Swinging around like Tarzan in Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a charming little town and an intriguing stopover in the journey of many travelers exploring Laos. It's a place filled with numerous adventurous activities, offering you a unique experience.

Laos travel, experiencing the thrill like Tarzan in Vang Vieng

At Vieng Chan Bus Station

Laos travel: After arriving at Vieng Chan Bus Station, I had to purchase a ticket to Vang Vieng here. Some minibus drivers approached me, offering tickets to Vang Vieng for 150 Kip.

I stayed silent and walked straight into the terminal to find ticket counters. They told me, “Tickets to Vang Vieng are not sold inside the station. You can buy them directly from the drivers outside for 50 Kip each.”

After negotiating the right price, I confidently stepped outside to bargain for tickets to Vang Vieng. The drivers were still quoting 150 Kip. I said, “50 Kip,” and they nodded in agreement within a heartbeat.

The serene beauty of Vang Vieng

We arrived in Vang Vieng around 2 pm. When I first got off the bus on the main road, I didn't have much impression of Vang Vieng.

At that moment, all I saw were chaotic houses, dusty roads, intense sunlight, and uncomfortably hot air…

However, after checking in and storing my belongings, when I rented a bicycle to explore Vang Vieng, I gradually began to discover the beauty and excitement here.

Vang Vieng boasts an ideal landscape of “mountains against the river.” White clouds descend, covering the rugged mountain ranges, dipping into the Nam Song River. In the distance, lush green fields unfold.

This tiny town holds both raw simplicity and profound tranquility within its embrace.

Vang Vieng welcomes a multitude of travelers exploring Laos tourism, especially backpackers drawn to its affordability compared to Luang Prabang and the abundance of adventurous activities.

There are no luxurious 5-star restaurants or expensive resorts here. Vang Vieng boasts many small eateries with a laid-back Western style.

Budget-friendly hostels, affordable hotels, casual bars... they're everywhere. With just the river and those mountains, the Laotian people have established Vang Vieng's solid reputation on renowned travel websites and magazines. Every traveler to Laos must visit here, and among them, I, too, fell in love with Vang Vieng.

Experience the “specialty” of Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng captivates tourists with seemingly ordinary but incredibly famous and exciting river games.

There are numerous day tours offering exciting activities in Vang Vieng, such as hot air balloon rides, kayaking, ziplining, tubing, blue lagoon exploration, and more for you to choose from.

You can stroll around the Western district, where you'll find plenty of travel agencies selling day tours and tickets. Personally, I opted for a 'full day' tour at 220,000 kip (around 600,000 VND, after some bargaining) to experience activities like ziplining, kayaking, lunch, cave exploration tubing, and fun at the famous blue lagoon – a stunning blue lake in Vang Vieng.

However, due to the large number of swimmers, the blue lagoon is now humorously referred to as the 'brown lagoon.' Everyone speculates that in the future, this charming blue lake might transform into a beautiful and lush brown lake.

The next morning, a pickup truck tuk-tuk arrived to take us to the meeting point to start our kayaking adventure on the Nam Song River. Kayaking is truly enjoyable but can be quite tiring on the arms.

Taller and stronger individuals paddle at the back to generate force for speed, while smaller and weaker ones sit at the front to guide the boat. The scenery along the river changes at every turn – from towering mountain peaks blocking the sky to sections where bamboo dust skims the water, reminiscent of a scene from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'

The landscape along the river evolves with each stretch. At times, you look up and only see mountain peaks, and at other times, the bamboo dust gently descends into the water, resembling a scene from 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'

This stretch of the river is unique, with murky brown water, tumultuous waves in one section, swirling eddies in another, and tranquil stretches elsewhere. Turns out, the river is only knee-deep, far from being dangerous.

Engaging in this activity, you won't touch the ground for about an hour but will swing from one tree to another, resembling the sensation of being Tarzan.

Sliding down to the seventh or eighth line, you'll soar at speeds reminiscent of martial arts films. The exhilarating feeling of zooming through the air, crossing real forests, is truly fascinating.

As the sunset descends, the once small and serene Vang Vieng transforms into a lively, bustling Western district.

Travelers can find all sorts of goods, souvenirs, or any service at reasonable prices here and explore the local culture through authentic street food.

Despite the constant influx and departure of countless tourists each day, Vang Vieng remains peaceful, serene, akin to the everyday life of a tranquil mountain town.

By Mai Huong/Youth

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Reference: Travel guide Mytour