The Best of Cambodia & Laos

20m (66 ft.) from the main junction heading north. There is an island in the river opposite
the Vang Vieng Orchid Hotel where a whole slew of bars have appeared. They are
effectively giant shacks with overworked sound systems that do little for the natural
evening serenity of Vang Vieng. The aptly named Bucket Bar and the longer-running
Smile Bar seem the most popular but that can change week by week.
5 ATTRACTIONS
ROCK CLIMBING
Between November and May, Green Discovery (p. 243) offers rock climbing among the
spectacular limestone karsts on the other side of the Nam Song. They run a 1-day to
3-day tuition course and you can rent all the specialized gear you need. The instructors
are skilled and the fee includes all transport costs and lunch. More than 100 routes have
been pegged by world-class climbers and along with Krabi in Thailand, Vang Vieng is
very much on the Asia climbing circuit. Tham Non (Sleeping Cave) with over 20 identified
climbs and the nearby Sleeping Wall are the most popular climbing locations. There
are more than 50 bolted routes in the area graded from 5b to 8c according to the French
system of grading.
CAVING, TREKKING & KAYAKING
The ethereal limestone karsts that tower over Vang Vieng are riddled with caves. Those
who enjoy cave exploring will find themselves in a paradise of sorts. Some caves are very
big with stunning formations, and some are tiny, comfortably accessible only to the
extremely thin. Many are really covered rivers and small lakes, and one can swim or kayak
through. Many also have religious significance, so look for shrines and Buddha images.
You can visit most of the caves, either by yourself or as part of an organized tour. Most
guesthouses or tour operators can sell you a package that combines caving, trekking,
kayaking, and tubing. They will also take you to nearby ethnic villages. You can also buy
a 2-day tour, which includes a visit to the Organic Farm and overnight camping. Meals
are generally included.
With the exception of trips organized by Green Discovery, all of the tours you go on
will actually be part of a Vang Vieng cooperative arrangement run by the same people.
Wherever you booked the tour, the same set of guides lead the same set of six trips. You
can check with different guesthouses to make sure you get the cheapest price, but essentially
they are all part of a cartel. A 1-day trip should cost about $12, a 2-day trip $350,
and a half-day trip costs $8. The guides are not uniformly as good as one another and
some of the equipment is old.
Green Discovery (which we recommend, p. 243) runs a host of combination tours
and can also put together a personalized package. They are a bit more expensive than the
cartel, but only by a few dollars. Their guides are better trained, more skilled, and can
speak better English. In the end the primary issue is safety.
You can visit the caves on your own. Maps are sold in Vang Vieng. It is best to hire a
bicycle or motorbike to cover the 3 to 10km (1 3 ⁄4–6 miles) to the sites, or hire a tuk-tuk,
which will take you to the caves for 5,000 kip per person in a party of about six. Make
sure the day fee is well established in advance. Some drivers have been known to raise the
fee after the fact.
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VANG VIENG & SURROUNDING AREA 12
ATTRACTIONS