Travel Laos: The Budget Backpacker’s Guide to Vang Vieng

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Travel Laos: The Budget Backpacker’s Guide to Vang Vieng

Travel Laos

Vang Vieng is a town in central Laos that has been a favourite backpacker’s destination for decades. In fact, it was adventurous backpackers themselves who first opened this destination up to the wider world. Vang Vieng was once seen as nothing more than a brief stop off on the journey between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, but has now become a destination in its own right.

One of the main attractions for backpackers, besides the laid back atmosphere, is the Nam Song river. Rafting and tubing – also known as inner tubing, where riders free-float downriver inside large rubber rings – are hugely popular. When the river swells during the wet season, it develops some serious rapids and has led to the area gaining a great reputation for white water rafting.

The beautiful natural surroundings of Vang Vieng are what attract people to the area. As well as the scenic river, the area is also surrounded by giant limestone mountains, which provide some breathtaking views. Within these mountains lies a series of caves and caverns – perfect for exploring. The caves are home to bats that put on a fantastic show as they fly to and from their caves at sunset.

The town is full of cheap guesthouses and hotels – with typical prices for a double room in a guesthouse 50p-£3 per night. There are plenty of bars and restaurants, all serving cocktails and beers at budget prices, while the nearby market sells local produce at local prices, so it’s very easy to get by in Vang Vieng with little spending money.

Getting in to Vang Vieng, which is located 6-8 hours from Luang Prabang and 3-4 hours from Vientiane, is easiest and cheapest by bus. Buses leave regularly throughout the day from both of these locations. As a pricing guide, a ticket from Vientiane typically costs around £2.50.

The only expensive part of any backpacker’s trip to Vang Vieng is getting to Laos itself. You’ll have to fly into Bangkok first and then travel onwards to Laos by plane, train or bus. Flights to Thailand from London (starting at around £450 from DialAFlight) airports can be a good deal cheaper if you choose a flight with one stop-off en route – so direct flights will always be more expensive.

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