It was time to go on my next journey through Laos followed by Vietnam. After my thrips through Cambodia via bus, I decided to go on the overnight train from Bangkok to Laos. It was the beginning of my next journey. So, to be more comfortable, I booked myself a private sleeping cabin, and 11 hours later arrived near the border of Laos. After a quick change into the local train to get me across the border, the immigration check and a 30min taxi ride, I was finally in Vientiane, Laos just in time for breakfast.
Travel tip: Be aware of the ‘all-in-one’ ticket, taking you across the border and all the way to Vientiane. It is much more expensive and takes supposedly twice as long.
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Vientiane
The city Vientiane, is the capital of Laos on the banks of the Mekong River near the border with Thailand. It is said to have a mix of French-colonial architecture (although I am not sure I noticed it) with many Buddhist temples. The golden, 16th-century Pha That Luang is a national symbol.
This time I wasn’t inspired to see too many tourist spots and I avoided them. I have done my share of temples for now. The Buddha Park is probably the only unique attraction nearby, but required public transport. And public transport in Asia means, sitting 1 hour in the bus for a 15km journey.
So, I just walked around the town, took minimal photos and got ready for Vang Vieng. A small town 4 hours north of Vientiane (with the Mini Bus), filled with many exciting outdoor activities.
Bus to Vang Vieng
I must admit, the 4 hours bus ride was quite taxing. As mentioned, I have done a few bus trips through Asia already, and usually I am ok with them. I just get into a zone where I know I have to get from A to B and, depending on the bus driver, hoping to arrive there safely. However, the road to Vang Vieng was one of the worst I have experienced so far. It was a challenge going from Vientiane and Vang Vieng in Laos.
Being landlocked, Laos is one of the world’s few remaining communist states and one of East Asia’s poorest. It is a very underdeveloped country with little general improvements. The road going north is one of the main roads, yet bigger parts are dirt roads with big holes that all vehicles are trying to avoid.
Not very pleasant, that’s for sure. I have driven a few crazy roads in Europe but it is always different being the driver, or being driven. Especially when in a very small mini van.
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Vang Vieng
Sitting on the Nam Song River in Laos, Vang Vieng is a small town north of Vientiane. It is surrounded by striking and rather steep limestone mountains, as well as plenty of caves. I liked it.
I was looking forward to some hiking, river tubing and swimming in one of the Blue Lagoons. However my 3 days in Vang Vieng were quite disappointing. I quickly realised that VV is a party town and river tubing means drinking all day, while sitting in the tube. Also, due to the rainy weather I wasn’t able to hike nor do other outdoor activities. It was a rainy Vang Vieng experience.
That said, I did manage to drive around in a super cool buggy. It was crazy fun and I came back rather dusty and dirty. Make sure you hire the bigger style because when you are in a big buggy, the road bumps are much more fun!
I had great fun riding the dirt back roads of Vang Vieng, passing many small villages and the mountain scenery. The weather was holding the rain until I (almost) finished, which was great. My plan was to stop at some of the lagoons and go for a swim but they looked more like dirty water holes than blue lagoons (where is the blue sky when you need it) so I gave it a miss. But I had amazing 4 hours nevertheless!
The Vientiane and Vang Vieng Trip in Laos was quite interesting and different. Did I like it?
Failed to impress
I had 10 days in Laos before I could enter Vietnam (Visa from 15th Dec), and my final stop would be Luang Prabang. Without trying to rush my trip I hang around in Vang Vieng because I had nowhere else to go. Maybe it was the rain, but so far Laos has failed to impress me. There was not much else to do than being lazy.
That said, the river with the floating bars and restaurants is certainly quite unique. Most restaurants are very local and basic, serving simple and clean food, cooked by families. I had the best BBQ duck so far and I love the clear chicken soups. Vang Vieng is certainly in a make over state, and I am sure it will be full of hip bars and western restaurants very soon. In the mean time, it is definitely more of a ‘party town’ and I am way past those years.
Vientiane and Vang Vieng are different but also same.
All in all, I was glad to see Laos but also to leave Vang Vieng. I am sure others might have a great time here, but for me it was just a little bit too much of a ‘party town’. It wasn’t for me and the weather didn’t help either. I wonder how Luang Prabang will be?
(post 69)
