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Vangvieng Elephant Sanctuary |
@estoyvagando |
| Baby Mine |
| Little by little, our relationship with elephants worldwide is changing for the better. Vang Vieng’s elephant sanctuary is part of that positive trend, working to promote preservation and protection. Half- and full-day tours are offered, meaning you’ll have plenty of facetime with the pachyderms themselves; visitors can feed the free-roaming elephants bananas and sugar cane. The highlight, however, would have to be the river, where you’ll get a chance to go swimming while the stars of the show take a bath. |
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Tham Phu Kam | @_orsi._ |
| Cave Story |
| Caves abound in Vang Vieng, each more striking than the last. Tham Phu Kham is perhaps the most well known, which is unsurprising given that it very much lives up to its "Blue Lagoon" moniker; the only thing more stunning than the crystal-clear water both within and outside the cave is the reclining Buddha statue found inside. Don’t limit yourself, however, as Tham Nam water cave and Tham Xang will make spelunkers out of even the most claustrophobic visitor. You can go tubing, ziplining, and even sprinkle water on an elephant shrine for good fortune during Lao New Year. |
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| Nam Xay Top View |
@summerlilybee |
| The Air Up There |
| Vang Vieng is even more awe-inspiring from above. There's no better place to take in the sights than Nam Xay Viewpoint, where you’ll get a full-spectrum view of both the town and its surrounding environs — think lush greenery as far as the eye can see and karst hills. After driving some 20 minutes outside Vang Vieng proper and a short hike, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on the landscape. Another bird’s-eye view can be found at Pha Ngern, which is a bit farther out but no less breathtaking with a trail backed by towering karst cliffs. |
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Kuang Si Falls |
@axelfourni.er |
| Do Go Chasing Waterfalls, Actually |
| Surely a place this gorgeous can’t also have a waterfall, you might be thinking — that would just be gratuitous, wouldn’t it? Oh, but it does, dear reader, and your first sight of Kaeng Nyui will have you wondering why it (and, really, Vang Vieng as a whole) isn’t more well-known to the outside world. It’s a bit more impressive during the rainy season, but remains a must-see year-round. And if your dedication to waterfalls knows no bounds, go even farther out — say, four hours — for a day trip to the eye-poppingly beautiful Kuang Si Falls. |
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| @simone_denise_fischer |
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| "I would say Kuang Si is a water paradise, full of turquoise pools and waterfalls. Go early in the morning to enjoy it all to yourself!"
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| Editor's Note: Previously, we featured an image that showed a swimmer in an area of Kuang Si that has been closed off to swimming to protect the natural environment. We do not condone breaking rules intended to help preserve the environment and apologize for the oversight.
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