Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking on the link at no extra cost to you.

I wasn’t sure about going to Vang Vieng. All I had heard and read about this tiny town was that it was a haven for young, carefree travelers looking to party, drink and tube down the river.

The younger me probably would've enjoyed doing all those things but the present me couldn't fathom any of it. But, alas, Vang Vieng was the only option to cut short the long bus ride from Luang Prabang to the capital city of Vientiane.

We decided to walk from the bus station to the center of town. On the way, I spotted the beautiful karst mountains in the far distance. I immediately snapped a picture. Maybe Vang Vieng wasn't going to be so bad after all.

The vast countryside of Vang Vieng is dotted with caves. The best way to visit is by renting a motorbike. You can also rent a bicycle but keep in mind the roads are unpaved, uneven and dusty, and there’s no shade.

Rental shops all offer hand-drawn maps of the various caves as well as the locations. The most popular caves, such as the Blue Lagoon, have official entrance fees. At the smaller, less-visited caves, you might be asked to pay a bunch of kids or an elderly person keeping the cave. Other caves are free without anyone around.

We spent the whole day exploring the countryside of Vang Vieng, and I can honestly say it's totally underrated. It bares no resemblance to the town with a bad reputation. Although many travellers do visit the countryside and caves, this area hasn’t yet been ruined by mass tourism.

So, what are my thoughts on Vang Vieng? First of all, the party scene has gone down considerably in the past few years. Locals complained about tourists causing havoc, being disrespectful, loud and under-dressed. The government had to intervene by shutting down many of the bars. It was actually quite tame when we were there; most bars were almost empty.

That being said, upon our arrival, I didn't think I would like anything about Vang Vieng but much to my surprise I did enjoy our stay thanks to the stunning countryside!

The outdoor market was also a great way to immerse ourselves in the local way of life. Rats, insects, squirrels, snakes, bats and other species I couldn't identify were on display. We had a really good time at the market and the vendors had a few laughs at our expense as well!

Vang Vieng had more to offer than just "happy" pizzas, drunk tubing and reruns of Friends but two nights was enough for us. Vang Vieng is on the way from Luang Prabang to Vientiane (or vice versa) so, like it or not, a short stop-over is almost unavoidable.

READ MORE ON LAOS:

• Visiting the Pak Ou Caves in Laos
• The Waterfalls of Paksong
• Kuang Si Waterfalls: The Most Beautiful in Laos
• Vientiane: The Capital City People Love to Hate
• The Day Luang Prabang Cast a Spell on Me
• Indulging in Sweet Nothingness on Don Det Island
• Monks, Wats, Shopping, Eating & Sweating in Luang Prabang
• Xieng Khuan: The Weird and Wonderful Buddha Park in Laos

TRAVEL RESOURCES

• Verify visa requirements for Laos on the official website
• Book flights to Laos via Skyscanner
• Compare hotel prices in Laos on Booking.com & Agoda
• Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
• Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Laos
• Search for tours & excursions in Laos
• Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
• Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise

PIN THIS POST!

Lydia

I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.

More about me here.