Vang Vieng Travel Guide

Hostel prices – While there has been an influx of hotels built in the area, you can still find some pretty decent, no-frills hostels. Prices usually start at about 30,000 LAK for a 10-12 bed dorm, with private rooms ranging from 90,000-200,000 LAK. Free WiFi is standard, and about half the hostels in town offer free breakfast. Keep in mind that almost none of the hostels have kitchens, so you will need to eat out for your meals or find a local guesthouse with a kitchen. The Vang Vieng Camping Community has a large shared tent where you camp with other travelers. While cheap (under 20,000 LAK) it might not be for everyone! My suggested place is:

• Real Backpackers

Budget hotel prices – Most budget hotels average about 150,000 LAK per night for a private room (usually a twin or double). This generally includes free WiFi, a private bathroom, and air conditioning. If you’re looking for a hotel with free breakfast, expect to pay around 250,000 LAK per night. A hotel with a pool will cost closer to 400,000 LAK. In addition to hotels, Airbnb is a viable option in the larger towns and cities. Shared accommodation and entire apartments are very limited, however, you can rent a private room for 120,000-240,000 LAK per night.

Average cost of food – On average, you can expect to pay about 15,000-35,000 for street food. You can get a substantial breakfast of eggs, jam, and baguettes for about 24,000 LAK. Coffees or fruit shakes will run you about 5,000-7,000 LAK while a bottle of water will cost around 2,700 LAK. Western food will cost around 30,000 LAK per meal, and if you’re looking for something mid-range, expect to pay around 100,000 LAK for a meal and drink. Food from the local markets is relatively inexpensive, with a week’s worth of groceries costing between 150,000-250,000 LAK.

Transportation costs – To get to Vang Vieng, a bus from Luang Prabang will cost between 100,000-150,000 LAK. If you are coming from Vientiane, expect the bus to cost between 40,000-60,000 LAK. In the townl, bicycles can be rented for around 20,000 LAK per day and motorcycles for about 50,000-70,000 LAK per day. Be aware that there are lots of potholes in the roads, so avoid riding at night. There are some tuk-tuks around town, and 10,000 LAK will be enough to get you anywhere you need to go. If you want to hire a tuk-tuk for the entire day, expect to pay 130,000-150,000 LAK. Since the town is actually quite small, you also won’t have trouble walking everywhere.