Vang Vieng is by far the largest backpacker town in Laos. More closely resembling Bangkok’s bustling Khao San Road than a standard Lao provincial town, Vang Vieng has virtually every adventure travel destination on offer, a massive variety of foreign and native restaurants and some of the busiest and most popular bars in the country. Add to this the massive amount of tour operators and you’ve got Laos’ most busy, frantic and exciting tourism town.

Vang Vieng was once a relatively simple town, but quickly became a backpacker haven after the introduction of tourist buses traveling from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. As the halfway point of the journey, Luang Prabang is the perfect spot for backpackers to let loose and unwind after a relaxing weekend in Vientiane. You’ll have no trouble finding an outdoor activity of choice here, with most locals and tourists electing to spend their afternoons tubing down the river and stopping at riverside bars.

Accommodation is cheap and plentiful, with many guesthouses offering rooms from as little as $5. One phenomenon seemingly limited to Vang Vieng is the ability to negotiate on accommodation — talk to a guesthouse owner about booking a tour and they’ll happily negotiate on the price of the room, possible even offering a free stay with the booking of a major tour.

What to see:

Vang Vieng isn’t renowned as a major cultural destination. Here it’s all about the outdoors, be it adventuring through a rice paddy, climbing a limestone cliff or shooting down a dirt road at top speed. Almost every outdoor activity is available in Vang Vieng, with prices dirt cheap and variety pushed as far as it can go.

The most popular activity is river tubing, with tubes available from almost every bar and restaurant in the town. Lay down a few dollars as a deposit and take your tube down to the local river bridge. You’ll find huge swings, riverside bars and exciting rapids as you drift down the river with a local cocktail or fruit shake in hand. Be careful on the main swing — ear perforations aren’t uncommon and nearby medical assistance isn’t exactly world-standard.

Dirt bikes are available from around $30 per day, with the Honda Baja 250 the most common model. There is a massive range of trails over the river from Vang Vieng, each proving challenging for beginner motorcyclists and comfortable for the more experienced rider. Make sure to ask for a full face helmet when renting a bike, as most Lao helmets don’t offer adequate protection for off-road riding.

There are many caves in the area, most of which can be access on a small scooter or dirt bike. If you’re just visiting the caves, don’t bother with the Bajas or other large bikes. A simple 110cc step-through scooter will have more than enough power to make it down the dirt roads in the area, and will give you more luggage space than an enduro-style bike. Small scooters are available from around $5 and admission to most caves is less than $1.

Where to stay:

There’s a buffet of guesthouses available in Vang Vieng, most of which cater to the lower end of the cost scale. For around $5 you’ll be able to find a comfortable room, complete with double bed, hot water bathroom and ceiling fan. While Vang Vieng is still relatively hot, it’s unlikely that you’ll need air conditioning during the cool season. Rooms with air conditioning are typically a couple of dollars more expensive than their fan-only counterparts.

When picking accommodation it’s best to look a couple of blocks from the town’s main bar drag. Sure, you’ll have to walk slightly further to reach the bars and restaurants, but it also means that you won’t have to spend all night worrying about getting to sleep. Vang Vieng is noisy, often incredibly so during the night, so the extra distance really helps with sleep. Not only that, but guesthouses slightly further from the city center are less expensive and more roomy, with yards and parking spaces available.

More luxurious accommodation is available on the south side of town, with luxury villas and bungalows available. Many of these rooms feature views of the river, with prices ranging from $20 all the way up to $150 for the most expansive and impressive villas. Booking in person will generally give better prices than booking online, and with the vast majority of rooms located reasonably close together it’s very simple to price shop and compare accommodation.

How to get around:

Vang Vieng is a small town; tiny in fact. You can very comfortably walk from one end of the town to the other in 15 minutes, and transportation is almost completely unnecessary. However, if you’re planning on visiting the waterfalls and river areas, renting a scooter or small motorcycle is highly recommended. Small bikes cost as little as $5 and are more than enough to power two people down the dirt roads and rural lanes. Larger dirt bikes start at around $25, with Honda Baja and Yamaha TTR models available for around $30.

With Vang Vieng being a popular transit point for travelers going to Vientiane and Luang Prabang, buses can be booked from almost anywhere. Shop around for the best price, but expect to pay somewhere in the range of $6 for buses to either destination. The road to Luang Prabang is very interesting, featuring some expansive mountain views and winding corners. For a real thrill, rent a motorcycle in Vang Vieng and make the trip up yourself.

Costs, Customs and Extras:

Vang Vieng isn’t a slice of Laos, it’s a tourist destination in the Laos countryside. If you came here expecting to find a slice of rural Lao life, don’t worry. Luang Prabang is a much more ‘authentic’ Lao town and is just a couple of hours to the north of Vang Vieng.

While the costs of many activities in Vang Vieng may seem expensive, it’s worth comparing them with the costs of accommodation, which are incredibly low. Paying a few dollars extra to rent a bike is nothing when you’re only paying $3 per night for accommodation. However, make sure to check all hotel rooms before paying, as it’s not uncommon for rooms to look less attractive and comfortable than in promotional photos.