Vang Vieng is one of our favorite places we have visited during our world trip. Vang Vieng is a small village in Laos, located between an impressive amount of steep mountains. The relaxing vibe and beautiful nature attracts a lot of backpackers from all over the world. We have created a short list of must-do activities during your stay in Vang Vieng.
Tubing
The number one activity in Vang Vieng is called Tubing. Nobody leaves Vang Vieng without tubing at least once. Tubing is a water activity where you rent a giant floating tube and jump in the Nam Song River a couple of kilometers from the centre of Vang Vieng. All you have to do is relax and let the current take you back to civilization, which takes a couple of hours. Tubing can be one of the most relaxing things you have ever done, but if you like to party you can take a “tubing brake” at one of the 3 bars next to the river. Just give the bar employee a sign and they will throw you a rope to pull you in.
Tham Phu Kham & Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon and the Tham Phu Kham cave are located about 7 kilometers West of Vang Vieng town. Here you can jump from a tree into the blue water, explore the the huge cave or just relax on the grass with a cold beer. The water is very cold, but that can be a good thing after a sweaty climb into the Tham Phu Kham cave.
Keep in mind to bring good shoes when you plan to visit the cave, because it can be very wet and slippery inside. We rented a bike to get here, but you can also take a tuk tuk. There is a small entrance fee of 10.000 kip ($1.2).
Hiking
As I mentioned earlier, Vang Vieng is surrounded by impressive nature and wildlife. If you like to hike, need some space to think or just want some fresh air, get out of your hotel and start walking. You can climb mountains, explore caves, go for a swim or just walk among the cows. If you are more into cycling, rent a bicycle and cycle to some of the surrounding villages to meet the locals. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
Party
Were didn’t visit Vang Vieng to party, but a lot of backpackers go to Vang Vieng to meet up with other backpackers and have a bit to much to drink in one of the many bars. Drinks are cheap and there are many likeminded people. Best of all, they have happy hour.
Eat (a lot)
Vang Vieng (Laos) is extremely cheap, which is a great excuse to eat and drink anything you want. Even in the tourist street you can get a delicious fruit smoothy or healthy sandwich for just $1. Not just the food, but also the accommodation is as low as you can get. We paid $5 a night for a two person room.
To get a better impression of how Vang Vieng really looks like, check out the below video we shot 😉
