You can travel to Vang Vieng via train. The main train station is located 1.86 miles north of the town center. Trains travel to Vang Vieng from Vientiane and Luang Prabang, and the journey takes about an hour from either city. 

Renting a car is a good idea when visiting Vang Vieng, as there is no airport close by. The drive from either airport is over 60 miles. Public transportation is also limited, so having a car is a good thing and allows you to get around at your own pace and visit attractions outside of town. 

There are taxi services in Vang Vieng, but they are not as readily available as in larger cities in Laos. You can find taxis mainly at the airports, and some outside the transportation stations. It is best to contact a taxi company by phone, and this can be done through your hotel. 

Yes, walking around Vang Vieng is one of the best ways to get to the local shops, restaurants, and some of the close attractions. It is a relatively small town that is very walkable. The streets in the town center are charming to walk around, offering a laid-back atmosphere and great things to see. 

Renting and riding a bicycle around Vang Vieng is a very popular activity. Bicycles are a very popular way of getting around town. The surrounding scenery here is stunning and worth seeing on two wheels, so you can take it all in. There are many places to rent bicycles around town, too, and many accommodations offer bikes on-site or for rent. The roads of Route 13 are paved and great to cycle along; they take you through scenic farmland, verdant rice paddies, and jungle-covered mountains. Motorbikes are another popular way to get around and can be rented for the day. 

Vang Vieng is considered a very safe destination to visit. However, due to its increased population and visitors over the recent years, crimes against tourists are becoming more common, with petty theft and muggings. Take the necessary precautions when sightseeing, use common sense, and keep your valuables out of sight from pickpockets, especially in crowded areas like markets and tourist attractions. At night, stay in well-lit and populated areas, and use reputable transportation companies instead of taking rides from strangers. Be careful when walking at night, and don’t walk outside the main center of town. 

Shopping in Vang Vieng offers visitors some unique experiences, from vibrant night markets to unique local shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs. There are numerous exciting shopping opportunities here in town for shoppers to check out and pick up interesting gifts, mementos, and souvenirs. The Vangvieng Shopping Market is nestled in the heart of town, a great shopping destination and place to immerse in the local culture and fashion of Laos. The lively marketplace showcases a wonderful, diverse selection of clothing featuring traditional Lao garments to contemporary styles. Vibrant colorful stalls and enthusiastic welcoming vendors are sharing their unique products. Shopping around Vang Vieng allows visitors to absorb the rich heritage of the region and shop for an assortment of handmade garments and accessories. The craftsmanship and attention to detail of the handmade carvings, woodwork, and art on display are pretty impressive. Local artisans are passionate about their work. A few classic things to pick up when shopping in Vang Vieng are traditional Lao textiles, handmade jewelry, artwork, phaa sin (sarongs), ropes, hand-woven shirts, handmade baskets, bamboo items, hand-embroidered items, Lao coffee, and tea. 

The official language spoken in Vang Vieng is Laotian; however, English is widely spoken by people working in the service and tourism industries. We recommend you get a good English-Lao guidebook and familiarize yourself with a few common phrases, such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you, excuse me, and numbers 1-10.

Vang Vieng features a tropical monsoon climate with hot, humid summers, dry winters, and two distinct seasons: the wet and the dry season. The average high humidity ranges from 70-84%. The wet season runs from April to October with hot, humid weather and average temperatures that can be well into the high 90s, sometimes triple digits. The dry season is November through February, with cooler temperatures in the 80s and evening lows around 70. This is the most popular time of year to visit the capital city. There are many great festivals held in Vientiane, as well as holidays that are celebrated, such as the Lunar New Year, Lao New Year, H’Mong New Year, Buddha’s Birthday, Lent season, and boat racing festivals. 

The currency of Laos is the Lao Kip (LAK). US dollars are also widely accepted in most major cities. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Nepalese rupees upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport and many locations throughout the city.

The food in Vang Vieng is very flavorful, and there are many different traditional local eateries to enjoy delicious mouth-watering dishes. The dining scene here is made up of many small-town family-run restaurants boasting laid-back atmospheres and friendly staff. Lao cuisine is the most popular, but you can also enjoy Thai, Chinese, and Indian food as well as Western cuisine. There are some great street food stalls in the town of Vang Vieng where visitors can sample some tasty snacks and treats like larb (a minced meat salad), sticky rice (a staple), kaipen (riverweed), grilled river fish, and tam mak hoong (spicy green papaya salad), a few local favorites.  The food here is really good, no matter what you try, and one great way to try the delectable cuisine is by taking a cooking class, a great way to get to know the food and culture. 

Lao dishes are made with a mixture of spicy, savory, and sweet flavors with a strong emphasis on fresh ingredients and unique regional specialties. Staple ingredients may include lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, mint, fish sauce, tamarind, and chili peppers to name a few. Some classic Lao dishes include Laap (minced meat salad), Khao Piak Sen (rice noodle soup), Khao Niaw (sticky rice), Mok Pa (steamed fish), Sai Oua (Lao sausages), Luang Prabang salad with a zesty dressing, Jaew a dipping sauce, and more adventurous options like rat stock based Khao Soi Soup, which is a local specialty. A few popular dishes to be sure to try include Khao Niaw (sticky rice), often served with grilled meats, fish, salads, or omelets. 

Vang Vieng has been known for its vivacious nightlife for being such a small town!! It’s got some stories from back in the day, but has become a lot more tame these days. Backpackers still flock here, and there are many bars, pubs, and clubs to check out for a chill night on the town. Theres live music playing most nights of the week with beers flowing and late-night dancing opportunities. Beerlao is served in most of the Vang Vieng restaurants, which is a popular drink in Laos. And buzz buckets are a big thing in this town! A plastic bucket filled with ice, liquor, and a soft drink. Vang Vieng’s nightlife is legendary and considered among the best in all of Southeast Asia, with some banging pubs and clubs. There is a wide selection of bars to choose from, from cozy to wild, and a lot of the bars in town can be found along the Nam Song River with great views to accompany the laid-back vibe. A lot of the riverside restaurants and bars boast hammocks to chill out and relax in, swinging with a tasty rum cocktail in hand is the ultimate vacation vibe. 

In the event of an emergency, dial 1191 for police, and 1195 for an ambulance

Hospital:

Vang Vieng District Hospital tel. 856-23-511-019.