In a nutshell
- Vang Vieng is one of the most beautiful destinations in Laos — thanks mainly to its stunning karst mountain scenery surrounding the town.
- There are seriously cool outdoor activities here: ride a hot air balloon, hike to viewpoints, swim in blue lagoons, and explore caves.
- In this article, we cover all the best things to do in Vang Vieng — from the must-sees to the ones you can skip.
- We also share our picks for the best places to stay, how to get there, and where to eat.
What Can You Expect in Vang Vieng?
Party hub or outdoor destination? We really want to clear that up before we dive into our tips, because this place hasn’t exactly had great headlines in the past.
For a long time, Vang Vieng was one of the most notorious spots in all of Southeast Asia. It all started with tubing. Backpackers would drift several kilometers down the Nam Song River in large truck inner tubes.
The riverbanks were lined with bars, and it was completely normal around town for “happy shakes” and “happy pizzas” to appear on menus without a second thought.
After several tourists lost their lives in the excesses in 2011 alone, the government had nearly all the bars torn down and put an end to the party.
Since then, Vang Vieng has become much calmer and is primarily an outdoor destination. The surrounding landscape is stunning, and you can do great activities like hiking and cycling.
So should you travel to Vang Vieng or not?
For us, Vang Vieng is absolutely a must-see on a trip around Laos! It’s one of our favorite places in the whole country.
There is still a party scene in town, though. Vang Vieng gets lively at night — so we recommend booking a hotel a little outside the town center.
You should also be careful with alcohol. In 2024, six tourists died after allegedly drinking adulterated alcohol in Vang Vieng.
Don’t let that stress you out, though. We stayed away from the party scene and had a fantastic time in Vang Vieng during our trip to Laos.
Also read our tips on safety in Laos
The Best Activities and Attractions in Vang Vieng
Here’s why you shouldn’t miss Vang Vieng on your trip to Laos. These are our top picks for things to do in Vang Vieng.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
What you need to know: Hot air balloon rides are one of the most popular things to do in Vang Vieng. Flights typically take place at sunrise or sunset, giving you a seriously spectacular view over the karst formations and landscapes below — it’s a genuinely unique experience.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! If you’ve always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon, this is your chance. Tours in Vang Vieng are comparatively very affordable, and the scenery is gorgeous. Just keep in mind that balloon rides can be canceled due to weather.
Tickets: Prices vary by operator — expect to pay between 100 and 150 euros. We didn’t take a ride ourselves, but the operator Above Laos was recommended to us, and their tours look genuinely professional.
Our tip: You can also watch the balloons from the ground — from one of the viewpoints (our tip #4) or simply from your hotel during breakfast.
Tubing on the Nam Song River
What you need to know: Tubing is probably Vang Vieng’s most famous activity. You float down the Nam Song River in an inner tube. While tubing was once closely associated with alcohol and drugs, it’s much more regulated today — you can drift downriver in a pretty relaxed way.
Is it worth it? We didn’t try it ourselves, but most travelers are enthusiastic about it.
Important info: As far as we know, there are only three bars left along the route where you can buy drinks. We’d recommend drinking little to no alcohol. Safety first!
Swimming in Blue Lagoons
What you need to know: Around Vang Vieng there are several blue lagoons, named by number (Blue Lagoon 1, Blue Lagoon 2, etc.). You can swim in all of them, and there are often diving platforms or rope swings to launch yourself into the water.
Is it worth it? Yes! We visited Blue Lagoon 3 and had a great time. There were also caves and a restaurant right there. Honestly, visiting one blue lagoon is enough — they all look very similar in photos.
Our tip: Wear your swimsuit under your clothes. At the lagoon we visited, there was nowhere to change and the bathrooms weren’t exactly pleasant.
Admission: You pay around 20,000 kip (just under 1 euro) per blue lagoon. We went by bike and didn’t pay any parking fees.
Hiking to Viewpoints
What you need to know: Vang Vieng is surrounded by karst formations, and you can hike up many of them. There are several viewpoints to choose from, and all the trails are steep and strenuous. Popular spots include Pha Ngern, Phapoungkham Viewpoint, and Nam Xay — where you can even get photos taken with motorcycles at the top.
Is it worth it? Absolutely! We climbed Pha Ngern and Nam Xay. Both hikes were fun and the vistas were seriously impressive. We preferred Pha Ngern, though — significantly fewer tourists up there.
Our tip: Go in the morning or late afternoon when it’s not as hot. You’ll work up a real sweat on the way up. Since the views from all the viewpoints are fairly similar, hiking just one is plenty.
How strenuous are the hikes? To reach Nam Xay, you climb about 150 meters in elevation over 500 meters of trail — genuinely steep, but very manageable even if you don’t hike regularly. Pha Ngern involves nearly 500 meters of elevation gain over four kilometers.
Exploring Vang Vieng by Bike or Scooter
What you need to know: Almost all of Vang Vieng’s highlights are within a 20-kilometer radius, and you can easily explore them by bike. Rental shops are all over town, and you’ll see plenty of tourists out on two wheels. You can also rent a scooter if you prefer — just like everywhere in Laos.
Is it worth it? Yes! We explored Vang Vieng by bike and had a blast. When renting, make sure the bike is in good condition — otherwise you’ll regret it a few minutes down the road.
Our tip: We biked to Nam Xay Viewpoint and Blue Lagoon 3 in one day — a really great route with decent road conditions. Just be prepared for potholes!
Visiting Caves near Vang Vieng
What you need to know: There are tons of caves around Vang Vieng. The most popular is Tham Chang Cave, located just about two kilometers from the center. Cool alternatives include Tham Poukham Cave and Angel Cave.
Is it worth it? Yes. You should definitely visit at least one of the caves near Vang Vieng.
Our tip: Many of the blue lagoons have caves nearby, so you can easily combine both in one outing — for example, Blue Lagoon 1 and Tham Poukham Cave make a great pairing.
Tickets: Entry to most caves costs 20,000 kip (that’s also the price for Tham Chang Cave).
Action: Zipline, Kayaking, Rock Climbing
What you need to know: If you love action, Vang Vieng has plenty of adrenaline-packed options. How about ziplines, rock climbing, or buggy riding? Kayaking is a bit more relaxed but just as fun. And you can even go tubing through an underground river — super awesome!
Is it worth it? Definitely — if you’re into action sports!
Our tip: Combine multiple activities on a guided tour. We recommend the GetYourGuide tour with kayaking, cave tubing, and zipline — a visit to Blue Lagoon 1 is included too.
Where to Stay in Vang Vieng?
There are plenty of hotels in Vang Vieng and accommodation is generally very affordable. Since loud music from the bars fills the town center at night, we recommend staying a little outside the center.
All of our hotel recommendations are close to the action, but not right in the thick of it:
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Restaurants in Vang Vieng, Laos
In Vang Vieng, restaurants are packed one after another. Here are our recommendations for eating out.
- Hamburgers, Sandwiches & Fruit Shakes: at this unassuming little spot, we had the best sandwiches of our entire trip to Laos. The fresh juices are also delicious.
- I-coffee 3: this small stand is located in the food court and serves seriously good coffee.
- Night Market: like in almost every city in Southeast Asia, Vang Vieng has a night market with great street food.
- Cook Savang: a typical Lao restaurant with really tasty food. We’d only recommend going when it’s not too busy, though — otherwise you’ll wait a very long time.
How Do You Get to Vang Vieng, Laos?
Vang Vieng sits right between Luang Prabang and Vientiane. From both cities, you can get there by bus or train. For more on getting around the country, check out our Laos travel tips article.
Getting to Vang Vieng by Train
From either city, the train ride to Vang Vieng takes about one hour. Keep in mind that you should arrive at the station roughly 30 minutes before departure, and the stations are located a bit outside the city centers.
A train ticket costs around 15 euros, and the trains are very comfortable. This is our top recommendation for traveling from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.
Outside the train station in Vang Vieng, a number of shuttles (similar to tuk-tuks) are waiting to take you to the center for a few kip.
Book train tickets from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng on 12goasia
Getting to Vang Vieng by Bus
Alternatively, you can book a bus to Vang Vieng — these are usually vans with room for 10–12 people.
From Vientiane, the journey takes just over two hours. Since buses go from city center to city center (unlike trains), the bus is actually the better option for this route. They cost around 9 euros.
From Luang Prabang, the bus ride takes about five hours — much longer than the train, so we wouldn’t recommend it for that direction.
Book bus tickets from Vientiane to Vang Vieng on 12goasia
Frequently Asked Questions about Vang Vieng
How many days should you spend in Vang Vieng, Laos?
We think two days are ideal for Vang Vieng. That’s enough time to see the main highlights and enjoy some great activities.
If you have more time, even better — there’s always something new to discover here.
How far is Vang Vieng from Vientiane?
The distance between Vang Vieng and Vientiane is approximately 130 kilometers.
When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng in Laos?
We recommend visiting between October and February — that’s the dry season, and temperatures are far more comfortable than during the rainy season (May to October, though rainfall tapers off by October).
Also worth knowing: from mid-February to mid-April is Burning Season, when air pollution levels can be very high.
