Laos!!! One of our favourite places in Southeast Asia!!! From Its stunning mountains, jagged limestone cliffs, completely untouched towns, the best night markets and the most lovely people, what more could you want?

Where is Laos?

Laos is a landlocked country in mainland Southeast Asia. It’s bordered by Thailand, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

How do you get to Laos?

Of course, this depends on where you’re travelling from. If you’re flying into Laos, the main airports are Luang Prabang or Vientiane. If you're traveling via bus, you can enter from major cities like Hanoi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Siem Reap if you're traveling from the south of Laos. Most buses will be direct to Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

Another popular way to travel to Laos is via the slow boat from the north of Thailand, which we highly recommend, and we have written a whole blog about it too - Laos Slow Boat, All You Need To Know!

One of the best hikes we did in Laos! - Nong Khiaw.

the only itinerary you need for the north of laos

We spent two weeks in Laos, and if we hadn’t been on a time crunch, we would have used our 30-day visa, stayed a month, and continued our travels to the south of Laos. If you’re like us and only have a few weeks to spare, that’s okay! There is so much to do and see in the north alone. This itinerary will give you a taste of the country and make you want to plan your next trip to come back!

In this itinerary, we include the two days of travel via slow boat at the beginning, but if you’re flying into Laos, your itinerary can start from Luang Prabang. You can do this itinerary in reverse if you land in Vientiane and make your way up to the north via the same route.

Quick Snapshot of your two-week itinerary.

Day 1- Slow boat to Pakbeng, stay in Pakbeng.

Day 2- Slow boat from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang.

Day 3 - Exploring the town of Luang Prabang.

Day 4- Exploring Kung Si Falls.

Day 5 - Travel to Nong Khiaw, book an overnight hike.

Day 6- Chill morning, overnight hike in the afternoon, sleeping above the clouds.

Day 7- 6 am wake up, hike back down the mountain, and be back in town by 10 am. Coffee, breaky time, check into a new hotel, could do an easy afternoon hike in the morning, stay one more night in Nong Khiaw.

Day 8—Morning hike or chill. Check out of the hotel at 12 pm. Catch a bus back to Luang Prabang. Chill night in Luang Prabang.

Day 9 - Travel day to Vang Vieng and have a relaxed evening exploring the town.

Day 10 - Day 13- Time to explore all Vang Vieng has to offer over the next few days!

Day 14 - Vientiane or move straight on to your next destination and use Vientiane as a stop-over destination.

The local kids on the slow boat to Luang Prabang.

Day 1 - Travel from Chiang Rai to Pakbeng

The journey to Laos begins! This morning, you will likely have traveled from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai to cross the border into Huay Xai and catch the slow boat to Pakbeng. I highly recommend taking the slow boat if you have travelled anywhere in Southeast Asia and seen the Mekong. The views of the Mekong in Laos and travelling via boat surrounded by forests and limestone cliffs are the best views of the Mekong in Asia!

This journey gives you a sense of what your time in Laos will be like. Trust me, when you see these views, you will completely forget that you’re in a landlocked country, which can sometimes be difficult for beach lovers.

The first day of travel is around six hours and your first night will be spent at a tiny, riverside town called Pakbeng which is situated right on the Mekong. It’s a little town with a few motels, guesthouses, and very basic hostels that are only there for the one-night stopover for the slow boat. Take the night to explore an authentic local town in Laos and eat at one of the few local restaurants. If you’re looking for a place to go for a few drinks and to play pool, the only real bar in town that most travellers will head to for the night is HIVE bar.

Booking accommodation in Pakbeng.

The accommodation in Pakbeng is basic. You can find a guesthouse for as cheap as $10 a night and if you want something on the “fancier” end (I use that term very loosely as fancy isn’t something you can find in Pakbeng) then you could pay as much as $60-$70 for a night. You can book your accommodation on booking.com before you arrive, but the cheapest option is to book once you arrive. Locals are waiting at the port with signs for accommodation, and they are all trying to give you the best deal. If you have made some friends on the boat, you can find a dorm for as cheap as $2 a night.

Day 2- Travelling from Pakbeng to Luang Prabang

Day 2 on the slow boat! This travel day is a little longer than day 1 and is closer to 7 hours, but as you creep closer to Luang Prabang, the views start to change, and you’ll cruise past more local riverside towns, watch the local kids swimming in the Mekong and will be in awe of the limestone cliffs towering over your boat. The boat usually arrives in Luang Prabang around 4:30 pm, and on arrival at the Port, there will be many tuk-tuks waiting to take you into town, and it’s roughly a 15-minute ride into the centre.

Where to stay when you arrive in Luang Prabang?

Luang Prabang is a beautiful, mountainous town, and no matter where you stay, you’ll be offered stunning views of the mountains and the Mekong River or the Nham Khan River, depending on the area.

If you’re looking to be within walking distance of everything you need and in the “heart” of it all, staying on the Nam Khan River is the best area to be! Further down the river, away from town, is where you’ll find the more tranquil, luxury accommodation, and in the direction of the southern part of Luang Prabang are the more budget hostels and backpacker bars.

Southern Luang Prabang is also a great area. This is because you’re close to both the Nam Kahn River and the Mekong but are in the hustle and bustle of town, close to the shops and the night market. So if you don’t mind a bit of noise and like to be in the middle of where it’s all happening, this is the place to be!

During our time in Luang Prabang, we stayed at the Sunrise Riverside Hostel and loved it. The hostel is situated on the bank of the Nham Khan River, offers amazing views, has a huge outdoor common space and bar, and has a great little pool to cool off when you need to escape the mid-day heat. It’s also a 10-minute walk from the famous night market and many other cafes and shops. Other great hostels in the area that our friends recommended are The Jam Hostel and the Mad Monkey in Luang Prabang. If you’re looking for something more upmarket, there are many great guesthouses and hotels in the area, too!

Day 2 continued- Evening spent in Luang Prabang.

Once you have checked into your accommodation, showered, and cleaned off all the dirt, sweat, and fun from the slow boat. It’s time to head out and see the bustling streets of Luang Prabang and visit the night markets.

The night markets are on every night in Luang Prabang and it’s the place to be if you want cheap but unreal local food, Western food, and other cuisines like Thai, Japanese, and Vietnamese food. The food market is in an open seating area surrounded by stalls and a huge stage where they have free performances on some nights. The night market also offers a shopping street with stalls on either side where you can shop for local souvenirs and the famous Beer-lao singlets.

The atmosphere at this market is unreal; with a real mix of tourists and local people all here, the vibes are immaculate.

The boys looking very happy at the night markets with their Beer-lao and $2 meals.

Once you have fueled up at the markets the next stop is the- FAMOUS BOWLING ALLEY.

Luang Prabang isn’t known for being a crazy party town, and it is quieter than other places in Laos, such as Vang Vieng. Most bars close at midnight and are very laid back. But if you’re a backpacker and would like to continue the party, the bowling alley is the place to be (or really the only place to be), as it closes at 2 am. It’s where you go for cheap drinks, even cheaper bowling, and they have the music loud enough for it to almost turn into a dancefloor too…. It's an interesting concept but a lot of fun, and it's something everyone should experience once in Luang Prabang. It’s a little out of town, roughly a 10-minute ride, but you can quickly get a tuk-tuk for around 30,00 kip per person.

Day 3 - Spend the day exploring Luang Prabang

Your first full day in Luang Prabang!!

After a few drinks at the bowling alley, you deserve a sleep-in. Most people recommend only two nights in Luang Prabang. But we loved this little town and were so glad we booked three nights. We gave ourselves time to explore the town and its historical sites, and we also had an extra day to explore the outskirts of town and the falls, which you will do tomorrow.

Your first morning in Luang Prabang.

Head to Comma Coffee for your morning coffee and delicious breakfast. They have a great assortment of breakfasts to choose from and for reasonable prices, too; whether you want the basic eggs on toast or fried rice, they have it all. There are many great little cafes and restaurants spread throughout the town, and if you walk through the historic quarter, you’ll find many gems, depending on your budget.

Things to do in Luang Prabang during the day.

You have the day to explore, and plenty of things to do in Luang Prabang will give you a real taste of the town and Laos culture.

Some suggestions include:

Walk around the Historic Old Quarter. Walking through here feels like taking a step back in time. The old colonial-style buildings, cobbled streets and ancient temples along the street are beautiful, and its such a great place to wander and lose track of time.
Visit the Royal Palace, which is now a museum, to learn about the history of Luang Prabang.
Visit the UXO visitors centre - this museum is small, but it’s a great place to learn more about the secret war and how the war is still impacting life in Laos today. You can read stories from survivors, and there is an interesting documentary they play every 20 minutes or so that’s worth watching.
Attend a jewellery-making class from local artists - a super fun and popular activity to do while you’re here.
Hire bicycles and explore around town, around the Mekong and Nam Khan River.
Take a cooking class and cook local Laos dishes.

Evening in Luang Prabang.

To round off your first full day in Luang Prabang, head to one of the bars located along the Mekong River and enjoy a drink while watching the sunset. If you didn’t travel into Luang Prabang via slow boat and want to experience cruising along the Mekong River. A sunset cruise in the evening is a popular activity to do in Luang Prabang and you can book this directly via get your guide!

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Day 4 - Visiting Kung Si Falls and the surrounding villages of Luang Prabang.

You can’t come all the way to Luang Prabang without visiting the crown jewel- Kung Si Falls. It is known for its milky, turquoise waters and beautiful views. We were worried it would be a tourist trap and feel underwhelming but we were wrong! The falls are definitely worth visiting and if you know where to go, there are areas where you can avoid the crowds and swim in the falls too.

How to get there?

Most hotels and hostels will offer shuttles to the falls for around 100,000 KIP, or every second, tuk-tuk will be calling out to you as they drive past and scream “KUNG SI FALLS”, so there is no shortage of ways to get there. It’s roughly a 50-minute drive from Luang Prabang.

You can also book guided tours via Get Your Guide and with tour agencies, but these cost a lot more than booking and finding your way to get there and taking a self-guided tour of the falls.

BUT, if you’re like us and prefer to explore in your own time and want to avoid the big tourist buses, we highly recommend renting a scooter for a day if you’re a confident driver. The roads aren’t the greatest, but they weren’t as bad as we had expected. Be prepared for some potholes and loose gravel roads, and always wear a helmet. We paid 100,000 Kip for a 24-hour rental from our hostel, and it worked out as it was cheaper than going on a tour if you have two people on the bike!

Another reason we recommend the bike is because the drive to Kung Si Falls is BEAUTIFUL. You drive through the most amazing green forests, passing stunning rice fields and catching snippets of the Mekong River. There are many local villages along the way and tiny temples, which give you a great insight into how the locals live. The most fun part? Expect cows, goats, and bulls on the side of the road, in the middle of the road, in the middle of town while you're driving. It was the coolest journey and opened your eyes to how the locals live. This was one of those journeys that brought a tear to my eye and gave me that “I love travelling more than anything” feeling.

Everything you need to know about Kung Si Falls.

The fee to get into the falls is 60,000 KIP per person, including a 5-minute shuttle up the hill to the start of the walk to the falls. Once you arrive at the top of the hill, a few stalls sell fruit, snacks and drinks.

When you arrive at the entry of the falls, we recommend taking the path that leads you to the bear sanctuary first. That’s right, bears!!! They have a black bear sanctuary full of native black bears in Asia where you can watch them sleeping, playing and rolling around with each other; they were so cute!!

You’ll follow the stream to the lower falls and smaller pools as you continue on the path. The falls are much more than just the big falls themselves, and you can stop along the way at the smaller falls and swim in certain spots (but keep reading for our recs on where to swim). From the bear sanctuary to the main falls it’s about a 15-minute walk. Once you have passed all the lower pools, you will reach the grand prize- Kung Si Falls!

There is a footbridge and viewing deck at the main falls. The time you visit will depend on how much the falls are running and the colour of the falls. The best time to visit is between December to April because the water has settled from the rainy season. However, we were there in mid-October, and it was a stunning blue day, and the falls were pumping and so blue!

Lets just pretend these people aren’t in the background of this shot. But look at those falls from the viewing deck!!

**Where to Swim?**
You can swim in the pools of the lower falls you walked past on your way up to the main falls. But if you want to escape the crowds, you have to be willing to take a few more steps (okay maybe closer to 500 steps and all uphill). When you’re looking at the falls, on your left, there is a path of stairs leading you to walk above the falls, and there will be a sign telling you exactly how many steps there are to get to the top, but it’s roughly 10-15 minutes and well worth it!

Once you arrive to the top, there are a few different pools and swimming spots, along with a swing to play on and cool off in the streams! You can also swim up the stream to see where the falls begin. If you don’t feel like swimming, a boat will take you up the stream for an additional cost.

Heading back to Luang Prabang.

If you’re on a scooter or have paid a tuk-tuk driver for the day, I highly recommend stopping at one of the cafes on your way back to Luang Prabang that overlook the rice terraces or have the bungalows in the rice terraces for a coffee and lunch. It’s such a peaceful spot to enjoy a drink, and the views are amazing. We stopped at BanNa Cafe, and it was beautiful, but there were many other places to stop along the road up to the falls.

If you’re an ice cream or cheese lover and love animals- there is also the Buffalo Dairy Farm on the way to the falls, and you can stop for a tour of the farm, say hi to the animals and try the fresh cheese and ice cream they make on site!

Views from the cafe we stopped at on the way back to Luang Prabang.

Day 4 continued - Your last evening in Luang Prabang.

After a big day exploring the falls, there is no better place to end the day than back at the night market. We ate here every night because there was so much to choose from, we wanted to come back and try a new food stall each night.

You have to try their traditional dish Khao Soi. It was the BEST dish we had at the market. It’s a flat noodle dish made in a broth with herbs, chicken, chilli, and spices, and the flavours are an explosion in your mouth!!!! The best part - is you shouldn’t pay any more than 40,000 Kip which is only $3 AUD for a huge meal!!

Day 5- Travel day to Nong Khiaw and booking your overnight hike for day 6.

Nong Khiaw is a mountainous town north of Luang Prabang, roughly a 4-hour drive from Luang Prabang. It’s an outdoor lover and adventure traveler’s dream location. With unlimited hiking trails, limestone mountains and outdoor activities like ATVing, kayaking, caving, rock climbing and cycling, its the perfect destination for the thrill seekers.

How to get there?

The only way to get to Nong Khiaw from Luang Prabang is by minivan (although you may be told you’re booking a bus, don’t expect a large, comfortable bus). The roads to Nong Khiaw aren’t for the faint-hearted. This stretch of road is probably the worst road we’ve travelled on in all of Asia. There’s one road in and out to Nong Khiaw, and it’s extremely uneven and bumpy, with potholes throughout the entire journey. The whole ride felt like we were being thrown around on a rollercoaster. On top of that, we were thrown into a minivan that only had 10 seats, but they seated nearly 18 of us because they stuffed milk crates down the aisle of the minivan and piled people in. (It is all part of the adventure when travelling Asia)

It cost us around 150,000 Kip each ($11 AUD) and took close to 4 hours with one stop for the toilet. I highly recommend taking travel sickness tablets before this journey, and don’t be expecting to nap; it’s way too bumpy for that. If you prefer not to risk being stuffed into a tiny minivan of 18 people, you can book a private minivan for your group, and we paid 150,0000 KIP ($110 AUD). Which seems like a lot more, but there were 5 of us, and we all paid 300,000 KIP each. It may have been double what we spent on the way there, but it was worth every dollar for the comfort we had.

Where should I stay in Nong Khiaw?

Nong Khiaw isn’t big, and no matter where you stay, you’ll be within walking distance of everything you need. There will be hikes or mountains on your doorstep no matter where you stay. You’ll find mostly guesthouses and homestays here, but if you’re looking for something a little more luxurious, you can find bungalows nestled right on the Nam Ou River. We went past these bungalows when we took a boat along the river and lets’s just say, us backpackers were extremely jealous. Most accommodation ranged anywhere from $10-$30 AUD a night. We stayed at a guesthouse called Sabidee Nong Khiaw, which was perfect for what we paid for. It had views of the river and a balcony and the room was basic but clean. You can book your accommodation on booking.com before you arrive or if you want to save a few pennies, you can walk into the guesthouses on arrival to Nong Khiaw and check if they have availability.

Day 5 Continued.

Trust me when I say, that after that bus journey, you probably won’t want to do much the afternoon you arrive at Nong Khiaw. Take the afternoon to wander through the little town and enjoy the unmatched views of the mountains everywhere you look. There are many little restaurants scattered throughout town and a few bars. Nong Khiaw is a backpacker’s haven and is very basic. Expect to eat at little local restaurants and enjoy their local food. There were a few places that had Western food on the menu; however, the pictures weren’t all too enticing!

Book the famous hike above the clouds for day 6.

Tomorrow is the day you will go on an overnight hike above the clouds. You can book this online prior to travelling to Nong Khiaw, but there are many tour offices scattered throughout the town of Nong Khiaw, and you can book with most tour providers the day before you would like to do the hike. Therefore if you haven’t booked this hike yet, be sure to head out the afternoon you arrive to book your hike for the next day!

Who too book your hike above the clouds with?

When we arrived, we walked to the office of DK Adventure Tours and were welcomed by a great local guy who spoke perfect English and he booked our hike for the following day. You can book online with DK Adventures via this link - DK Adventures Hike Overnight Sunset and Sunrise Hike.

Map Coordinates to DK Adventures Office.

Day 6- overnight Hike above the clouds.

This day was the absolute highlight of our time in Nong Khiaw and is a must-do! The viewpoint we hiked to was called Phouchalang Viewpoint, and we camped overnight here too. We paid $35 USD and it included our guide, water, tent, and bedding on top of the mountain for the night, a BBQ dinner, breakfast the next morning and a boat ride back to town at the end of our hike.

You don’t begin hiking until 1pm in the afternoon. Spend your morning exploring the town, reading a book by the river, and relaxing before your big overnight hike.

We set off in a minivan and drove about 10 minutes to the starting point. Now let me tell you, we were told it would be an easy 1.5-hour hike and it would all be switchbacks…… this was not the case…. You learn in Asia, the locals love exaggerating to try and sell you anything.

Within the first 10 minutes, it was steep, but the views made you forget how hard it was. Almost instantly, we were welcomed by the views of amazing cliffs surrounding us. We ran into a few cows on the trail, too (I have no idea how these cows get to the top of a mountain). It was roughly 3 hours and around 4-5kms. It was the sweatiest hike I have ever done; the sun didn’t hold back.

But once we arrived at the top, we were welcomed with insane views of the mountains circling our campsite; it made me emotional how beautiful it was. Our guide cooked us a BBQ dinner, which was delicious, while we watched the sunset, sat around the fire, and enjoyed our Laos beer.

The tents we stayed in were big and spacious but basic. We slept on thin sleeping mats, and they provided us with sleeping bags and pillows. There were no showers either, so expect to be a little smelly when you go to bed. There were toilets, but they were also very basic. I chose to do my business in nature instead.

Important notes and packing tips: Pack as little as possible. The hike is hard enough; you don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy bag. All you need is a warm change of clothes to change when you arrive at the top and underwear. It cools down in the evenings when the sun sets, so pack some long pants and a sweater.

AN ABSOLUTE ESSENTIAL - Bug spray. The mosquitos the whole way up were lethal. They didn’t hold back and they were even worse at night so if you think you have packed too much bug spray, trust me, you can’t have enough on this hike!

Day 7- waking above the clouds and one final night in Nong Khiaw.

If you think the hike couldn't get any better, wait until you leave your tent at 6 a.m. The moment we opened our tents, we were welcomed with clouds floating outside our tent. It was magical. It felt like we were above the clouds, and the mountaintops were peeking through them. The photos really speak for themselves, and waking up at 6 a.m. was worth every second.

We had breakfast around 7 am, a basic egg sandwich before we took off down the mountain. We didn’t hike down the way we hiked on the first day; we took a different route, which was more of a marked road for the tractors that brought the supplies up the mountain but was still very steep. So, a word of warning…. The knees are going to hurt on the way down. Josh has bad knees, and he was in agony. But even I was in pain by the end of it, and I’ve never experienced knee problems in my life! (Still worth it, though.)

Once we arrived at the bottom of the mountain, we walked through the local villages nestled there and made our way to the river. Our tour ended with a 10-minute boat ride along the main river through Nong Khiaw. Seeing the town from the river and the limestone cliffs from below was amazing. We made it back to the DK Adventures office around 10 a.m.

The boat back to town after two days of hiking!

Day 7 Continued.

After two days of hiking, you will want a huge meal and coffee. Once you reach the DK adventure tour office, I recommend walking back into town and heading to “The Trio Bar and Cafe.” We have had coffee and lunch here on multiple occasions, and they serve the most delicious food, smoothies, and coffee. They also have a great little outdoor area with seating and views of the mountains.

Once you’ve eaten, head back to the guesthouse you’ve booked for your last night in Nong Khiaw and have that well-deserved shower.

There are so many other hikes you can do in Nong Khiaw, so if you’re feeling up to it, you could head out in the afternoon or give yourself the afternoon to just chill out for your last night in Nong Khiaw and save the hikes for tomorrow morning before you head back to Luang Prabang.

Other option.

We travelled back to Luang Prabang the same day we returned from our hike because we knew we wouldn’t want to do any more hiking. If you’re an avid hiker or rock climber and aren’t short on time, I recommend staying at least another night or two in Nong Khiaw. But, if you’ve had enough of the outdoor adventure sports, you can head back to Luang Prabang once you’ve returned from your hike and spend an extra night in Luang Prabang when you get back or somewhere further down the itinerary in Vang Vieng.

The Descent Down The Mountain the Following Morning.

Day 8 - Other things to do in Nong Khiaw and Travel Day Back to Luang Prabang.

You may be thinking, why would I return to Luang Prabang if I have already spent 3 days there? Why can’t I go straight to Vang Vieng from Nong Khiaw?

Well, you can go straight to Vang Vieng from Nong Khiaw. But I have a feeling once you experience the drive to Nong Khiaw, you’ll understand why I recommend avoiding driving straight to Vang Vieng. The road to Vang Vieng from Nong Khiaw is just as bad as the drive from Luang Prabang, if not worse, and takes a lot longer. Nine- ten hours, to be exact. Four hours of that road was enough for us, and once we arrived in Nong Khiaw when we came from Luang Prabang, we thought there was no way we could drive on those roads for 9 hours.

So, I would recommend that you return to Luang Prabang in the afternoon and break up the journey to Vang Vieng by spending one night back in Luang Prabang. Plus, if you’re anything like us and love Luang Prabang as much as we did, then you’ll be happy to be back there for one more night.

But before you head back to Luang Prabang, make the most of your last morning in Nong Khiaw and get out to do one more activity. There is so much to do in Nong Khiaw. You could get out for one last hike or check out the caves. I have made some recommendations below.

Things to do in Nong Khiaw

Som Nang Viewpoint.
Pha Daeng Viewpoint.
Nang None Viewpoint.
Kayack the Nam Ou River.
Pathock Caves.

To get back to Luang Prabang, you can book a minivan with your hostel or guesthouse online with 12AsiaGo or with the tour providers around town. We booked our minivan back with DK Adventures because they could pick us up from the DK Adventure office right after our hike above the clouds.

Views from the main bridge in Nong Khiaw.

Day 9 - Travel day to Vang Vieng.

As mentioned above, you can travel to Vang Vieng from Nong Khiaw by minivan. You can also travel by minivan from Luang Prabang, which takes roughly five hours. I’ve heard the roads down to Vang Vieng are nearly as bad as the roads up to Nong Khiaw so it was for this reason we chose to catch the high-speed bullet train down to Vang Vieng.

The high-speed train is the bullet train that travels down from China and is owned by the Chinese and it sells out very quickly. Ticket sales only go out three days in advance and usually sell out very quickly once released. If you’re planning to catch the train, you need to book three days before your intended date of travel, and you need to be on the app to buy them as soon as they go on sale, which is usually sometime in the morning around 6 am.

How too book the train tickets?

There are three ways to book the tickets- via the LCR app, through a tour provider, or physically at the train station.

The easiest way to book the tickets is via the LCR app…. But the only catch is you need a Laos number. If you don’t have this, it may not even be an option to book via the app. The train tickets can be purchased on 12go, but keep in mind that when purchasing them via 12asiago, they aren’t confirmed immediately. 12asiago is a third-party website, and once purchased on 12go, it generally takes a few hours to confirm the tickets. Many people book these tickets on 12go, but they sometimes get cancelled because the tickets were already sold out. Another provider you can also buy tickets from is Baulau, who we used, and they were able to confirm our tickets! You can also buy them in person, but if you’re taking a popular route like Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, then it’s likely to be sold out.

The high-speed train takes roughly an hour to get to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang, and it is comfy and air-conditioned. We have no complaints!

Once you arrive at Vang Vieng, the train station is roughly 10-15 minutes from the centre of town, and there will be many vans and tuk-tuks waiting there to pick people up. If you aren’t travelling with a large group of people, I recommend trying to jump in the back of a van with a group of people because they seat about 10 people, and you will be seriously overcharged if hopping into one on your own.

Where to stay in Vang Vieng.

Vang Vieng used to be a backpacker haven and a well-known party town. While it’s still great for the young and wild and full of bars, It calmed down over the years, and there are more high-end hotels and villas popping up in an attempt to try and cater to people of all ages.

Similar to most towns in Laos, it is small and very walkable. If you stay on the town side of the Nam Song River, you’ll be close to all the restaurants, shops, and bars. There are hotels on the opposite side of the Nam Song River town which are a little further away and would be anywhere from a 20-40 minute walk into town but these accommodations tend to have pools and are more villa-style accommodations. It really depends on your budget, where you choose to stay, and the location of town.

If you’re a backpacker, some great hostels to stay at include Chill House. We didn’t stay here but had friends stay here and found ourselves here most nights with them playing pool and having a drink. The Mad Monkey and Rock Backpackers are other highly recommended hostels.

If you want to spend a little more and want to be in a private room, we stayed at the Maylay Guesthouse and couldn’t say better things. They were located in the heart of town, 5 minutes from the Nam Song River, and for the price, were spacious and clean rooms, The owner of this guesthouse also owns the Sky Hotel down the road and he gives his guests access to the hotel’s facilities including the pool of and a free buffet breakfast. So you pay mid-backpacker prices but get the luxuries of a 5-star resort!
It was also my birthday when we stayed here and they decorated my room and surprised me with cake and a bottle of wine. - I LOVED THIS PLACE.

Day 10 -14: Four FULL days to spend in Vang Vieng!

There is SO much to do in Vang Vieng. It’s a place for everyone from the adventurous to the people who want to relax and just take in the scenes. It’s a place where you would prefer to have more time than you need so that you can take your time to relax and tick off all the activities you would like to do.

See below for suggestions on things to do over the next few days in Vang Vieng!

Things to do in Vang Vieng.

1- Day Trip Idea.

Rent scooters for the day and explore the lagoons and one of the most famous hikes on your own.

Stop 1 - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike
Stop 2 - Scooter to Lagoon 3, Swim, Have lunch here
Stop 3- Lagoon 2, spend the afternoon swimming here.

2- Explore the Lagoons

Tips on the Lagoons Below:

Lagoon 1 : The busiest lagoons because it's the closest to town, and most people will go here if they don’t have a scooter for the day bes easy t’s easy to ride a bike or cheap to get a taxi there.

Lagoon 2- It can also be busy, but it's quite big and spread out as there are two spots for swimming and hanging out. There is a cafe to buy food, beers, and ice cream being sold from carts. They also have a waterslide and a platform to jump off into the lagoon!

Lagoon 3 - Our favourite lagoon! It is so blue and lovely to swim in, and they have a rope swing and zipline into the lagoon. As well as platforms to jump off and floating rings to relax in. The restaurant there has reasonably priced and delicious food, too.

Lagoon 4 - We didn’t make it to this lagoon but have heard its a hidden gem. It's further out of town, about 40 minutes and has minimal facilities, but I have s blue a’s blue and beautiful.

Lagoons 5 and 6- These Lagoons weren’t open when we visited but I don’t think we missed much we were told by locals. Apparently, they didn’t mirror the beautiful blue colour the other lagoons do.

3- Hiking.

There’s so many hikes to do in Vang Vieng but if you only have time for a few, here but here are some of the top recommendations:

1- Nam Xay Viewpoint (the famous motorcycle viewpoint).

2- Pha Poak Viewpoint.

3- Silver cliff upper and lower viewpoint trail.

4- Pha Ngern Viewpoint.

The views at the top of the Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike.

Be prepared: Its a STEEP incline. It may be a short hike, but its intense.

4- Explore the Caves!

If you have a scooter, you can visit some of these caves on your own. Alternatively, there are many day trips with tour providers that you can do, and these tours can be booked with your accommodation or with any of the tourist information desks around town.

Some of the most popular caves are:

1- Tham Chang Cave.

2- Pha hon Kam Cave.

3- Pha Thao Cave.

4- Khan Cave.

5- Tham Loup.

5- Tipsy Tubing

This is precisely what you think it is—tubing down the Sam Song River in a tube while stopping at bars nestled on the river's side. This is much more regulated and tame than it used to be “back in the day”. There are only 3 bars along the river to stop at. You get picked up from your pickup point and dropped off at the starting point of the river. The first bar is within two the first two minutes of floating down the river, and you only stay here for 30 minutes before progressing to the next bar, where you only get 30 minutes. The final bar is in town, and once you arrive at this bar, you hand in your tubes and can stay here at the final bar for as long as your heart desires.

We did this for my birthday and it was so much fun. At least 50 people were floating together down the river, and we felt very safe as tour guides were floating near us in Kayaks, and the bars on the side of the river had ropes strung across to the opposite side of the river to help people stop and get out.

6- Hot Air Ballooning.

This wasn’t within our budget, but some friends did it and said it was magical. You can do it in the morning for sunrise or in the evening for sunset. The price is roughly $145 USD.

Street vendors in Vang Vieng, selling the BEST sandwiches, burgers, wraps and their version of a pancake. (which is wayyyyyy better then a normal pancake)

Day 14- Travel day to Vientiane.

Your time in Laos is coming to an end and you need to head to the capital city to catch your connecting flight or bus to the next destination.

How to get there.

Vientiane is a 1.5 hour drive from Vang Vieng because there is a new, direct highway that connects the two destinations and is definitely the smoothest ride we had during our time in Laos. You can book this drive with your hotel or hostel, or there are tour providers scattered all through town who can book this for you. We paid roughly $10 AUD each.

Whats in Vientiane?

Many people told us that Vientiane is a city you can skip but we like to form our own opinion and spent a night there to explore the city before we had to catch our overnight bus the next day to Hanoi.

I’m glad we checked it out because now we can say we have been there, but would we bother returning? That’s a no.

There really isn’t much there, it's just a city and is a very basic city, too. There wasn’t much to do; everything felt very spread out, and the streets themselves didn’t feel very walkable as there was a lot of traffic and the sidewalks were dirty. It just didn’t feel like a very accessible and tourist-friendly city. In saying that, we found the most INSANE Italian restaurant and had the best Western meal we have had in the whole of Asia.

Being so close to Vang Vieng, you could leave Vientiane the same day you travel from Vang Vieng. Or, like us, you could spend a night here on night 14 and leave the following day. Vientiane is the best place to be if you need to catch connecting transport to one of the bordering countries. Most buses to Hanoi will leave from Vientiane, and there are direct buses to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand from here.

Vang Vieng Town surrounded by beautiful limestone cliffs.

Conclusion.

Our time in Laos was unforgettable. This gem in Southeast Asia feels incredibly unique, especially after travelling through places like Vietnam and Thailand. Laos hasn’t been overrun by tourists or dominated by big corporations, and that’s what makes it so special. It remains wonderfully untouched, with fewer touristy shops and crowded streets compared to destinations like Phuket and Bali.

While Laos may still be a developing country, this is what makes it so special and unique to visit. The scenery everywhere we want was some of the best we have seen in Asia. The limestone cliffs scattered throughout the country, the beautiful greenery, and charming local villages took our breath away. The people were some of the kindest in Asia. They were always so willing to help and were incredibly patient. If we had more time, we would have continued travelling to the south of Laos . But, if you’re limited on time like us, this is the perfect itinerary to give you a taste of the country.

This itinerary can be completed in 9-10 days, especially if you shorten your stay in Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng to allow for longer travel days. It can also be done in reverse, as many travellers fly into Vientiane and depart from Luang Prabang.

I hope this itinerary of the North inspires you to travel to what we believe to be one of the most special countries in Asia!