3 days trip in Vang Vieng, Laos

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After a 9-hour journey, I arrived in Vang Vieng, where I spent 3 nights and explored the town over 2 full days. It’s a laid-back, hippie-style town with plenty of activities — you can even take a hot air balloon ride. There are many hiking trails and around 7–9 lagoons in the area. I visited Lagoons 1, 2, 3, and 4 where you can swim or just relax and sunbathe.

I rented a motorbike from my hostel for 180,000 kip/day, while a friend rented one from outside for 170,000 kip.

Lagoons:
Lagoon 1: The most crowded one, especially with Korean tourists — likely due to a 2014 Korean travel show that featured it along with the nearby Sakura Bar. Mostly middle-aged tour groups. There's also a cave above the lagoon you can explore (around 200m in).

Lagoon 2: Loses sunlight after 11:20 AM, so plan your visit earlier if you want to swim.

Lagoon 3: Sun disappears around 11:30 AM. It has a younger, livelier crowd. There’s a cave here too — although the entrance looks narrow, it’s easy to navigate inside.

Lagoon 4: A 30-minute motorbike ride away. Quiet, sunny all day, and not crowded. Near here is the Loup Cave, worth visiting if you have extra time.

Tham Nam (Water Cave):
One of the most unique cave experiences I had. You float inside the cave on a tube for around 300 meters. Near the end, the water actually starts to feel warmer.

Viewpoints:
Vang Vieng is full of scenic viewpoints. I climbed two mountains and visited three viewpoints in total, but there are 4–5 options around the town.

Nam Xay Viewpoint: The most famous one. Many people go here to take photos with motorbikes at the top — sometimes you may have to wait in line for a picture.

Phapoungkham Cave & Viewpoint: There are two viewpoints and one cave here. Be sure to bring a flashlight for any cave visits.

Elevate 9: Perfect for watching sunset and hot air balloons. Surprisingly affordable despite its great view.

Bars & Nightlife:
Sakura Bar: The biggest and most popular — especially with Korean tourists.

Irish Bar and Full Moon Bar are also lively spots worth checking out.

Transportation:
I traveled from Vang Vieng to Vientiane in 1.5 hours by minivan. The train takes even less — around 45 minutes to 1 hour. Unlike the rough roads in northern Laos, this route is a proper highway, so vehicles move fast. The minivan picked me up directly from my hostel and cost 140,000 kip.

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