Flashback fifteen or twenty years and Vang Vieng had the reputation for being a wild party town the likes of Koh Phangan. Not anymore…
What is Vang Vieng like today?
In 2012, after reports of dozens of tourists dying each year in the notorious river tubing, the government took steps to end the party and change Vang Vieng’s reputation. They successfully rebranded it as an adventure destination and a place where people could enjoy nature and the stunning landscape.
The majority of the riverside tubing bars, ‘death slides’ and rope swings are gone . There is a noise curfew, establishments close by midnight and signs for ‘shroom shakes’ and ‘happy pizzas’ are now harder to find. There are still many bars to choose from, occasional jungle raves and “tipsy tubing” still exists, albeit in a tamer form.
When we visited (Nov 2025), it had been almost exactly a year since six tourists were sadly killed by methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng. As a result, the party atmosphere of the town felt subdued and backpackers were choosing beer bottles instead of buckets and free shots.
However, there is a lot more to this town than drinking…
Vang Vieng has always been a stunning little town nestled between towering limestone karst mountains on the Nam Song river. Located between the two main cities of Luang Prabang and Vientiane, it is easier to reach than ever, thanks to a new high-speed railway and highway. People are now coming to Vang Vieng seeking adventure and beautiful scenery instead of a party and a painful hangover.
With that in mind, here are a few recommendations on how to spend a few days in Vang Vieng… lagoons, views, and yes, tubes. Keep reading for food recommendations and extra activities also!
The best things to do in Vang Vieng
1. Go lagoon hopping!
Vang Vieng is home to several beautiful, blue lagoons. These freshwater pools at the base of the towering limestone karsts are stunning, cheap and fun.
Get a few people together and hire a tuktuk to take you to one or more of these beautiful spots for a fun and refreshing dip. Relax in the sun by the water’s edge, maybe with a drink in hand from a nearby vendor. For thrill seekers, go to a lagoon like #2 or #3 with a high platform to jump from or flying fox. Hopefully you won’t belly flop like I did!
It’s kind to the wallet for budget backpackers like me, costing about 20,000 kip (70p) to enter a lagoon, plus a few pounds for transport there and back.
It might be controversial, but my advice: skip lagoon #1, and don’t try to bike to lagoons yourself. For a full explanation and in-depth guide to the lagoons, watch out for a more detailed post about the lagoons (coming soon!)
2. Hike to one of the many incredible viewpoints
The landscape around Vang Vieng is stunning, with towering limestone karsts encased in lush greenery. My suggestion is to climb up on top of one of those karsts. It’s a bit of a workout, but it’s cheap, fun and unless you go paramotoring, you won’t find better views.
My favourite viewpoint (also the most famous and therefore busiest) is Nam Xay. Some people might call it the motorbike viewpoint because of (surprise!) the two bikes at the top where you can pose for a truly epic photo.
Nam Xay is located between lagoons #2 and #3, so you can combine activities and make a day of it. Again, I recommend hiring a tuktuk instead of biking there yourself. Split between a few people it would only cost a few pounds each. Entry is 20,000 kip (70p) between 5am and 5:30pm every day from the little kiosk at the bottom.
Trailhead for Nam Xay
A few words of warning…
The hike is a steep scramble, which is sometimes reminiscent of a slip n’ slide through mud.
Wear proper shoes and workout clothes – the path is littered with broken flip flops! It’s not a long hike, maybe 30mins to the top, but I suggest you’ll need a decent level of mobility, plenty of water and maybe a sweat rag!
Some people say to hike for sunrise or sunset. If you’re doing that, bring a head torch so you have both hands free. You’ll need them for the aforementioned slippery scramble, which will surely only be harder in the dark!
Also, it can be busy. You may have to wait in a queue of people clambering over boulders on the path. At the top we waited half an hour just to get that shot on the bike.
It’s all worth it though for the stunning 360 views!
3. Float along the Nam Song river
Vang Vieng is famous for tubing, but as already mentioned, it is now much tamer and safer than it was in the past. The ‘death slides’ are gone and there are around 30 people floating along instead of 300. There are three stops for beer instead of the former countless options, all with free buckets.
Honestly, floating down river in the inner tube from a tractor is a simple, cheap, fun and beautiful way to experience the local scenery.
And yes, have a dance and a drink if that’s what floats your boat ( – or tube!). If you’re looking for a more chilled experience without the drinks, go on a kayaking trip or join an earlier tubing group before lunch.
Book “tipsy tubing” through your accommodation and expect to pay about 100,000 kip (£3.50/$4.00). This includes pick up, tube rental, local guides who kayak alongside you, three stops and bonfire finale. It doesn’t include drinks so you’ll need to bring some cash with you.
The river is faster during rainy season and can be cancelled if deemed unsafe. We were picked up between 1 and 2pm and finished around 5pm.
Top Tips for a tubing trip
My best advice is to bring a small dry bag (rent or buy from your accommodation or local shop for a small fee) for your beer money and phone/camera. I wore a rash vest and water shoes, but many others simply went in bikinis/trunks and attached their flipflops to their bag strap. The finish point is, of course, downriver and you won’t see the truck again, so don’t leave anything behind.
Go with a group of friends and float along together laughing and chatting. Stop for a beer and a boogie along the way. Watch out for each other and don’t get too drunk. Finally, DO NOT miss the end point! If you do, you’ll float off into the jungle and have to be rescued by a forgiving local. There’s a big sign and loads of people throwing ropes and helping you out, but it has been known to happen… All part of the fun, eh!
Other things to do in Vang Vieng
I didn’t do these activities myself on our visit to Vang Vieng so I didn’t include them in my detailed itinerary. However, these activities are very popular in Vang Vieng:
paramotoring
hot air balloons
rock climbing
Getting up high above ground level to really take in the beautiful landscape must fantastic experience. Hot air balloons can be seen all over the town.
Next time for me! If you try any of these activities, let me know how you found them!
And finally, don’t miss
Big Mama’s sandwich stalls! They are a Vang Vieng institution and I would definitely recommend.
Is Vang Vieng worth visiting?
Vang Vieng has had a chequered past, but it is doing all the right things to change its image. My advice is not to go there looking for a crazy party, but to experience all the best things the local area and landscape have to offer. I have listed some of the best things to do in Vang Vieng here and I look forward to returning to experience more!
If you enjoyed reading about The Best Things to do in Vang Vieng, check out these posts!
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I have always made a point of never accepting guest posts on AbFabTravels, but I have just made an exception! My daughter Beth is currently on a sabbatical and travelling the world. She has agreed to contribute a few articles, giving a young person’s perspective and insights into a different way of travelling. She is a fantastic writer so please check out her posts.
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