miles) from Vientiane Capital and 190km (118 miles) from Luang Prabang taking 3 hours and 5.5 hours drive respectively. There is no airport available there then land drive is the only way to reach Vang Vieng. Tourists in big group can take private transfer, meanwhile the small group or solo travelers in Laos can go with the minivan operated in variable schedules in the day.
As forest and highland make a big contribution to country’s geography, the roads are in good condition but expect some winding parts.
Things to do in Vang Vieng
Visit Tham Loup Cave, Tham Jang Cave
Tham Jang Cave is located around 2km in the southwest of Vang Vieng. Crossing the bridge over Nam Song River, you will find the cave famous as the bunker during the Chinese-Ho invasion early 19th century. After a nice walk inside the large cave of vivid stalactites, you also find a spring of clear water.
Nearby Tham Jang, located Tham Loup a large, dark and untouched cave with full of stalactites. There is no walking path inside this intact Tham Loup. Then at least get or hire a torch with you. From Tham Loup Cave, you can cast a stunning view.
Visit Tham Phu Kham Cave and swim at Blue Lagoon
Tham Phu Kham (Poukham) Cave is around 7.5km in the west of Vang Vieng center; and pretty close to Nam Xay view point which can be combined if your travel schedule is not so rush.
There are actually 5 blue lagoons in Vang Vieng for travelers to visit and swim in the turquoise water as well as play slides and swings.
For the convenience, the Blue Lagoon nearby Phu Kham Cave make the best combinable excursion for the travelers who actually don’t have much sparse time as locals. There are big trees of tall and medium heights for the visitors to jump off and do slides. After a playful time, you can rest at nearby wooden sitting area with roof or “sala”; and have some snacks or proceed a walk of 10 minutes to the sacred Tham Phu Kham Cave. This cave is pretty large also dark as there are almost no lights inside. Local people at the entrance have head torch for renting at very reasonable cost. Inside Phu Kham Cave, there is a reclining buddha. On sunny days, there are glittering sun rays get through and shine on the buddha statue.
During some public holidays or high traveling season, the lagoon will become more crowded. Those prefer privacy might consider the blue lagoon 2 and blue lagoon 3. As being more isolated, these lagoons are farther and the paths are more challenge to reach.
Visit Vang Vieng Elephant Sanctuary
Vang Vieng Elephant Sanctuary is around 45-minute drive from Vang Vieng center; and close to the Nam Ngum Reservoir. This sanctuary is an open and large natural land for the elephants. There are full-day and half-day programs to Elephant sanctuary for the travelers to hang out with the elephants by walking along, feeding and bathing for the elephants.
Tubing in the water cave and river
Tubing along Nam Song River, as well as tubing through water cave in Vang Vieng are fun activities. Tourists can either start from the Organic Farm or Tham None with different tubing hours of 3 hours and 2 hours respectively. Tubing is a fantastic way to chill out with friends amidst the calm river setting amidst the karst outcrops. You also can make friends while taking the tube too. Remember to notice the tube endpoint.
Tubing through a cave is also interesting. Tourists will put on the head flashlight and follow a rope to float under and explore the limestone cave.
Kayak on the Nam Song River
While tubing is gradually less popular, kayaking is more frequently done in Laos by the travelers. There are tour operators provide transfer by traditional songthaew from downtown carried with kayak. Depending on your interests and itinerary, you can kayak up to 17 km (10 miles) to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Nam Song River and the idyllic mountains. There are 4 stops on way for 2 explorations of Elephant Cave and Tham Sang Cave, lunch break and visit the Organic Farm.
Take the zipline above jungle
Zipline in Vang Vieng is an interesting experience which is pretty well arranged. All tourists will begin at the same starting camp and be introduced with the zipline routes as well as some notes before embarking on it. The total distance is so impressive with 1.45 km (0.9 miles) divided into 8 lines in which the longest line reaches 350m (1148 feet). It takes roughly 45 minutes to experience flying above the lush jungle and river in Vang Vieng.
Check-out on the Pha Ngern Viewpoint
Peaceful Vang Vieng is a beautiful place to admire; and getting to a viewpoint is highly suggested. There are some choices to get Vang Vieng viewpoints; and Pha Ngern view point is a stunning place to see the farming fields and mountain ranges.
Pha Ngern viewpoint is 5km from Vang Vieng downtown and just 3km from Tham Phu Kham Cave in the same direction that can be put together. You will conquer 640m to the peak by 30-minute hike at medium-difficult level. The pleasant view and windy peak will pay it all.
Beside Pha Ngern viewpoint, you can try the Nam Xay, Pha Hon Kham and Pha Poak viewpoints in Vang Vieng. If you plan spend any viewpoint to enjoy the sunset, make sure have enough time to go down before it’s too dark.
Ride a quad to explore Vang Vieng countryside
Adventurers definitely love Vang Vieng for a bunch of things to do like cycling, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking, ziplining, etc. And ATV riding through the countryside, the off-the-beaten dirty road and crossing streams is spectacular for sure.
You can rent the ATV for full day or half day and ride like Lewis Hamilton to the famous sightseeing places in Vang on your own customized route. ATV riding experience is an exciting thing to include in your Laos Tours.
Take the hot-air balloon
The hot-air balloon often be done early morning for the sunrise over Luang Prabang. With the duration of average 30 minutes, the balloon will bring you up to 100m high (328 feet) in order to contemplate the dawn. The total experience including transfer taking around 3 hours. Depending on the wind and weather on the day that the balloon will introduce the visitors to different parts of Vang Vieng. It can fly over the villages, agricultural fields, mountains, etc.
The view from balloon is impressive. However, you are advised to expect some unpredictable cases for instance weather, strong wind, etc.
Hiking to the minority villages
Get off the air-conditioned transfers, travelers can try different activities to go away from air pollution like cycling or hiking. A part from interesting caves and viewpoints to hike up, you also can take pleasant hike to rural villages in Vang Vieng and intermingle with local ethnic people. You can include the hike from Ban Phatang to Ban Thamxang into your Laos travel that featuring scenic and tranquil landscape. During the hike passing rice fields, rivers, mountains, you can stop and visit the villagers belong to H’mong and Thai minority groups. A local tour guide will be the cultural missioners and makes your hike more stunning. Both full day hiking itinerary and overnight trip are available.
Hotel in Vang Vieng
To experiences all the must-to-visit places in Vang Vieng, we recommend a stay of at least 2 nights. Adventurous and cultural travelers might spend more time for more insight of Vang Vieng.
This land is available with low budget hostels, guest houses and some chilling Vang Vieng riverside boutique resorts. Here below are some suggested cozy riverside properties for your stay in Vang Vieng:
- Riverside Boutique Resort (4 star)
- Silver Naga Hotel (4 star)
If you have any questions or other outstanding experiences in Vang Vieng, feel free to share with us.
