The Best of Cambodia & Laos

248
VANG VIENG & SURROUNDING AREA
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NIGHTLIFE
although they might make their own way to them of their own accord when they leave high
school. There are restaurants by the river attached to hotels serving some very good Lao and
Thai food if you head south toward the hospital. The Thavonsouk Resort, the Elephant
Crossing, and the Thavisouk Hotel all have excellent restaurants serving Lao and Thai food
in peaceful riverside locations with great views. The Thavisouk fires up the karaoke
machine in the evening if they are entertaining a Thai tour group, but if you can survive
that, the tom yam is great Note that the restaurants below do not take credit cards.
Erewan Restaurant LAO/WESTERN A good restaurant with tasty, simple food.
This is not a place for gourmet eating but it is a place for wholesome fare in a pleasing
atmosphere where blaring TV screens do not figure.
Luang Prabang Rd. & 023/511-093. Main courses 30,000 kip. Daily 8am–11pm.
Nang Bot Restaurant LAO The Nang Bot is a slight anomaly in the center of
Van Vieng since it serves food that is genuinely Lao in an obviously Lao environment.
They do not have a TV. The decor is traditional, muted but pleasant, and characterized
by Lao silk.
Main Rd. & 023/511-018. Main courses 15,000 kip–40,000 kip. Daily 7am–11pm.
Nisha Restaurant INDIAN The Nisha is a big rival to the ubiquitous Nizam chain
of south Indian restaurants in Van Vieng. The food and service are better on every level.
The masala chai is the real thing and the dosa is more than adequate.
Main St. & 023/511-579. Main courses 20,000 kip. Daily 7am–11pm.
Kangaroo Sunset Bar WESTERN Past the hospital heading south right near
the main bridge to the other side of the Nam Song, the Kangaroo Sunset serves the usual
mishmash of vaguely Thai and vaguely European food. Generally it’s more edible than
the stuff served in town. It is far from the noise of the center of town, the staff is smiley
and fun, and the views are superb. Mick, the Australian owner, runs one of the most
genuinely friendly operations in town.
Riverside Rd. & 020/771-4291. Main courses 30,000 kip. Daily 9am–11pm.
Luang Prabang Bakery WESTERN This is an excellent place for breakfast with
good pastries, croissants, and coffee in a nicely furnished dark wood atmosphere. They
also do main courses and pizza.
Next to the BCEL, main junction. & 023/511-145. Main courses 30,000 kip–40,000 kip. Daily 7am–11pm.
The Xayoh Restaurant LAO/WESTERN The Xayoh has an inviting environment
with an open terrace right on the main junction. It is a very pleasant place to enjoy a glass
of chilled chardonnay, but the food is disappointing and resembles the kind of fare you
get in airports—intensely average but perfectly edible.
Main junction. & 023/511-088. Main courses 25,000 kip–30,00 kip. Daily 7am–11pm.
4 NIGHTLIFE
Vang Vieng has a number of bars catering to the backpacker crowd. They serve beer in
bottles or you can buy cheap spirits in plastic buckets that come equipped with straws so
that one bucket may be shared among many. Young people gather around their buckets
and guzzle away. The main bar of this sort in town is the Q Bar on the main street about