OUR DESTINATIONS
Let us help you find your perfect holiday by phoning us on
We offer holidays to the four corners of the globe. If you want specialist advise please phone our travel team and we will be happy to help.
Alternatively, check out some of our holiday offers below.
- Destinations
- Asia
- Laos
- Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng
The small, laid back town of Vang Vieng is spectacularly
situated on a bend of the Nam Song River, surrounded by green
agricultural fields, friendly Hmong and Yao villages, and mountains
that hold fascinating limestone caves. Once no more than a bus
change on the long journey between the capital Vientiane in the
south to the world heritage city of Luang Prabang in the north,
Vang Vieng has become a destination in its own right, especially
appealing to backpackers and younger travellers.
Magnificent scenery, the mighty river and numerous caverns and
caves in the surrounding limestone mountains are the main tourist
attractions, and several guesthouses organise guides to explore
them (or else visitors can hire bicycles and motorbikes and go
adventuring on their own). The cave of Tham Phou Kham, set in a
limestone cliff, contains a bronze Buddha inside the main cavern,
and is one of the more interesting caves to visit. To get there is
part of the enjoyment, with river crossings on precarious bamboo
footbridges, past rural villages and between shimmering rice
fields, surrounded by exquisite scenery of fresh and vivid colours.
The cave of Tham Pha Thao is for the more adventurous, and involves
wading through a deep subterranean stream past enormous stalactites
and stalagmites. Another great attraction in Vang Vieng is floating
down the river on inner tubes and enjoying the laid back pace of
life.
Vang Vieng is an ideal stop-off point on the Vientiane to Luang
Prabang route, combining shy but friendly people, a beautiful rural
setting, and enjoyable activities.
Information & Facts
Climate
Vang Vieng experiences two main seasons due to the annual
monsoon cycle. May to October is wet while November to April is
dry. Average temperatures drop to 59F (15C) in the dry season which
is the best time for tourists to travel to Vang Vieng. During the
wet season average daytime high hovers round 86F (30C) and tropical
downpours are frequent, especially during the months of July and
August.
Language
Lao is the official language, but some English and French
are spoken.
Money
The Lao Kip (LAK) is the legal currency unit, currently
available in denominations of 1, 000, 5, 000, 10, 000, 20, 000 and
50, 000 kip. US Dollars, Euros and Thai Baht are also accepted in
many places and are more convenient to carry than large stacks of
the local currency. Banks, hotels, and jewellery shops all offer
currency exchange services. For everyday expenses, carry a mix of
US dollars and kip. For larger items, or when the exchange rate
works in your favour, use US dollars. For local transport, street
food stalls and minor purchases, it is best to use kip. When in
rural areas, ensure you carry a supply of small notes as change can
be hard to come by. Major credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard
are accepted at most international hotels, many shops and
restaurants, and a few tourist-orientated establishments in Luang
Prabang and Vientiane - but in other parts of the country assume
that only cash is accepted. Travellers cheques can be cashed at
most banks in Vientiane and other major towns. Banks are open
Monday to Friday from 8am to 12pm, and then again from 2pm to 3pm.
In Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakse and other major towns, ATMs are
available from which money can be withdrawn. Note that ATMs
distribute only Lao kip, with a maximum of around 1, 000, 000 kip per
transaction.