Vang Vieng: Backpackers’ Paradise

February 18

From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, Laos, we took a bus. Because of the poor road conditions, it took seven and a half hours to cover the 168 kilometers between the cities. But the drive was pretty and the guide entertaining. The town of Vang Vieng itself is on the Song River and is surrounded by beautiful kart limestone mountains that rise dramatically above the otherwise flat ground, reminding me a bit of Guilin, China.

Views on the drive.

The town is a favorite of backpackers, and we had two nights scheduled there to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Our guide did request we stay away from the popular activity of river tubing—a pastime that I’m sure would be fine in and of itself, but becomes dangerous when combined with the alcohol and various other drugs backpackers typically ingest while floating down the river and the season’s shallow water. Seeing the dazed, colorful (people are literally covered in paint), and often injured state in which young backpackers returned to the town after a day of tubing, it was clear why our guide recommended against our doing it. None of our group did, but funnily enough, the people in our group most disappointed by our guide’s appeal was an English couple in their mid to late sixties.

We enjoyed a riverside dinner the night we arrived, and a group of us rented bikes (in various condition—mine lacked shocks, unfortunate considering the path we traveled) the following day to ride to a nearby cave to explore. 

View of the lake at dinner.

Shockless bike

So hard to capture the beauty of the cave!

You never know what you'll find in a cave!

Another try at capturing the beauty of the cave

These tractors are used to transport all sorts of things--from  logs to people!

Little boys swimming in the river! It was really hot,
and kids were everywhere enjoying the water.

Salad for one?

The afternoon was spent in the pool and then getting a massage. After being on the go so much in my travels, it was nice to have a day or two to relax!

Relaxing at the pool

Another sunset

Boys playing sepak takraw--a game involving kicking a little ball over the net.
It was the first time I'd seen it,, and I was completely impressed by the
coordination required to play it. 

The guy turned away from the next is just about to do a spinning kick.
Hard to capture in a picture, though.