What to do in Vang Vieng: 3 essential experiences

Vang Vieng is located in the center of Laos, between Luang Prabang and Vientiane and by the Nam Song River. The surroundings of the city of Vang Vieng are characterized by its karst landscape very similar to that one can find in the Vietnamese city of Ninh Binh. 

Tubing is the favorite attraction of many foreigners in Vang Vieng. Tubing basically consists of going down the river with a float while stopping at bars on the shore to get drunk. Normally it is the first thing everyone does when they arrive, but in our case, we leave it to the last day.

First of all, we wanted to see the surroundings of the city and not lose our days because of the hangover. In the end, it turned out that what surprised us most in our visit to Vang Vieng were the caves. Here I tell you about our experiences and give you a description of what makes Vang Vieng a must-see destination in Laos:

What to do in Vang Vieng?

1. Vang Vieng by bicycle: mountains, villages and lookout points

We rented a bike from our hostel and spent two days riding around enjoying the beautiful scenery full of mountains, rivers and rice paddies. Also, there are a few viewpoints where you can climb up and better appreciate the spectacular views of the karst mountains.

The surrounding area of Vang Vieng is full of humble villages with friendly locals that are well worth a quick visit. It is best to ask for a map at your accommodation and get lost for a couple of days among the mountains.

2. Visit to the caves of Vang Vieng

The best thing about Vang Vieng is its large caves, hidden deep within the mountains. You only pay the entrance fee, which costs about one euro, and venture into the dark depths. We had a few scares since we weren’t well-prepared; one flashlight for three people, as happened to us one day, is not very advisable.

And a piece of advice: don’t go to the caves of Vang Vieng if you have claustrophobia or a fear of hand-sized spiders. The caves most worth visiting are:

• Tham Khan Cave: Our favorite cave. A “guide” joined us because we couldn’t even find the entrance. That “guide” turned out to be the same person who sold the tickets. In the end, we were lucky they came along, as this cave was a labyrinth. There were sections where you had to crawl or lie completely flat.
• Tham Chang Cave: Famous for its panoramic views and historical significance, as it was used as a refuge during conflicts in Laos.
• Tham Nam (Water Cave): Popular among tourists as you sit on a rubber tube and slide through the water, using a rope to move.
• Tham Phu Kham (Blue Lagoon Cave): Located near the famous Blue Lagoon, it contains a reclining Buddha statue and is quite large. It’s accessed after a steep, slippery climb.
• Tham Hoi (Snail Cave): A deep cave that stretches for several kilometers. It’s recommended to explore it with a guide due to its length and darkness.

Tips for Exploring the Caves

• Equipment: Wear non-slip footwear, carry flashlights, and dress appropriately since some caves can be slippery or have water.
• Local Guides: Many caves are extensive or dark, so it’s advisable to hire a guide or ask the ticket seller to accompany you.
• Respect Nature: Follow local rules, avoid damaging rock formations, and be mindful of sacred sites.
• Weather Conditions: During the rainy season, some caves may be inaccessible or more hazardous. Always check conditions beforehand.

3. What is Tubing and what does it consist of?

To finish our trip to Vang Vieng, once we had seen the most important things around, we finally went tubing. Basically, first you have to pay five euros for a giant float (shaped like a wheel), plus six euros deposit in case you lose it. They take you three kilometers north of the city in a tuk-tuk, which in theory you will later go down the river.

When you arrive, there are three bars on the riverbank, two on the left and one on the right. These are the bars where the whole party takes place. We spend from twelve to four in the afternoon in those bars. At most we go down 50 meters with the tubing to the other bar.

Many people come directly without a float, and when it starts to get dark they steal them to return it and win 5 euros. As soon as we saw that the floats were starting to disappear and that it was getting dark, we started to go down the river with the float. The next two bars we found were half empty, so before nightfall we took a tuk-tuk back to town. Result: quite a lot of drinking, good atmosphere and little tubing.

If you go tubing you have to be careful, every year a few people died drowning because they got lost drunk in the river during the night (for example, 14 people died in 2011). As for 2020, tubing was banned because of the deaths. Even so, it is known that it is still done unofficially.

Next Destination: Trip from Vang Vieng to Vientiane

Undoubtedly, we were right to give priority to the caves. Along with the bike rides between villages and mountains, by far, my best memory of Vang Vieng was the walks in the caves. After visiting Vang Vieng, we went to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, which would be my last stay in a Laos city before going to China, to Yunnan province, located just north of Laos.

Comment, share and/or rate the post if you found it interesting and subscribe if you want to continue receiving information about trips. If you are going to travel to Laos you may be interested in our list of Tips and Tricks about Laos or the post about northern Laos: Muang Sing by bike, the best of Luang Namtha.