Vang Vieng... not as lonely as it used to be.

Vang Vieng is a popular tourist destination in Laos, known for its stunning natural beauty and laid-back atmosphere.

The best time to visit Vang Vieng is during the dry season, from November to April, when the weather is pleasant and the skies are clear.

I first visited Vang Vieng in 2014, and the photos in this review were taken in 2016.

I've tried not to include too many details, as I've forgotten most of them! It's been a long time since I've written about Laos.

Most of the photos are of the scenery, and I don't recommend trying to visit all of the popular tourist spots. Just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

If you're looking for a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Vang Vieng is the perfect destination.

Getting there

There are many ways to get to Nong Khai from Nong Khai Railway Station. Those who like to walk can walk, while those who prefer convenience can take a motorbike taxi to the border crossing. After completing the necessary procedures at the border, you can walk to the bus stop and take a bus to the morning market. There are also vans going to Vang Vieng. This time, I started from the Northern Bus Station in Vientiane because my Lao friends dropped me off (I even have my own house there, haha).

For those coming from Korat (where we are), there are buses that go directly to the morning market in Vientiane. The buses have a late-night schedule that arrives at the border crossing just in time for the morning.

For those in Loei Province, there are buses from Loei Bus Terminal to Luang Prabang.

For those who enjoy riding motorcycles, be sure to bring your motorcycle passport. The drive to Vang Vieng is not too far, but the roads in Laos are not in the best condition and may have potholes and bumps along the way.

For those starting from Bangkok, both buses and trains are convenient. Take an overnight sleeper bus or train to arrive in the morning. All routes are available.

Take a van from the Northern Bus Station to Vang Vieng, where we have booked accommodation through Booking.com.

Champa Lao Bungalows costs around a thousand baht. We arrived in the late afternoon. The atmosphere was great, with a beautiful view and fresh air, which lifted our spirits.

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Our rooms at night

Take a stroll and enjoy the night atmosphere by the Song River.

A perfect one-day getaway, perfect for relaxation.

This morning, I woke up to the view from my room, stepped out to lie in a hammock, and enjoyed the gentle sunlight and cool breeze. I fell asleep peacefully.

This morning we have a little more time to walk around, so we decided to walk to Tham Chang Cave. I would like to request a map. It is not difficult to walk there.

Walking alone can be a bit lonely.

There is also a viewpoint in the cave. Suddenly, there was a voice saying hello. It was a ghost! Just kidding, it was just a person. We immediately made a new friend.

A new friend invited me to go hot air ballooning with them. I wanted to make friends, so I decided to stay another night. I went back to my accommodation and rescheduled my return trip for the next day. I booked the hot air balloon ride through my accommodation, and a car picked me up from there to take me to the launch site. The launch was in the evening, around 5 or 6 pm, but I don't remember exactly. Before the scheduled time, we decided to drive around the outskirts on motorbikes. The outskirts were along the same route where people were dropped off for tubing and boating, but we went further.

Stop anywhere you like along the way to enjoy the view.

I see a group of aunts working in the rice field far away.

The lovely aunt ^^ invited me to harvest rice, but I'm wearing shorts, so I'll pass. It might be itchy.

As I drive along, I encounter a group of aunts and uncles working together.

As mentioned, stop by any spot that catches your eye. This temple is located along the way.

Behind the temple are houses by the river. The atmosphere is fantastic.

After riding a motorbike for a while, there will be a restaurant on the left-hand side, a small pavilion by the river. This restaurant is famous for its crab dishes, especially the steamed crab or crab stir-fried with curry powder. It's truly unforgettable, but be prepared to wait a while as they cook everything fresh. I've been there several times but haven't managed to take a picture yet. Either my battery dies or I need to save it for taking pictures of the hot air balloons. This time, I brought a new friend to try the food, but we had to eat very quickly as we needed to rush back to catch the hot air balloon.

A vehicle picked us up from our accommodation and collected others from various hotels until the group was complete. We were then transported to the launch site. In the picture, we are inflating the balloon. Subsequently, individuals were selected for the first ascent, likely based on their size.

As the balloon began to rise, the selected individuals quickly climbed aboard. We entrusted our lives to the charming, yet fragile, wicker basket. The balloon ascended slowly and steadily, and we were soon followed by the next group.

Please check the bottom of the basket.

The sun is setting.

The plane's descent path will graze the rooftops of houses.

This descent is a real dump, no joke. The basket is about to tip over, and people are preparing to catch it by jumping on it. You can see the guy in the black shirt jumping on the other side to keep the basket balanced. Then they let the air out of the balloon in a controlled and orderly manner. Once everyone is down, they hug each other like the Western couple in the picture, as if to say, "We're saved!"

Spread the cloth and prepare to collect it step by step.

The day ends with the last light, and we have a cold beer with friends by the Song River. That's it for our relaxing trip. It's as simple as that.

Thank you everyone for reading and watching. ^ ^