Discover Vang Vieng - Laos adventure gem

Vang Vieng – Laos adventure gem

After a few days in Vientiane, we continued north towards Vang Vieng. It was a stop I was really looking forward to because Vang Vieng is known for its fantastic nature, tall limestone mountains and all the activities available around the town.

The landscape started changing already on the way there. Vientiane is relatively flat and feels more like a traditional city, while the area around Vang Vieng quickly became much greener and more mountainous. When the large limestone mountains started appearing on the horizon, you understood why Vang Vieng is so popular among travellers.

Vang Vieng is beautifully surrounded by dramatic mountains, green valleys and rivers. It is mainly the nature that makes the place special. The town itself is quite small and easy to get around, but outside the centre there are lots of places to discover.

One of the best things about Vang Vieng was that you could combine relaxing days with different adventures. One moment you could be sitting at a café taking it easy, and the next you could be out among the mountains, caves and river.

One of the activities we really wanted to try was tubing. Floating down the river on a large inner tube is a classic activity in Vang Vieng and gives you a very different way of experiencing the landscape. You drift along the water while the tall mountains rise around you.

It was mainly the views that made the experience special. Vang Vieng has a landscape that almost feels unreal. The steep limestone mountains rise out of the green vegetation and create an incredible backdrop almost everywhere you look.

We also took the opportunity to explore some of the caves in the area. There are several caves around Vang Vieng and many of them are located out in the countryside. Getting there is almost as enjoyable as the caves themselves because you get to see much more of the area around the town.

Another thing I really recommend is renting a bicycle or scooter and exploring the countryside. This allows you to see small villages, rice fields, mountains and rivers in a completely different way than if you only stay in the town centre.

We also went out to see some of the beautiful viewpoints around Vang Vieng. There are several viewpoints where you can climb up and get an amazing view over the entire valley.

The hikes up to the viewpoints can be quite challenging, especially because they are often steep. But once you reach the top, the view is definitely worth the effort.

Vang Vieng is also a really good place for anyone who enjoys photography or filming. The dramatic mountains, river and green nature mean that there is almost always something interesting to photograph.

For me, it was also nice that Vang Vieng had a fairly relaxed atmosphere. After several intense stops during the trip, this was a place where you could simply take each day as it came.

The evenings in Vang Vieng were also enjoyable. After a day out in nature, you could return to town, have dinner and simply relax. There are plenty of restaurants and cafés, and the area is very well suited to backpackers.

One of my favourite parts was actually just sitting somewhere and looking out over the mountains. It is difficult not to stop and take a moment when you have a landscape like this in front of you.

Vang Vieng is therefore a place that works very well if you want to combine adventure with relaxation. You do not have to plan every minute. You can book an activity one day and simply explore the area on your own the next.

After a few days in Vang Vieng, it was time to continue even further north. The next stop on the journey would be Nong Khiaw, an even smaller and quieter place known for its fantastic mountain scenery and viewpoints.