Vang Vieng - Laos

I went to Vang Vieng when I was in Laos in October of 2012. I came to Laos with the nightbus from Vietnam, Hue and went to the capitol Vientane. It was a horrible drive in a bus with all locals. Me and a guy from Korea were the only tourists. We had a spot in the back of the sleeperbus, 3 beds for the two of us. It looked good in the beginning but after several people came on it with there bags and goods we were getting packed in. I could hardly see the aisle. On top of that a man had to lie down on the third bed they had packed.... Also the whole evening there was karaoke on the television and standup comedian. The television was very loud....and we were lying underneath the speaker....

Our view in the back of the bus :(

When I came in Vientane, Laos it was to busy in the capitol, there was some kind of important meeting going on. In the streets where lots of policemen and I couldn't find a hotelroom, which I could afford. So after a couple of hours seeking and wandering the streets with my backpack I went to a touristagency and  booked a trip to Vang Vieng. I saw the pictures of the nature and the river and wanted to swim and relax!!!

The trip to Vang Vieng was one in a minivan. Then you are with tourits and everyone has his own seat and space. Very comfortable!!

Most restaurants in Vang Vieng are like these, just lie down and eat :)

In Vang Vieng I booked a tour for the next day.

I heared about the tubing and ofcourse about all the accidents/deaths that happened every year. Most of them because of the abuse of alcohol and drugs...along the riverside are accomidations to get booze..

At the agency where I booked my tour the told me to take the tour which includes a bit of tubing. Not down the Nam Ou river but into a cave. And after that we would go down the Nam Ou river with a kayak.

That is the tour I took. I loved that day. The weather was great and we had a nice group of tourist. Two girls from Holland, a girl from the USA and a man from Israel. 

First we went to a cave, it was called the elephant cave. 

You see the elephant standing up there

Reclining Buddha in the back of the cave

To go there we had to walk through a village and we saw how the laotian people lived there. Very primitive. 

 

After we went into another cave with our tube. We got a lamp on our head so we could see in the darkness. On the ceiling of the cave they attached a cord you could hold on to. And you could grab it to pull yourself threw the cave. We were in there for 45 minutes more or less. Walked a bit where it was undeep.

Really liked the experience. I didn't took my camera into the cave so unfortunately I haven't got any pictures from within the cave.

In the background you see the cave with the cord hanging

Outside the a cave we had a BBQ on the riverside before we walked back to the car, through that village again. 

Lunch

Driving to the location to go kayaking

Then we went kayakking for 18 kilometres....that is what they told me....I do think it was maybe half....almost 10 km..back to Vang Vieng.

That was nice, doing something after a while not sporting felt good!

Halfway down the river we went ashore to drink something. There I saw many tourist drinking beer and other alcohols. Most of them were on a tube. 

When we went on with our kayak we saw many people on a tube. Many of them asked if we would give them a ride. For most of the people it was too far. They are hours on the tube....just floating. You can only peddle with your arms to speeden up but that is not much.

The agency where I booked my trip told me that it was hard to peddle the whole way back. Now I saw these people I was so glad that I listened to her!!!

I had a great time there!! Next day I went on to Luang Prabang. Later I heard about the Blue Lagoon that would really be worth a visit. Well that I saved for a next visit to Vang Vieng!! 

The perfect sunset to end this day :)