Vang Vieng Things to Do

You can't miss it, they make those pancake (also called roti) in front of your eyes and fill it with what you like: chocolate or banana, mango, lime, milk, peanuts... sweet or sour taste.
Locals who sell these come out late in the afternnon with prepared dough which is then extended and fried upon hot plates of their portable owens - so that way you see that they're fresh. They take several locations around town.
I like those with lime and sometimes those with banana and chocolate.
Prices are from 10 000 KIP +, depends what you order.
Usually same guys will also have delicious baguette sandwiches (choose what you like to have inside at the spot), so you don't have to go hungry here.

Most tourists come to Vang Vieng to float the river Nam Song. Either in rubber rings/tubes or in kayaks. You can also go caving on the tubes, the caves are very dark, but don't worry you have helmets with a flashlight, if you do capsize you'll dry very quick.
There are numerous agencies in the town that can arrange different trips for you with lunch included.

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Tham Chang is a largish and well-lit cave near the Vang Vieng Resort, to the south of town. Popular with tourists, even though it's not the most spectacular, it does have a lookout point with a great view back over Vang Vieng, the river and mountains. Entrance 9,000 kip.

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There are at least four temples in Vang Vieng, three of which are located along the main road that runs through the town, whilst the fourth is located on the road that leads to the Vang Vieng Resort and the Tham Chang Caves. None of them are amazing to look at but warrant a wander to if you've had enough of watching Friends&i.

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One of the most popular pastimes in Vang Vieng is to hire an enormous tyre inner tube, be driven a couple of kilometres upstream, and launched into the water. The river generally flows at a slow but steady pace in the dry season, and the idea is to relax and absorb the scenery as you float back to Vang Vieng.

This 'sport' can be practised in a number of places in Laos, but nowhere is the view as spectacular as here with karst limestone mountains lining the route. Caves are well sign-posted and it's easy to take a break from tubing and go exploring. A number of enterprising people have set up bamboo bars along the river's banks, where you can stop for a beer and further chill out, although this isn't condoned.

From around 9:00 to 13:00 is reasonable to go because the sun hides behind the mountains around 15:00 and it gets very cold on the river.

Rental price is 55,000 kip + 60,000 kip deposit which includes one way trip to the start if 4 of you go but if less than 4 then you have to pay extra depending on how many of you go.

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One of the main features of the town is a long mostly unused airfield runway parallel to the Nam Song river and the main road that runs through the town. It was used during the Vietnam War by Air America's planes and was then called "Lima site 6".

Don't rent a scooter for more than 35,000 kip (most advertise 40~50,000 kip), but come with near empty tank. Bicycles are relatively expensive, but don't pay more than 20,000 kip.

You can drive out of the town and see some of the quiet villages. Or you can ride over the larger bridge (pay toll to cross) on south end of town (the one big enough for cars). Ride down about 6km to the Blue Lagoon and Phoukham cave.

The Blue Lagoon is a rather far distance on the dirt road on a bicycle. Also, the villages outside of the city are a bit far on a bicycle. A bicycle should only be chosen for those die hard riders, or those just wanting to stay in town.

Not long time ago Vang Vieng was sleepy Lao village where people lived simple life in simple houses, doing farming and fising from Song river. They never had western menu. Then it was 'discovered' and it rapidly became tourist place; investors brought lots of money to build new buildings, some ugly some nicer: you can nowsadays see this mix styles of 'architecture' on every corner. Do you find it attractive? It looks quite hectic. There're charming wooden huts at one place and next to it you have concrete hotel; there are restaurants with few tables and huge dining places with many. It's so ecclectic. You have one of those lower Lao house in that street and rising new hotel next to it. Worse, there hotels with greek inspired columns at the doorways and balconies. All the area along river bank belongs to one owner or another - it's getting hard to get close to it, it's privatized.

Yes, they brought loads of money to town but look at VV: it's one of those dull new towns, developed into no style place. But you won't go there for the town itself, right?