Vang Vieng is located between Luang Prabang and the capital city of Vientiane. It is easily accessible from these two cities and other destinations from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam as well. Vang Vieng has no airport. The closest one is either in Luang Prabang or Vientiane. We strongly recommend the slow boat to Laos if you are travelling from Thailand.
Train to Vang Vieng
The best way to get to Vang Vieng from Vientiane or Luang Prabang is by train. It is a high-speed route and takes a bit more than one hour to get to Vang Vieng. The train route is part of the Lao-China Railway and connects Vientiane and the northern town of Boten on the border with Yunnan, China.
Minibus to Vang Vieng
Minibuses leave several times daily to Luang Prabang (6 hours) and Vientiane (3-4 hours). These are the most common destinations from Vang Vieng. Plan a few hours longer for your minibus trip. We experienced that it can take longer due to lunch or toilet breaks or the bad road conditions.
Things to do in Vang Vieng
1. Hiking in Vang Vieng
Nam Xay is the best viewpoint in Vang Vieng, and if you only have time for one hike this should be it. The starting point of the hike is located close to Blue Lagoon 1 and takes only 15 minutes to reach by tuk tuk from Vang Vieng town centre.
It is possible to hire a tuk tuk to take you there, wait for you to complete the hike and then drive you back for 150,000 LAK (~16 USD) total, which can be split between all passengers making it very affordable.
The Nam Xay hike in Vang Vieng has an admission fee of 10,000 LAK per person which is just over $1, and is used to maintain the trail.
Nam Xay is open from 6am to 6pm daily, and involves an ascent of 350 metres.
The hike only takes an average of 25 - 30 minutes, so whilst it is taxing it doesn’t last long and is therefore suitable for most abilities.
2. Enjoy the view from a hot-air balloon
One of the cheapest places in the world to take a hot air balloon ride is Vang Vieng in Laos. Balloon flights in Vang Vieng take place at sunrise and sunset and fly over the serene Nam Song river, dramatic Karst mountains, and lush Vang Vieng rice fields.
Nam Xay viewpoint has a bamboo platform at the top where you can enjoy the views as well as two motorbikes that have been placed in the perfect spot for photos.
3. Blue Lagoon Vang Vieng
There are currently 4 Blue Lagoons in Vang Vieng, that have been numbered in order of when they were discovered. Blue Lagoon is very beautiful but because of that, it attracted way too many tourists during the day, so much so that it can totally ruin your time there. The best way to visit Blue Lagoon is to go there in the morning before everyone else and have the place to yourself.
4. Go Zipline
There are many certified ziplining operators in Vang Vieng nowadays and the definition of ziplining in Vang Vieng has turned from dangerously jumping into a shallow water drunk to ziplining in a forest from trees to trees fully equipped with safety gears. At the Blue Lagoon, there is a nice ziplining operator where you can get away from the tourists and explore Vang Vieng from above.
5. Kayak The River
Kayaking the Nam Song river is the best way for you to see the untouched nature around Vang Vieng. On both sides of the river, you will be able to see the stunning limestone mountains and observe the lives of the locals throughout the trip. It was one of the most photogenic kayak route you can experience in Laos.
6. Tubing in Vang Vieng
One of the most popular things to do in Vang Vieng is tubing. This usually takes place along the Nam Song river but there are opportunities to skip the drink fuelled activity and try tubing in Vang Vieng in a quieter setting.