Epic 4-Day Vang Vieng Itinerary with Map
Vang Vieng was one of my favourite places in Southeast Asia. Whilst it has a reputation for rowdy parties and people going a bit too far, I still enjoyed my time there. It may not have the most authentic Laotian culture, but there’s something about a barren strip surrounded by karst landscapes that inspires adventure. And adventure we did!
This Vang Vieng itinerary includes all of the must-do activities in Vang Vieng, so let’s get stuck in!
Vang Vieng Itinerary In Short
- Day 1: Hike Pha Ngern
- Day 2: Dune Buggy + Lagoon Exploring + Nam Xay Viewpoint
- Day 3: River Tubing + Night Out
- Day 4: Hot Air Balloon
How to use this Vang Vieng Itinerary: This itinerary compiles what I think is the best 4 days in Vang Vieng for Southeast Asia backpackers. The days and activities can easily be shuffled around to suit your needs. There is plenty more to do in Vang Vieng if you want to add additional days (I wouldn’t blame you!).
Vang Vieng Itinerary in Full
How many days do you need in Vang Vieng, Laos?
Whilst the town is quite small, I recommend spending at least 3 days in Vang Vieng. Ideally, 4 days or more will give you the time to fully explore the surrounding area.
4 Days Vang Vieng Itinerary
Day 1: Hike Pha Ngern
Your first day in Vang Vieng will allow you to familiarise yourself with the local area and your surroundings. There’s pretty much one main road (the strip) with a series of smaller side streets peeling off.
I do this in every new town or city I visit but take a walk around to get a feel for the place and see what it’s about.
There are several hikes near Vang Vieng from which you can choose. In my opinion, the best hikes are westbound towards Silver Cliff.
I enjoyed the Pha Ngern Hike which includes a stop at the Silver Cliff Lower Viewpoint (Silver Cliff Viewpoint One) and summits at the highest point in Vang Vieng: Big Pha Ngern Viewpoint.
I highly recommend doing this on your first day in Vang Vieng as no advanced booking is required and it’s the perfect way to stretch your legs if you’ve been stuck on a bus all morning! Plus the viewpoints overlooking Vang Vieng give you a better understanding of the town’s layout.
You can top it off with an evening visit to Vang Vieng’s night market.
Day 2: ATV Dune Buggy
Hiring an ATV (Dune Buggy) was one of my most fun (and unexpected) experiences in Southeast Asia! It’s an exhilarating way to get around and explore Vang Vieng’s nature.
There are plenty of places to rent off-road buggies along the main strip. We booked on the same day, but you can also book in advance. For a day rental, you should expect to pay around 500,000 to 700,000 kip per buggy (less for a half-day).
The buggies come in different sizes: either 2-person or 4-person. I recommend the larger ones as they’re more comfortable and you can split the cost with more people! The ones we had also had a Bluetooth speaker built in!
TOP TIP: Bring something to cover your face to avoid breathing in all the dust.
NOTE: The river crossing out of town costs 15,000 kip for buggies. UPDATE: The toll for the Namsong Bridge is now gone so it should be free.
Once you’ve got your vehicle for the day, head out to explore the countryside. You have the freedom to go wherever you want! Check out waterfalls, caves, viewpoints, or lagoons. One of the most popular options is the blue lagoons surrounding Vang Vieng.
Blue Lagoons
There are 6 Blue Lagoons that surround Vang Vieng. The most popular are lagoons 1 to 3 which form a circuit that you can drive around.
I recommend following the loop anticlockwise. This will take you to Blue Lagoon 2, past Blue Lagoon 6, up to Blue Lagoon 3, then down past Blue Lagoon 1. I also recommend continuing further to Blue Lagoon 5 as that was my favourite and the most natural.
Each lagoon is unique, but all allow you to swim in the beautiful and refreshing waters! Many have jumps, rope swings and other activities to make it more enjoyable. It’s a fun day out, a social atmosphere and a great place to relax between the driving!
Nam Xay Viewpoint
Finish the day with a sunset visit to Nam Xay Viewpoint! There’s no better place in Vang Vieng to watch it.
Located just along from Blue Lagoon 1, you can park your buggy across the road from the entrance to Nam Xay. It costs 10,000 kip per person.
It’s a short and sweaty hike to the top which should take around 30 minutes. The 360-degree views are totally worth it!
Day 3: River Tubing down the Nam Song River
One thing that Vang Vieng is famous (or notorious) for, is tubing on the Nam Song River.
Once upon a time, it was a rowdy and potentially dangerous activity. Backpackers drank and drank some more whilst floating down the river. It’s now become more regulated and slightly tamer. Don’t let that put you off though, it’s still a complete laugh and a great way to spend an afternoon, meet others and experience some of Vang Vieng’s natural beauty!
Tubing usually takes around 3 hours from top to bottom depending on the time spent in each bar and the speed of the current. You can go in the morning for a peaceful experience, or in the afternoon when several hostels arrange tubing tours. Most of these start in the early afternoon (12:00-13:00) and often include a couple of drinks with the ticket ($7). If you’re a backpacker looking to have fun and socialise, I recommend the latter!
Given the afternoon start, you have time for a filling late breakfast or early lunch to line your stomach! This also gives you time to grab a coffee and further explore the town.
After a big day out on the river, it makes sense to continue exploring the nightlife in Vang Vieng! Various bars line the main street, including Sakura Bar, Viva Pub, Gary’s Irish Bar and the Big Easy Bar. Maybe combine this into a small bar crawl, finishing on the dancefloor in Sakura.
NOTE: Watch out for fake police in Vang Vieng, it’s a common scam that takes advantage of drunk tourists.
Day 4: Hot Air Balloon
Vang Vieng is the cheapest place in the world to get a hot air balloon ride! And with the beautiful karst rocks and paddy fields, there aren’t many more beautiful places to do it. So grab the opportunity while you’re here!
Most hot air balloon rides cost around $90 USD per person in Vang Vieng. Make sure you book through a travel agent in town rather as online you will end up paying closer to $135.
Flight times usually last 30-60 minutes depending on the weather conditions.
NOTE: Prices vary and will be cheaper during the off-season.
Vang Vieng Itinerary Map
This map of the Vang Vieng Itinerary includes all the sights. I’ve excluded tubing and the hot air balloon as you will book somewhere centrally and usually be taken elsewhere to do it.
Vang Vieng Budget
What’s great about Vang Vieng is that so many of the activities are outdoors, and can be done easily on a budget!
On food, I averaged around $10/day. Accommodation, most hostels range from $6-$10 per night. Including activities I still averaged less than $50/day ($44.75).
The budget breakdown for this Vang Vieng itinerary is approximately as follows:
Day 1 – $14.50
- Food: $7
- Accommodation: $7
- Hike entry: 10,000 kip ($0.5)
Day 2 – $25.50
- Food: $10
- Accommodation: $7
- ATV Rental: 400,000 kip (100,000 per person) – $5
- Blue Lagoon Entry: 20,000 per lagoon ($1)
- Nam Xay entry: 10,000 kip ($0.5)
Day 3 – $32
- Food: $12
- Accommodation: $7
- Tubing: $7
- Extra Drinks: $1-2/beer
Day 4 – $107
- Food: $10
- Accommodation: $7
- Hot Air Balloon: $90
NOTE: The exchange rate at the time of writing was low as Lao kip had depreciated significantly.
What to do if you have more time in Vang Vieng?
Rock climbing: With its karst limestone cliffs, Vang Vieng is renowned for climbing. There are plenty of well-maintained routes suitable for both beginners and more experienced climbers often with insane views over the Nam Song River or nearby jungle. Adam’s Rock Climbing School is one of the best-established and most reliable companies with which to book a guide.
Kayaking: Kayaking in Vang Vieng offers an exciting way to explore the scenic Nam Song River. Paddlers can enjoy serene waters, limestone karst formations, and lush jungle scenery. Suitable for all skill levels, kayaking trips are best from November to March, providing ideal weather conditions.
Visit the caves: Tham Chang Cave is famous for its historical significance and panoramic views, while Tham Phu Kham features a blue lagoon that is perfect for a refreshing swim. Tham Nam Cave (Water Cave) allows visitors to float through its passages on inner tubes (just in case you haven’t had enough tubing!).
Where to go after Vang Vieng?
Once you have seen all that Vang Vieng has to offer, you have a number of choices for where to go next.
If you are travelling east through Laos, your next stop could be in the capital of Vientiane. From here you can take a flight elsewhere, or continue exploring through Laos. Or Nong Khiaw is another awesome option for those looking to get away from the main backpacking trail and see some awesome rural landscapes.
If you are travelling west through Laos, your next stop could be in Luang Prabang. From here you can take the slow boat into Thailand.
- How to get from Vang Vieng to Vientiane: Bus (3-5 hours), Train (1.5 hours)
- How to get from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang: Bus (4-6 hours), Train (2 hours)
- How to get from Vang Vieng to Nong Khiaw: Train to Ouomxay then taxi
Before you go
Thank you for reading my 4-day Vang Vieng itinerary in Laos. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
Happy travelling!
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