I recently visited Vang Vieng as part of my 10 day Laos itinerary as I was looking for something more action-packed after exploring the beaches of Thailand and the Philippines it didn’t disappoint!
Gone are the days of the tipsy tubing madness that Vang Vieng was once known for. Nowadays this small Lao town attracts more than just backpackers looking to party.
From swimming in turquoise lagoons to mountain or cave trekking, zip lining, kayaking, or even hot air ballooning or paragliding, there’s so much to see and do in Vang Vieng.
In this guide, I’ll share the 10 best things to do in Vang Vieng, including tips on how to get there, where to stay, how to get around, and a suggested 3-day itinerary.
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Best Things to do in Vang Vieng
Nam Xay Viewpoint
No visit to Vang Vieng would be complete without hiking to Nam Xay Viewpoint.
From the top, you’ll be able to enjoy a 360-degree view overlooking craggy limestone peaks surrounded by rice paddies. But that’s not all as you’ll also find not one but two motorbikes perched on top!
There are several of these motorbike viewpoints all over Vang Vieng, including one with an airplane (which I’ll talk about later)!
Like whose idea was it to drag two motorbikes up a mountain!? It did pay off in the end though as photos of this unique attraction have helped to put Laos on the tourist radar.
Today, hundreds of tourists make the trek to Nam Xay Viewpoint to snap their own Insta-worthy photos. For this reason, I highly recommend starting your hike early when there are fewer people.
I arrived at the trailhead at around 8:30 a.m and after a short but intense 25-minute hike, I finally made it to the top.
At that time, there were only around 10 people there so I was able to get some pretty cool photos. However, more and more people kept arriving afterward.
Keep in mind that this isn’t the easiest hike in Vang Vieng as the trail goes straight uphill and requires some rock scrambling. Luckily, there are handrails and ropes in some parts to help you along the way.
If you’re looking for the absolute best thing to do in Vang Vieng, then you should definitely check out Nam Xay Viewpoint.
It’s open daily from 6 a.m to 6 p.m and the entrance fee is 20k Kip.
Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint
A less popular alternative to Nam Xay is Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint. It’s situated closer to town and can be reached in just 5-10 minutes by motorbike.
However, there are several viewpoints with the same or similar name but the one I visited is located here.
Finding the entrance can be a bit tricky, but look out for the sign that says “Pha Ngern Silvercliff View Point Mountain 400 meter to the parking” and you’ll know you’re in the right spot.
Follow the signs from there and soon enough you’ll arrive at the parking lot, where you’ll find a woman selling tickets for 20k Kip.
For more detailed directions, read my guide to hiking Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint.
It took me approximately 30 minutes to reach the top. The terrain is very uneven and steep with sharp rocks, especially near the summit so make sure to wear sturdy shoes.
Similar to Nam Xay Viewpoint, you’ll find a covered viewing platform and a motorbike at the top where you can take photos.
Swim in the Blue Lagoons
Vang Vieng is a great spot for swimming despite not being even remotely close to the ocean.
There are six blue lagoons scattered around the countryside. Just don’t expect to see clear blue water year-round as the pools can become muddy during the rainy season (June to October).
The lagoons are well set up for tourists with rope swings, zip lines, floating rings, bamboo rafts, etc.
Most of them also have little wooden huts or benches with umbrellas where you can relax. There’s also a restaurant, however, prices are somewhat inflated and the food quality not the best.
Blue Lagoon 1 is the most popular and crowded since it’s easily accessible from town.
For this reason, I decided to skip it and visit Blue Lagoons 2 and 3 instead. Personally, I enjoyed Blue Lagoon 2 more as it’s bigger and has more pools for swimming.
Blue Lagoon 3 is smaller and has only one pool, but there’s also a cave and viewpoint that visitors can explore.
Keep in mind that you need a headlamp to visit the cave as it’s pitch black inside. Trust me you’ll need it as you have to use both your hands inside the cave. You can rent a headlamp from the restaurant for a small fee.
Note: I don’t recommend going inside the cave alone, especially if you’re claustrophobic. I went in with a group of people I previously met in Luang Prabang and was so glad I wasn’t alone as it’s easy to get lost inside.
Entrance to the blue lagoons costs 20k Kip each.
Phapoungkham Viewpoint & Caves
If you’re looking for an underrated attraction in Vang Vieng, I highly recommend Phapoungkham Viewpoint & Caves (also known as Horkham Viewpoint).
It’s located only 1 km from Nam Xay Viewpoint, so you can visit both on the same day.
There are two viewpoints here, one with an airplane and another with a unicorn. You’ll also find two small caves here, although I didn’t visit them.
I personally hiked to the airplane viewpoint, which took only about 20 minutes.
Although short, the trail requires a moderate level of fitness as it’s steep in some places. Also, be careful of the loose rocks which can make the path slippery.
From the top, you get an incredible 360-degree view of the surrounding rice fields and mountains, including Nam Xay in the distance.
Ride a Hot Air Balloon
Another fun activity to do in Vang Vieng is to ride a hot air balloon, especially since Laos is one of the cheapest places in the world to do so.
You can book a hot air balloon ride from any hotel or tour operator in town, but from what I’ve heard, Above Laos is the best company out there.
A 30-minute flight starts at USD 135, and you can choose to fly in the morning or evening.
Since I recently did a hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, I opted to just watch the balloons from the ground.
I stayed at Domon Riverside Hotel, which had a small patio overlooking Nam Song River so I spent most of my mornings and evenings just gazing at the hot air balloons.
If you’re not staying at this hotel, there are many restaurants and bars along the river where you can watch the balloons.
Kayaking, Tubing, and Zip Lining
Vang Vieng isn’t called the adventure capital of Laos for nothing. With lush forests, mountains, and rivers, there’s no shortage of adventurous things to do, from kayaking, tubing, or zip lining.
This kayaking and tubing tour includes hotel transfers, lunch, a tour guide, and all the necessary equipment.
The trip begins with kayaking along the Nam Song River, where you’ll glide across small rapids. You’ll then go tubing at Tham Nam, a 500-meter-long cave submerged in water. If you’d like you can also go zip lining in the afternoon
For those who prefer something more peaceful, you can instead take a boat ride along the Nam Song River.
Tham Chang Cave
Located at the end of a long flight of stairs (about 200 steps), Tham Chang Cave is another must-visit place. It’s easily accessible from town and can be reached on foot in under 20 minutes.
This small but impressive cave features sparkly stalagmites and stalactites, Buddhist shrines, and viewpoints.
The cave is well-lit, so there’s no need to bring a flashlight. The chambers are spacious with a nice cool breeze blowing through, making it a pleasant place to explore.
After visiting the cave, you can check out the small blue lagoon or simply relax at one of the small wooden huts by the river.
To get there, you first need to go through a checkpoint where you’ll need to pay 5k Kip. The security guard will then point you toward the parking lot.
From there, walk across the small wooden bridge, turn left, and continue along the concrete path lined with tall trees until you see the ticket office.
Tham Chang Cave is open daily from 8 a.m to 4 p.m (closed between 11 a.m and 1 p.m from Monday to Friday) and the entrance fee is 15k Kip.
Check out Vang Vieng Night Market
One of the best things to do in Vang Vieng at night is to visit the night market, located in the middle of town.
It’s open daily from 5/6 p.m until late and is a great place to visit if you’re looking to stock up on some souvenirs.
However, there are not many food stalls available, so if you’re looking for more options, you can find more street food stalls near Domon Riverside Hotel.
Paragliding above Vang Vieng
If you’re seeking something more adventurous than hot air ballooning, try paragliding (paramotoring) instead.
The great thing about paragliding is that you don’t have to share the experience with others as it’s just you and the pilot.
You’ll also get to see more of Vang Vieng’s landscape as the pilot can control the direction, unlike the hot air balloon which can only go up and down.
Paragliding costs around the same as hot air ballooning and can be booked from any hotel or tour operator in Vang Vieng.
Visit the Temples
Vang Vieng has several Buddhist temples scattered all over town that you can visit for free. A few of them include Wat Kang, Wat That, and Wat Si Sou Mang.
Where to Stay in Vang Vieng?
I stayed at Domon Riverside Hotel, which is located in the middle of Vang Vieng near a wide selection of restaurants and street food stalls.
The hotel has a patio that overlooks the river and mountains, where you can watch the hot air balloons.
The room is a bit dated but it’s reasonably priced and breakfast is included in the room rate. The only downside is that there were lots of mosquitoes due to the hotel’s proximity to the river.
For budget travelers, there are other options such as Lily Backpacker Hostel, Sokxay Guesthouse, and Bountang Mountain View Riverside Hotel.
If you want to splurge a bit more, you can choose to stay at ViengTara Resort, Amari Resort, or Riverside Boutique Resort.
FIND MORE HOTELS IN VANG VIENG HERE
How to get to Vang Vieng?
Since there’s no airport in Vang Vieng, your only options are the Laos China high-speed train or bus.
I recommend traveling by train as it’s quicker, taking only around 50 minutes from both Luang Prabang and Vientiane. The bus, on the other hand, takes around 6 hours from Luang Prabang or 4 hours from Vientiane.
You can book your train ticket through the LCR Ticket app and pay by credit card.
Keep in mind that you can only download the LCR Ticket app while in Laos and that you can only register with a Lao sim card and a Gmail account that you created in Laos.
An easier option is to book the train ticket through your hotel but the cost will be higher.
The train station is located about 4 km outside of Vang Vieng, and from there you can take a tuk tuk to town for 30k Kip per person.
Getting Around Vang Vieng
The most popular way to get around Vang Vieng is by buggy, which is perfect for navigating the gravel roads. It’s pricey though, starting at 500k Kip for a 2-seater or 600k Kip for a 4-seater for a 2-hour rental.
The second most popular option is to rent a motorbike, which costs around 150k Kip per day.
Additionally, electric cars and scooters are also available for rent. Those cost around 1.1m Kip and 250k Kip respectively.
In my case, I hired a tuk tuk for the whole day to visit the main viewpoints and blue lagoons and paid 600k Kip.
On another day, I rented a bicycle for 50k Kip. I recommend renting from this shop as they accept cash deposits so you don’t have to leave your passport with them. They also have motorbikes for rent.
How many days to spend in Vang Vieng?
I recommend staying a minimum of 2 full days but if you have more time, you can stay up to 3 days in Vang Vieng. Below is a suggested 3 day Vang Vieng itinerary:
Day 1
- Nam Xay Viewpoint
- Phapoungkham Viewpoint and Cave
- Blue Lagoon 2 and 3
- Vang Vieng Night Market
Day 2
- Hot air balloon ride or paragliding in the morning
- Pha Ngern Silver Cliff Viewpoint
- Tham Chang Cave
- Visit the temples
Day 3
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Vang Vieng and Laos in general is from November to February. During this time, the weather is cool and dry, making it perfect for outdoor activities.
During March and April, the burning season takes place, resulting in unbearably hot and smoky weather. You can use this website to check the current air quality.
Although you can also travel to Vang Vieng during the rainy season (June to October), the hiking trails can be muddy and slippery so pack some good hiking shoes and rain gear.
I hope this guide to the best things to do in Vang Vieng, Laos was helpful. If you have any questions, just let me know in the comments below.