On 15.01.2018, we arrived in Vang Vieng at 10:00 am. We came with a minivan that picked us up at 6:00 am at our hostel in Luang Prabang. We paid 80,000 Kip per person for the ride. There are a total of 12 of us and from what I can tell, most of us slept during the journey. Fortunately, I woke up above Vang Vieng and was able to take some beautiful photos.
Upon arriving in Vang Vieng, we checked into our hotel room at MountainViewResort. Unfortunately, it's not as it was portrayed on the website and it's not even a resort, but a rundown ghost hotel. We are pretty much the only guests here. However, we decided to stay since we only spend the nights in the room and the bed is the only thing that is really clean.
Vang Vieng is a small town with many backpackers from around the world. It is known for its parties and plenty of drugs. We don't really like the town, but the surrounding area is supposed to be beautiful. So, we rent a Vespa again and just drive around. We find a quiet spot by the river where we can swim and relax a bit.
On Tuesday, we rent a buggy for four hours and 400,000 Kip to drive to the Blue Lagoons. Unfortunately, here in Laos, you have to pay for everything you want to visit. Crossing bridges, climbing a mountain, or even visiting the lagoons. That's why we decided to explore the wild nature without paying. In the afternoon, we are back on the Vespa and visit a typical Laotian market in the early evening. You can find everything there. Lots of fish, vegetables, and fruits. But there are also rats, guinea pigs, and even a cat offered for the cooking pot. Tamarind and homemade bread are enough for our dinner.
This morning, after a delicious coffee, we inquire at Green Discovery Laos to find out the next strategic destination so that we can visit the Kong Lor Caves. The nice man recommends traveling to Thakhek as there is another store of theirs there where we can book the three-day tour. Gratefully, we write down all the details and then visit the nearby travel agency and book our ticket to Vientiane. We will spend one night there and then travel to Thakhek on Friday. Because the direct journey to Thakhek takes ten hours and you have to change trains in Vientiane. However, this gives us half a day to explore Vientiane. At 10:00 am, we will visit the tubing station, which is located in the center of Vang Vieng. A driver will take us ten minutes upstream to the riverbank, where we will get into our tubes and let ourselves drift down the Nam Song River for two and a half hours. Tubing here in Vang Vieng is highly recommended. It's best to buy a water bag beforehand, where you can waterproofly pack your clothes and take them with you. There are many bars along the riverbank where you can stop and eat. If you prefer it a bit quieter, you should visit the tubing station between ten and twelve o'clock. Starting from noon, there are groups of people enjoying the fun. We share the river with two young men from South Korea, with whom we spend almost the entire two and a half hours in conversation, and with some kayakers who have booked a tour on the river. When we get off the river, there is the Smile Bar, which offers many hammocks where you can lie down and enjoy a cold drink. After a delicious lunch, we do some shopping and return the Vespa since we will be leaving the city for Vientiane tomorrow morning at 6:30 am.
