MARCHES PAST TOUR SUMMARY
LAOS FOUR PROVINCE TOUR - 25 February to 14 March 2014
VANG VIENG, VIENTIANE, LAOS (Part 4), 8-13 March
 Tubing at Tham Chang

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Part 1, THAKHEK | Part 2, PAKXAN | Part 3, PHONSAVAN | Part 4, VANG VIENG

Song River at Vang Vieng Vang Vieng.......Vang Vieng is a tourism-oriented town in Laos, located in Vientiane Province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The province should not be confused with the Vientiane Prefecture which contains that capital. The provincial town lies on the Nam Song River surrounded by a karst hill landscape which invariably provides picture postcard scenery. Its settlement dates back to the 14th century when it was used as a staging post between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, a route through spectacular rainforest and a serious challenge to any traveller. The town’s present name was given during French colonial rule in the 1890’s. Development into anything the size of a town didn’t occur until the Vietnam War 1964-73 when an airstrip was built by the US Air Force. This put Vang Vieng on the world map and when international relations thawed in the 1990’s tourists began to arrive. However these were of the backpacker variety challenging the culture of the region. Today a strange air of tolerance exits between the new arrivals and those who regret the invasion while at the same time profit from it.
Itiniary……..For full report click on travel log
Day 1, Phonsavan to Vang Vieng (Laos)
Days 2-6, on tour - Vang Vieng (Laos)
Excursions.....(These were by rented motorbike)
Xang (or Chang) Cave, Kaeng Nyui Waterfall, Tham Lohm Cave (10th)
Vat Kang, Vat Mahrathat, Tham Chang (Elephant Cave), Tham Hoy (Shell Cave), Viewpoint (11th)
Blue Lagoon, Pou Kham Cave, ECO Centre (12th)
River Tubing (13th)
Accommodation……..
----Vieng Thara Guesthouse.....Aircon, wifi, hot shower. Rating, Basic but exceptional value, 80,000 kip, 6 nights.
Weather.......
Sunny/Pleasant, 25-30c
Dining out.......
Vang Vieng is well on the tourist trail in Laos, appealing especially to the young. A good mixture of Western, Laotian, Chinese and Thai are available all round the town and especially near the river for between 20,000-45,000 kip. With cheap beer also there is a tendency for over indulgence.
Transport used.......
Phonsavan to Vang Vieng (7 hours), company minibus, 110,000 kip
Vang Vieng to Udon Thani (Thailand), SWB bus 400 baht.
motorbike rental.......
standard manual, 40,000 kip/day (daylight hours)