Vang Vieng is a small village nestled on the banks of the Nam Song River and surrounded by a landscape of plains, mountain peaks, and tranquil rivers.
Vang Vieng has become a haunt for backpackers, with the main street featuring guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies, and western tourists. Attractions of the town include inner tubing and kayaking on the Nam Song River, which is lined with bars selling Beer Lao and Lao-Lao, and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing.
The Vang Vieng local community have organized themselves into a cooperative business association to sell tubing as an activity, in a system in which 1,555 participating households are divided into 10 village units, with each village unit taking its turn on a ten-day rotation to rent inner-tubes to the tourists.
Other activities include trekking and rock climbing in the limestone mountains. There are also numerous caves, such as Tham Phu Kham cave half an hour from Vang Vieng by tuk-tuk or the Tham Jang cave closer to Vang Vieng. A market located five kilometers north of the town sells Lao textiles, household items, and foodstuffs. The town is situated on the main north-south highway, Route 13 from Luang Prabang to the capital, Vientiane. It is about eight hours by bus to Luang Prabang and four hours to Vientiane (152 km). Just a short walk from town are many ethnic Lao, Kmou, and Hmong villages.
Nam Song river
A boat trip on the Nam Song River is a must for any traveler passing through Vang Vieng. It is the breathtaking landscape that makes the trip worth trying.
Ban Huai Ngai
Ban Huai Ngai is a beautiful village where you can observe the local life and learn about local culture. Its peaceful and laid back settings are perfect for those who love sleepy things and being away from the beaten tracks.
Tham Jang cave
After climbing the 147 steps, you will reach the heart of Tham Jang Cave, the most visited and most spectacular cave of Vang Vieng. From this height, you can also see beautiful gardens below.