There are so many fun activities to do in Vang Vieng. Previously, Vang Vieng was known as a party destination where hundreds of drunken travelers made the streets and river unsafe with tipsy tubing. Nowadays, Vang Vieng is best known for the many activities you can do. Take a balloon ride, hike to viewpoints, swim in the blue lagoons and much more. Discover the 10 best things to do in Vang Vieng below.
Content of this blog:
1. Take a balloon ride
Ofcourse number one on the list for things to do in Vang Vieng: take a balloon ride in! A balloon ride most people take only once in a lifetime, and the beautiful surroundings of Vang Vieng are the perfect place for it. Read all the information (where to book, how much it costs, what to expect etc.) about ballooning in Vang Vieng in this blog.
2. Blue Lagoon 1,2,3,4,5 and 6.
The blue lagoons are especially beautiful to visit during the dry season (November to April). Indeed, the water then has a beautiful, deep blue color. Blue lagoon 1 is the most famous, especially among locals, and is therefore, especially on weekends, enormously crowded. Among tourists, blue lagoon 3 is the most popular because several fun elements have been added here. Float in a band or swing above the lagoon. Be sure to visit blue lagoon 3 in the morning, as the sun disappears behind the mountain around noon.
Check carefully with your ho(s)tel in advance to see if all blue lagoons are open to visit. When we were in Vang Vieng, December 2023, only the blue lagoon 6 was closed.
3. Climb the Nam Xay viewpoint
Nam Xay is the famous viewpoint with the motorcycle on top, you’ve probably heard of this before. How the bike ever got to the top remains a mystery, but there is no question that you have a great view from the top, and of course a fun photo!
However, it is important to be aware that it is quite a difficult climb to get to the top. There are almost no steps in sight, you will really have to climb over the rocks. After half an hour of tough climbing, you will arrive at the peak. Put on good shoes that give you plenty of grip; you won’t be the first to take an ugly fall by slipping.
4. (Tipsy) tubing in Vang Vieng
Even though tipsy tubing was briefly shunned in 2012, it’s back in full force these days. Fortunately, though, in a different form that minimizes the risk of accidents. There is more guidance these days and far fewer bars and activities along the way.
Tipsy tubing begins around 1 p.m. each day. You will be picked up at your ho(s)tel in Vang Vieng and taken with the whole group to the river some distance away. Here you get your tube (old car tire) that you get to sit in. Make sure you have put all your belongings (money, sunglasses, sunscreen and clothing) in the drybag. In fact, there is a very good chance that everything will get quite wet.
That’s how you float gently down the river. Along the way, you will be ushered in (yes literally) at 2 bars where you can have a drink, dance and party. It really is a cozy and super social place. Around 5 p.m. you will arrive at the last bar, in the village. Here is a campfire to warm up, as the sun has just left and then it gets cold in the water. You can also have a drink here and, of course, continue partying. We found tipsy tubing in Vang Vieng to be really fun and enjoyable!
It is also possible to tub normally. This is best done in the morning, before tipsy tubing begins. You simply rent a tube, get dropped off at the river by the cab and can float down the river at your own pace. This is another very fun activity, especially on hot days.
5. Kayaking
Are you more into kayaking? Then, too, you’re in the right place in Vang Vieng. Paddle across the river and among the mountains. Enjoy the beautiful scenery while working your muscles vigorously.
6. Take a boat ride
Would you rather not do all this, but still enjoy the river and its surroundings? Then you can also take a boat ride. Along the banks of the river you will find small boats everywhere that will take you on the river for an hour for a small fee. Ask your ho(s)tel for the exact location.
7. Drive the motorbike through the beautiful surroundings of Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is insanely beautiful in between the mountains. It is therefore an activity in itself to drive around, mountain bike or cycle and just enjoy all the nature you encounter along the way. Especially beautiful is the road to the blue lagoons and the Nam Xay Viewpoint.
8. Paramotor
Besides taking a hot air balloon ride in Vang Vieng, you can also choose to take a paramotor flight. This involves sitting comfortably in a seat and flying, along with an instructor, over the mountains of Vang Vieng. Make sure you go out during sunrise or sunset as that is when it is most beautiful. A paramotor flight in Vang Vieng is truly unforgettable.
9. Ziplines
Laos is the country of the ziplines. Everywhere you go you can zipline, including Vang Vieng. Fly through beautiful nature and enjoy the adrenaline.
Tip: Want to do more ziplining and have the coolest experience in Laos? Then quickly book the Gibbon Experience, in northwest Laos. This is the highlight of Laos. For 2 or 3 days you’ll hike and zipline through the jungle and spend the night in a real treehouse!
10. Village of Pha Tang
Many other travel blogs recommend a visit to the village of Pha Tang. We therefore drove the motorbike to here (30 minutes from Vang Vieng) but found it not really worth it. It is a very small village, which you will find in other areas, with one temple. We didn’t think it was very special, so we were soon gone.
The best restaurants in Vang Vieng
- Happy Mango Thai Restaurant. This is rightfully the very best restaurant in Vang Vieng. You can eat insanely delicious Thai food here with, of course, the best mango sticky rice for dessert. Really the best recommendation for a restaurant in Vang Vieng.
- Pizza Luka. This Italian restaurant is somewhat secluded but definitely worth going out for dinner in the evening. The pizzas are not the standard you normally get, they really turn it into a culinary feast with special, but very tasty, combinations.
- Naked Espresso Vang Vieng. This is the brunch spot in Vang Vieng. You can eat delicious sandwiches and rolls here. The coffee is also very good.
- PullMind Café. This is the best place to watch the sunset in Vang Vieng. Order a drink, play a game and watch the ever-changing colors of the sky.
How to get to Vang Vieng?
From Luang Prabang, you can easily catch the train to Vang Vieng. The train only takes an hour. Note that you are not allowed to bring a bottle of deodorant, hairspray or sunscreen if it is pressurized (i.e., if you can actually spray this). Also, you are not allowed to bring a pocket knife. This applies to all your luggage. So you will have to throw this away at the check when you enter the train station. Book your tickets for the train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng here.
From Vientiane, you can also take the train, which also takes only an hour. Book your tickets for Vientiane – Vang Vieng through this website.
