Vang Vieng Town
One of the two star attractions of Laos is this small town of Vang Vieng (the other is of course the UNESCO Heritage Site of Luang Prabang in the north). It's a small town with one road running through it, and it's best covered by bicycle which I rented for US$2.
Backpackers lounging in cafe
I was surprised to see the cafes packed with western backpackers reclining on pillows watching episode after episode of the TV serial Friends.
Tubing shop
An exciting outdoor activity in Vang Vieng, apart from lying almost comatose in the cafes watching VCDs, is tubing. They take you somewhere outside town, and you float back on a huge rubber tube on the river. During the rainy season, the river swells with water and it can be dangerous. In fact, a western backpacker drowned while tubing.
Guesthouse
The hotels and guesthouses are excellent value. You can get a spotlessly clean room in a guesthouse with attached bathroom for only US$5.
Vientiane, the Lao capital, to Vang Vieng takes about 3 to 4 hours by van or bus.
i never have a "calling" to visit Laos before but now i just might, am going to Chiang Mai for the how manieth time in Jan10 (absolutely love CM), i might just do a detour. Do visit my blog if you have the time, love Thailand love even more the remote part of Thailand... wonder whether i will hv the same feel for Laos? :D
ReplyDeleteStrangely I cant add you as a follower....
Laos is quieter and less hectic than Thailand. The real remote parts are in a time warp. Like you I have been to Thailand countless times but my philosophy is a new country is alway more exciting.
ReplyDeleteLooking at your pictures, Van Vieng looks like a sleepy cowboy town :)
ReplyDeletedid you try the rafting there? i love the sunset over the saysong river =p
ReplyDeleteNo, only the tubing. How did you find the rafting? Yes, the sunset is fabulous.
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