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Vang Vieng (population about 25,000) is located in central southern Laos about a 4 hour bus ride north of the capital city of Vientienne or about 7 hours south of the town of Luang Prabang.

VANG VIENG, LAOS

Dave
2004-02-22 13:49:47

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Vang Vieng (population about 25,000) is located in central southern Laos about a 4 hour bus ride north of the capital city of Vientienne or about 7 hours south of the town of Luang Prabang. If you enter Vang Vien by bus you will be dropped off on a huge gravel runway on the edge of town. A brisk several minute walk across the runway will find you in the main part of town. Signs for guesthouses or restaurants call out from almost every single building. You know you are in Vang Vieng when you see the dull rusted corrugated metal roofs of the buildings in stark contrast to the brightly colored 3 wheel Tuk-tuks lined up along the streets.

This is a truly a backpackers city - businesses that cater to backpackers are everywhere. Internet cafes, guesthouses, bars, massage parlors & trekking companies all greet your arrival with welcoming arms. These are all fairly new establishments as backpackers haven't always stayed in Vang Vieng. It is only within the past 5 or 6 years that Vang Vieng has seen such an influx of tourists.

There are people here from all over the world - you can't help but meet people!

Vang Vieng is set along the banks of the Nam Song River. In the near distance towering behind Vang Vieng are the most incredible rock formations. They are jagged limestone karsts that tower above the jungle - steep walls which have somehow eluded the jungles grasp. In
the morning hours a fine mists hovers just above the jungle at the base of these formations. In the evenings they form an incredible back drop for picture taking during the "golden hour."

The caving nearby Vang Vieng is in one word, awesome! There are many many small unexplored caves, and the ones that have been explored often have minimal facilities...usually just a guide who carries a small lead acid battery hooked up to a head light. If you are lucky the
guide will have extra lead-acid headlights. ...