If you’re looking for a less popular alternative to Nam Xay Viewpoint, I highly recommend hiking to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint.
At the top, you’ll find an old motorbike overlooking rice fields surrounded by limestone mountains. It’s close to Vang Vieng town center, about a 5-minute drive by motorbike, and is not usually crowded.
However, the trailhead can be a bit difficult to locate, which is why I wrote this guide so you don’t end up in someone’s backyard like I did (thanks to Google Maps inaccurate directions)!
So keep reading for everything you need to know about Pha Ngern Sliver Cliff Viewpoint, including exactly how to get there, what to expect during the hike, the best time to visit, entrance fees, and opening hours.
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Read more about Laos:
- 10 Best things to do in Vang Vieng
- Nam Xay Viewpoint hiking guide
- How to plan a 10 days in Laos itinerary?
How to get to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint?
Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint is situated in Vang Vieng, Northern Laos, about a 10-minute drive from the town center.
There are several viewpoints with similar names but the one I visited is located here and the trailhead can be found here.
The entrance is a bit tricky to find but you’ll know you’re in the right spot when you see a sign near the main road saying “Pha Ngern Silvercliff View Point Mountain 400 meter to the parking” (see photo below). You can find the exact location of the sign here.
Continue along the dirt track until you reach an intersection. From there, turn left and after a few minutes, you’ll arrive at the parking lot.
The best and cheapest way to get to Pha Ngern Viewpoint from Vang Vieng is by motorbike, which costs around 150k Kip per day. If you don’t have a driver’s license, you can rent a bicycle for around 50k Kip per day.
Tip: I recommend renting from this shop as they accept cash deposits and you don’t have to leave your passport with them.
Alternatively, you can rent a buggy, which is way better for navigating the gravel roads around Vang Vieng. It’s more expensive though, costing around 500k Kip for a 2-seater or 600k Kip for a 4-seater for a 2-hour rental.
Other options include electric cars and scooters which cost around 1.1m Kip and 250k Kip respectively.
The last option is to hire a tuk tuk with a driver, which will set you back around 600k Kip for the whole day. It’s a great option for those traveling with a group and visiting several spots in one day.
Entrance Fee
As of 2024, the entrance fee to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint is 20k Kip.
Hiking to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint
The hike begins at a large green field surrounded by limestone karsts covered with lush vegetation. If you’d like you can take some time here to appreciate the view and observe the buffalos and chickens roaming freely.
After paying the entrance fee, make your way up the concrete steps. The initial section of the trail is completely exposed to the sun but the rest of the way is shaded by a canopy of trees.
Later on, the concrete steps give way to a more uneven dirt track with loose, slippery rocks. Luckily there are steel wire handrails that you can hold on to.
The trail can be a bit confusing at times but as long as you follow the railings, you shouldn’t get lost. You can also download the maps.me app that you can use offline to make sure you’re on the right track.
About 20 minutes into the hike, you’ll find a small wooden hut on your left, which is the first viewpoint.
While the view from here is nice, I highly recommend you keep going as the view is even better at the summit.
From there, the path becomes slightly wider and less steep until you reach the final section where you’ll have to walk on some very sharp rocks.
In total, it should take around 30-45 minutes to get from the trailhead to the summit.
When I arrived at 10:30 a.m, I was the only one at the top. If you’re visiting during sunset, there might be a few other people there but it won’t be as crowded as Nam Xay Viewpoint.
After taking some photos on the motorbike, I sat under the covered viewing platform to rest and enjoy the view.
Since I was visiting in February, the rice had already been harvested so the landscape looked brown instead of green or yellow.
If you want to see the rice fields, then you should plan your visit between July and October.
To get down, simply follow the same route you took to go up.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to hike to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint is early in the morning when it’s not too hot.
You don’t have to worry about crowds here. I started the hike at around 10 a.m and met only 4 people along the trail, and when I reached the summit at 10:30 a.m, I was the only one there.
Sunset is also a great time to visit but be sure to come down before dark as the hike could potentially be dangerous. If you’re hiking in the evening, I recommend bringing a flashlight.
I don’t recommend doing this hike during the burning season which happens in March and April, although it can sometimes begin in mid-February and end by mid-May.
During these months the air quality can be poor and the visibility not great. You can use this website to check the current air quality in Vang Vieng.
It’s also not recommended to hike on a rainy day as the trail can become very muddy and slippery.
In case you’re visiting during the rainy season (June to October), be sure to check the weather forecast beforehand and wear proper hiking shoes and a raincoat in case you get caught in the rain.
Where to Stay in Vang Vieng?
I stayed at Domon Riverside Hotel, which is situated in the middle of town, about a 10-minute drive from Pha Ngern. The hotel is located near restaurants and street food stalls and offers a beautiful view of the river and mountains.
Other places to stay on a budget include Lily Backpacker Hostel, Sokxay Guesthouse, and Bountang Mountain View Riverside Hotel.
If you don’t mind splurging a bit more, you can choose to stay at ViengTara Resort, Amari Resort, or Riverside Boutique Resort.
FIND MORE HOTELS IN VANG VIENG HERE
I hope you found this guide to Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint helpful. If you have any questions or would like to share your experience, feel free to comment below.