Vang Vieng: A small town in Laos surrounded by impressive limestone cliffs and caves.
Previously known for its wild party scene, Vang Vieng has newly reinvented itself as an adventure seekers paradise.
Located within central Laos, just above Vientiane, Vang Vieng is one of the most popular backpacking destinations in Laos. This beautiful countryside town cannot be skipped on your itinerary – it was my second favourite place on my backpacking route through Laos (beneath Don Det).
Despite being a small town, there is a lot to do in Vang Vieng so I am going to narrow it down to the top 5 things to do to make the most out of your time here.
If you are ready to skip the party scene for some quality time in nature and several thrill seeking activities then I have you covered with this complete guide.
Table of Contents
The Top 5 Things to Do in Vang Vieng
1) Hot Air Balloon Ride
Vang Vieng is most commonly known for being one of the cheapest places in the world to do a hot air balloon flight, although prices have recently increased.
I highly recommend booking a hot air balloon ride with Above Laos for the most unforgettable (and reputable) experience. Although slightly more expensive than the companies offering hot air balloon rides in the centre of Vang Vieng, Above Laos offer hot air balloon flights above the countryside and mountains at sunrise and sunset. After the ride, you will then have either a light breakfast or snacks and champagne (in the evening) and receive a celebratory certificate – a nice memory of an unforgettable day.
The cost of a hot air balloon ride with Above Laos is currently 2,806,498 Kip (just below £110.00 per person in 2024). You can book a sunrise or a sunset time slot. This includes pick-up and drop-off at your accommodation, a briefing, balloon inflation, a 35 – 75 minute flight dependant on weather conditions, after flight breakfast/light snacks and champagne and a certificate. I personally think this is really affordable and would highly recommend this company to anyone visiting Vang Vieng.
Be aware that the tickets often sell out a week or two in advance, especially during peak season so be sure to book ahead of time to secure your flight.
Hot Air Balloon Photo Gallery
2) Visit One of Vang Vieng's Blue Lagoons
One of the most popular (and touristy!) things to do in Vang Vieng is to visit one of the blue lagoons located just outside of town.
Although the lagoons are definitely not the most relaxing thing to do, due to being very popular, they are a lot of fun and have a mixture of rope swings, zip lines and platforms to jump into the water.
The most popular lagoon to visit in Vang Vieng is Lagoon 1 which has a high platform to jump into the deep blue water – quite a thrill for under £1!
Entry costs 20,000 Kip (£0.76) and you can spend the morning or afternoon here swimming, jumping into the water, exploring Phu Kham Cave and relaxing by the water.
As Lagoon 1 is the closest to the town, it is known for getting very busy as those who do not drive a moped will get a tuk tuk or a day trip here.
Personally, I would recommend that you visit Lagoon 3 – this is further from the town and therefore less busy. It was my favourite lagoon in Vang Vieng, I visited twice!
Here, you will find beautiful blue water, surrounded by picturesque tropical plants which really add to the vibe of the lagoon. There is also a lot to do here compared to the other lagoons including: a rope swing to backflip into the water, a zip line, a wooden raft, wooden huts to chill out in and a restaurant.
Entry Cost: 20,000 Kip (£0.76)
3) Swim in Phaboun Cave
There are many caves to explore in Vang Vieng but what makes this one different is that it is far less touristy and deep inside you come across two swimming pools.
I also recommend this cave because it is budget friendly – in fact, it is included as part of your entry ticket to Lagoon 3.
The entrance to the cave is quite small and can seem a little claustrophobic but once inside the cave is actually really big and spacious. You will enter the cave and walk about 150 metres in the pitch black through limestone formations and up wooden ladders before arriving at the swimming pool. You will need a head torch for this which you can hire from the bar for just 10,000 Kip.
I recommend exploring the cave alongside a friend or group because it is quite big and we did meet a guy who was using his phone as a torch and had got lost!
4) Horkham Hill Plane Viewpoint
This plane viewpoint is definitely one of the coolest things to do in Vang Vieng.
Situated 11 km from town, you will need to drive to reach this viewpoint. The entry ticket costs 20,000 Kip (£0.75).
Horkham Hill consists of not only one viewpoint but two! The plane is the best one as you can actually sit inside of it and take a picture as if you were actually flying it, with impressive views in the background – quite possibly one of the coolest photos you will get on your trip in Laos!
The second viewpoint is Pegasus on top of a rugged limestone cliff which makes for an amazing photo taken from the plane viewpoint opposite. I chose not to climb up to this one as well because you cannot sit on it for a photo so I got a few pretty cool shots from the plane viewpoint of Pegasus.
The views are beautiful from the peak of Horkham Hill and the climb up is steep but short. Expect to take about 20 minutes climbing to the top and then enjoy as much time as you would like relaxing and taking pictures on the top. You will queue to take a picture inside of the plane but people only spend a couple minutes taking their photos so this moves very quickly. I recommend coming early in the morning to avoid crowds and the heat.
5) Wat Kang
After exhausting your adventurous side with many thrilling activities in Vang Vieng, it is time to relax and take in some culture at Wat Kang.
Located on a main road, inside the town centre, you can easily reach this beautiful temple by foot.
Wat Kang is my favourite temple in Vang Vieng, it radiates peaceful energy and is very well maintained. You will only need a short amount of time to explore this temple as it is small so be sure to add it into your itinerary.
Other Recommendations
So, we have now looked at my top 5 things to do in Laos but I am going to leave you with some other thrilling and exciting things to do whilst visiting if you have more time in this beautiful countryside town.
- Nam Xay Viewpoint – A steep 30-40 minute hike which ends at the iconic motorbike viewpoint.
- Paramotoring – Experience sunrise or sunset from the sky as you fly in the open air above Vang Vieng’s stunning countryside.
- Tham Nam Water Cave – Float through crystal clear waters on a tube through the darkness of a huge cave system.
- Offroad Buggy Tour – A great way to explore the beauty of Vang Vieng’s countryside is to join a buggy tour – this is especially great if you cannot drive a moped yourself.
- River Tubing – relax as you float down the river in a tube, do not expect a tipsy tubing experience like in Pai, Thailand, this is more relaxing and quiet.
Best Time to Visit Vang Vieng
It is best to visit Laos between November and February when the weather is cool and dry. You can expect comfortable temperatures with minimal rainfall.
Burning Season is something to take into consideration when planning a trip to Laos because this can negatively impact your trip. It is best to avoid visiting during the months of March and May when there is a strong burning smell in the air and an orange smog destructing the views.
The wet season runs between June and October and can affect your plans if travelling during this period due to flooding and road closures. It is still possible to visit and have spectacular views of the green countryside and great water flow in the rivers and waterfalls but take into consideration that some attractions may be closed.
How Much Time to Spend in Vang Vieng
There is a lot to see and experience in Vang Vieng so I recommend a minimum of 3 full days to explore Vang Vieng. I personally stayed for 4 nights and think that this is the perfect amount of time to explore this countryside town.
How to Get to Vang Vieng
From Luang Prabang: Vang Vieng is easily accessible from Luang Prabang by train which takes under 1 hour for approximately £5.00 per person.
From Vientiane: The easiest way to reach Vang Vieng is from Vientiane and takes just 1.5 hours. Download the LCR Train App and book your own ticket for the cheapest price, I paid £6.70.
From Nong Khiaw: I travelled from Nong Khiaw to Vang Vieng and it was very easy. First, you will need to take a minibus to Luang Prabang which costs around £5.00 and takes about 2.5 hours. Then take the train to Vang Vieng which costs around £5.00 if booked directly on LCR.
When using the LCR Train Service in Laos be sure to book a few days in advance for the best rates and availability as tickets can sell out in high season. Book directly to get the cheapest prices (many people do not realise that there is an app and end up paying commission through a travel agency). Be aware that aerosols will be taken off you at the train station as there is airport style security.
Getting Around Vang Vieng
Whilst you can easily walk around the centre of Vang Vieng town, you will need other modes of transport to fully explore the area.
Scooter Rental: Like most of South East Asia, the best way of exploring Vang Vieng is by motorbike. The roads are easy to drive, apart from some gravel here and there, and most of the attractions are situated just outside of town. Expect to be paying around £6.00 a day for motorbike hire.
Tuk-Tuks: For those of you without a driving license and permit, you can easily get around by tuk-tuk but be sure to always negotiate the price as this will often be much higher at first than necessary.
Day Trips: If you are looking to see many attractions in one day without a motorbike, the best option will be to book a group day trip. You can pick from many packages which have different combinations of activities.
Off Road ATV: Another way of getting around Vang Vieng is by ATV – this is especially popular for getting to certain viewpoints and lagoons. This will be a more expensive option and an activity in itself!
Where to Stay in Vang Vieng
I recommend staying in the centre of town in Vang Vieng for convenience.
We stayed at Trendy Hotel which has a great central location, close to many restaurants, temples and attractions. I recommend checking Agoda as they usually have great deals on this accommodation, with breakfast included, for under £10 a night. By the way, the breakfast is amazing, you get cooked breakfast, juice, coffee, tea and fruit included and you can eat as much as you wish!
Is Vang Vieng deserving of a place on your itinerary?
I can say with confidence that Vang Vieng is a must add to the itinerary when travelling to Laos.
With a perfect combination of adventure and relaxation, Vang Vieng makes it to the top 3 places to travel to in Laos.
Let me know in the comments section if you have visited Vang Vieng before or whether you have any further questions.
