This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Vang Vieng.
Vang Vieng is a small, laidback village situated halfway between Vientiane and Luag Prabang. It has became famous for the surrounding sceneries of Karst mountains and the Nam Song river tubing. Those staying at Vang Vieng hostels will find it's a backpacker-friendly, party town.
Hostels in Vang Vieng and guesthouses are very cheap and there's a wide range to choose from. Remember that riverfront accommodations enjoy a great view, but can be very loud during the night, especially if they are close to the small island in the river. Parties can go on till 5 in the morning.
Many transportation options to and from your Vang Vieng hostel are available. Tuktuks are cheap and easy to find everywhere. Bike and motorbike rentals are widely available. From Vang Vieng bus station, you can take a Songthaew into town. Often drivers try to stop by guesthouses belonging to some friends or where they get commissions.
In Vang Vieng there are many activities to get you out of your Vang Vieng hostel. Tubing is an adventure that everyone wants to experience -- imagine floating down the Nam Song river in an inflatable tube and stopping along the way to enjoy a cold beer in the riverside bars. Other than that, it's possible to try rock climbing, kayaking, trekking, and exploring caves and waterfalls. If you want to get a taste of real Laos, visit nearby villages. If you wander around the streets in the evening, you'll see pillow-filled restaurants and foreigners watching "Friends" rerun episodes. Beware of "happy pizza," that contains drugs -- after eating it, people fall asleep!
At night, Vang Vieng becomes lively with loud bars in town and places where you can go dance later (on the island, where all-night partying goes on). If you are looking for something quieter, there are plenty of laidback restaurants and soft music bars around your Vang Vieng hostel.
