Experience the best of Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng lies on the Nam Song river in Vientiane Province, between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, with a wall of jagged limestone peaks rising straight from the rice fields on the far bank. It is a small town that grew up around the river and the road, and a few Buddhist temples sit beside its market streets.

Caves honeycomb the hills: Tham Jang has a staircase and a viewpoint above the river, and Tham Phu Kham holds a reclining Buddha and a pool of bright turquoise water. Kayaks and inner tubes float down the Nam Song, and viewpoints such as Nam Xay give wide views over the peaks and paddies. Hot-air balloons rise over the valley at dawn.

Grilled river fish, sticky rice, laap, a minced meat salad, and fiery papaya salad are the staples of Lao cooking, and baguette sandwiches are a legacy of French rule. Beerlao and strong Lao coffee fill the cafés. The cool dry season from November to February is the clearest, and the river runs high and brown in the rains.