A group of friends from the same institution reunited after a long absence. Some of them hadn't seen each other for almost 20 years. This time, we planned a trip abroad to reminisce about our teenage years. So, we chose a tourist destination that is popular among teenagers. We chose Vang Vieng, the land of teenagers. We wanted to see for ourselves what it was all about and why Thai teenagers go there so much. Follow me, my dear nephew...

Day 1: Don Mueang - Udon Thani - Nong Khai - Vang Vieng

…Vang Vieng… was our destination this time. So we met up to plan our trip in advance at a roadside laab restaurant in the Din Daeng Triangle area. Because from what we read in the reviews, many people missed their bus, and we didn't want to have to change buses several times. We decided that Ek, who lives in Korat, would take all our passports in advance and wait to buy bus tickets at Udon Thani Bus Terminal. Then, we would fly to Udon Thani in the morning.

Our group of nine met at Don Mueang Airport to depart on Thai Lion Air flight SL600 at 5:55 AM. However, the flight was delayed by 30 minutes, causing us to worry. Ek had called from Udon Thani Bus Terminal to inform us that purchasing tickets required both an ID card and a passport, and that the traveler had to be present to buy the tickets. We wondered if we were traveling to Mars, as the process seemed unnecessarily complicated.

As we approached Udon Thani airspace, the visibility was obscured by clouds and fog throughout the area. However, we landed safely. The Meteorological Department had reported that a storm would hit during our trip, so we were a bit worried about whether it would be fun to travel in the rain. After landing, I went ahead to find a van to take us to the city and drop us off at Udon Thani Bus Terminal. The fare was 80 baht per person, but since there were 9 of us, they gave us a package price of 600 baht. After my friends brought their luggage, the van took us through the alleys and shortcuts to Udon Thani Bus Terminal, which is located near Central Department Store. It was 8:10 AM. We rushed to the station with anxiety because P'Ek posted on Line that he had news to tell us and then disappeared.

The news is that you can now book tickets to Vang Vieng 30 days in advance and pay at any 7-Eleven branch. There are still enough tickets available for our group, but you need to bring your ID card and passport to purchase them. However, the staff mentioned that the travelers themselves need to be present when purchasing the tickets. This is quite inconvenient, both for the staff and for Mr. Ek, the lawyer. (The price of a ticket to Vang Vieng is 320 baht, and the bus departs at 8:30 AM.)

The journey across the border was relatively quick. We departed from Udon Thani at 8:30 AM and arrived at the Nong Khai checkpoint shortly after 10:00 AM.

1. The staff will distribute immigration forms on the bus while traveling to Nong Khai. Fill out both the arrival and departure immigration forms for both the Thai and Lao sides in advance.

3. Take a 15-minute car ride across the Mekong River to the Lao immigration checkpoint. Disembark and present your passport and Lao immigration form for entry stamping. **(Be cautious at this point, as officials may inadvertently forget to check. Double-check that both your passport and Lao immigration form have been stamped for entry. Failure to do so could result in being classified as an illegal immigrant upon returning to Thailand, leading to fines ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of baht.)**

At the border, you can exchange your currency for Lao Kip at one of the 2-3 exchange booths. The exchange rate on that day was 1 Thai Baht = 234 Lao Kip. You can then purchase a border crossing ticket for 5 Thai Baht on weekdays and 50 Thai Baht on weekends. After purchasing the ticket, insert it into the machine (similar to a subway ticket machine) and proceed to board the bus.

6. The return trip is the same as the outbound trip.

The journey from the Lao immigration checkpoint at 11:00 AM will take you to the Chaiyo restaurant for lunch and sightseeing at 1:30 PM. The rest stop appears to be newly constructed, as older reviews mention a different location.

Continuing the journey from the rest stop for approximately 2 hours, we arrived at Vang Vieng Bus Station. In total, the trip from Udon Thani to Vang Vieng took 7 hours. We also booked our return tickets, with a stop in Vientiane on the way back. The ticket price to Vientiane is 50,000 kip.

The free songthaew from Vang Vieng Bus Station took us to the Melanie Hotel, which is the main drop-off point in Vang Vieng. We then walked to find the location of our first night's hotel, the Boon Tang Hotel, or its long name, Mountainview Riverside Boutique Hotel. It didn't take long to find it. The hotel is an old 3-story building with a stunning million-star view. You can see my hotel review at this link: Mountainview Riverside Boutique Hotel

After settling into our accommodation, we ventured out in search of food. We planned to walk to the popular photo spot at Champalaow Bungalow, owned by a Thai individual, and inquire about recommended restaurants. However, upon arrival, we discovered that the establishment was closed for renovations with no reopening date specified. Disappointed, we decided to take a quick look at the scenic view from the aforementioned spot. Unfortunately, the view was partially obstructed by a newly constructed accommodation extension under construction next door. As a result, we were only able to capture a single angle from the right side.

Leaving Champasak Lao, we set out to find a restaurant, not having checked any reviews beforehand. Most recommendations were for roti, grilled rice, baguettes, and sandwiches, which are widely available in Vang Vieng. But at that moment, we were so hungry that we could have devoured a whole buffalo. We wanted something more substantial, so we ended up at a restaurant with a beautiful view in front of the hotel. The restaurant is called Green Corner. From the restaurant, we could see the wooden bridge below, and behind it, the limestone mountains of the city as the sun began to set. We sat sipping Lao beer, soaking up the atmosphere of our first day in the city. The menu was in English and Lao. We tried ordering some dishes to see what they looked and tasted like. The appearance of the food was similar to Thai food, but the strange thing was that some ingredients were not used in Thai food but were added here. Overall, the taste was excellent. I highly recommend this restaurant, which is located near the Song River, just a short distance from the Boun Tang Hotel, near Champasak Lao. The price of the food starts at 80,000 kip, which is considered normal for this area, as the cost of living is high due to it being a tourist city, similar to Pattaya or Phuket in Thailand. The bill came to 347,000 kip, which we counted until we were confused and divided until we were blurry. Converted to Thai baht, it was only about 1,500.

After lunch, we went to buy a tour that young people do activities in Vang Vieng. We found a small shop that rents motorcycles, so we went to ask about the rental price, but we ended up getting a 1-day trip tour for 500 baht per person to Tham Chang, Tham Nam, kayaking, and the Blue Lagoon. The next day, we will rent a car to Tham Jang, Pha Ngern, and Kaeng Yui Waterfall for a total price of 1,100 baht, including sending us to our new accommodation where we move every day. After buying the tour, we walked to digest the city to the next point, Luang Prabang Bakery. We sat down to eat cake and play wifi, but I had another bottle of Lao beer, which made me feel a little tipsy. Vang Vieng in the early evening seemed quiet and not very lively. Maybe it was because it was a weekday. There were a few foreigners, mostly Koreans.

After sitting and eating for a while, we went our separate ways. Some of the older people went back to their accommodation, while others went to find roti to eat. As for me, I continued to drink beer until it was finished, then walked unsteadily alone to my next destination... the Sakura Bar. After walking out a few steps, just to the next alley, I came across a small bar that didn't look very inviting during the day. But at night, the lights, the music, and the atmosphere were too tempting to resist. I walked in and ordered a beer at the bar, standing there sipping it while looking around the shop. People started to come in one after another, and the small shop quickly became crowded. About 70% of the people were Korean, 20% were Westerners, and the remaining 10% were Thai. The music started to pick up the pace, and the tourists were having a lot of fun on the stage. Everyone who came here had different purposes. Some came to have fun, while others came to work... As for me, I just came to visit... and then leave.

I left the shop around 2 am. After walking for a while, I started to lose my way. The streets were deserted, and I passed a sandwich shop. I asked the shopkeeper for directions back to my accommodation and followed the directions she gave me. I walked past a temple and saw a large Buddha statue. I raised my hands in prayer for good luck. As I approached my accommodation, I came across a group of people playing cards in an alley. They looked at me with a single glance, which made me feel a little nervous, but I arrived at my accommodation safely.

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Day 2: Tham Nam - Tham Chang - Kayaking - Zipline - Blue Lagoon

On the morning of the 2nd, the car picked us up at 9 am. We checked out and left our luggage at the hotel before moving to Wiang Tara in the evening. The songthaew drove through the dust out of the city to the kayak launch point about 20 km from the city. The staff will first introduce the steps of kayaking and remind us to keep the paddle as life. If it is not broken or lost, pay 2700. However, if the boat is broken or damaged, the guide will be responsible.

After paddling just a few strokes from the pier, we stopped at the first point, the Elephant Cave. The cave is just a shallow recess, so there is no need to go inside. Looking in, you can see a Buddha statue and stalactites and stalagmites in the shape of an elephant.

After leaving the Elephant Cave, we paddled for a long stretch. The Song River meanders through the foothills, its waters murky from the flood season. The scenery consists of mountains on one side and grasslands or villagers' fields on the other. Resorts, accommodation, and riverside bars are scattered along the way, but the atmosphere is generally quiet. The current is strong, with occasional rapids and rocky sections.

During the kayaking trip, the guide instructed us to pair up in each kayak. Since I was the odd one out, I ended up sharing a kayak with the guide. The advantage of being with the guide was that I could relax and enjoy the scenery without having to paddle. I also had ample time to take photos and was assured that the kayak wouldn't capsize. However, the downside was that I became the rescue boat. Whenever another kayak capsized, the guide and I had to paddle to their aid. Throughout the journey, we were at the back of the group, ensuring everyone's safety and picking up any stragglers.

We paddled to the water cave, which was our lunch stop. There was a zipline at this point, which was included in the tour program. If you didn't buy the tour, you could buy it at the zipline spot for 550 baht, which was cheaper than the tour counter. It seemed like they were pocketing the money without a receipt. There were a total of 12 zipline stations, where you would rappel down to different platforms. There was also a 1-station wobbly wooden bridge connected by ropes for an extra thrill. As for us seniors, we couldn't just stand and watch, so we decided to give it a try. After paying, we had to sign a waiver stating that the tour company would not be responsible for any injuries. Once we checked the equipment, we walked up and rappelled down each station.

After the zipline activity, we had lunch included in the tour package. It was fried rice with barbecue, bread, and a little fruit. After lunch, we went through the cave on rubber rings. There wasn't much to it, just sitting on a rubber ring with a headlamp and following a rope guide into the cave for about 50 meters and then coming out the same way. There was nothing really there, but what was interesting was that at the end of the cave there was a wooden staircase to climb up. I asked the guide and he said that there was another way inside that would lead to another cave, but it was too dangerous because the ground below was mud and they didn't allow anyone to enter. And I was wondering why I didn't smell any bat droppings or see any bats when I went into the cave, but the guide said that the villagers had eaten them all.

After exiting the cave, we continued paddling. The afternoon sun was incredibly strong, contrary to the storm forecast. It's advisable to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, as sunscreen alone won't suffice. After paddling for a while, the guide pointed out a waterfall visible in the distance. There are hiking tours available to reach it, but they require an overnight stay. I haven't seen any reviews about the waterfall's beauty, so I've added it to my list to explore if I get the chance to return. Finally, we reached the end of our kayak journey at the pier next to Thavorn Suk Resort around 4 pm. The entire water activity took approximately 7.5 hours! But our adventure wasn't over yet; we still had the Blue Lagoon to explore.

The songthaew took us to our next destination, the Blue Lagoon. We were given about 45 minutes there. During the entire 45 minutes, we didn't walk anywhere else and just spent our time taking pictures in this area. Just standing there capturing each other's poses as we jumped into the water was hilarious.

Day 3: Pha Ngern - Tham Chang - Kaeng Yui Waterfall

After concluding the first day's trip and checking into our accommodation at 6:30 PM, we were too exhausted to venture out. We opted to dine within the resort, Vieng Tara Villa. You can explore the resort through my review at this link: Vieng Tara Villa.

On the morning of the 3rd, we had a car pick us up at 9 am, but we woke up early to capture the atmosphere of the resort. It's hard to describe how amazing it was. It's perfect for portrait or pre-wedding photos. Let's take a look at the pictures.

After capturing the resort's beauty and enjoying breakfast, we checked out and left our luggage. We hopped on a shared taxi and headed towards the same route as yesterday, leading to Pha Ngeun and Tham Jang, which is also the path to the Blue Lagoon. Upon arrival, we paid the entrance fee of 10,000 kip per person for Tham Jang. The hike to the top took around 20-30 minutes for experienced hikers and approximately 45 minutes for others. The trail steadily ascends until reaching a resting pavilion. From there, it's a flat walk followed by a 10-minute climb to reach the summit of Pha Ngeun. Refreshments like water and papaya salad are now available at the top, with slightly increased prices. The panoramic view from Pha Ngeun offers a 180-degree vista. If you ascend during the morning, you'll encounter polarized light, perfect for capturing stunning photographs. However, the afternoon sun creates a backlit scenario. For those who wish to photograph the sunset, it's recommended to start the climb around 4:30 pm and enjoy the sunset without excessive heat.

After descending from Pha Ngern, we continued to Tham Chang Cave. However, due to the heat, hunger, and fatigue, we went straight to the restaurant upon arrival at Tham Chang Cave after taking pictures of the orange bridge. We did not climb up to see the cave. The riverside restaurant at Tham Chang Cave serves delicious food. The bill came to over 100,000 baht again.

After leaving Tham Luang Cave, we continued on to Kaeng Yui. We had to take a car back into town and then out the other way, which is a mountain on the city side. It took about 10 kilometers to get there. It's a real local waterfall, and we didn't see any other tourists. There were only Lao people sitting around eating and drinking at the various pavilions that were set up around the area. We didn't walk up to the higher levels of the waterfall, but as soon as we saw the water, we wanted to jump in. So we just played in the water near the bottom of the waterfall.

The day 3 activities ended around 4 pm. We were then transported to The Elephant Crossing Hotel for our final night. You can check out my review of the hotel at this link: The Elephant Crossing Hotel

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Day 4: Vientiane - Udon Thani - Bangkok

The final morning, we woke up to breakfast with a view of the mountains and mist. However, throughout the entire trip, we didn't see a single hot air balloon. When we asked the locals, they told us that there are no hot air balloons during the rainy season because it's too dangerous. Afterwards, we waited for a car to pick us up and take us to Vang Vieng. However, there was a mistake with our pre-purchased tickets from the day we arrived. The staff had written down the wrong return date, so they had to send a van to take us to Vientiane instead. The van ride from Vang Vieng, even though it was a Thai van, had four people per row, which was quite cramped. Fortunately, the ride only took about three hours.

The van stopped for lunch on the side of the road, at a different spot than on the way there. This restaurant was familiar from online reviews. After lunch, the van took us to Vientiane. During the journey, we inquired about sightseeing and transportation options in Vientiane. The driver kindly arranged a half-day tour for us by calling a relative who also drives a van. The price was 1,300 baht, which worked out to just over 100 baht per person, so we agreed. Upon arriving in Vientiane, we switched vans and had the driver take us to the morning market to book the last bus back to Udon Thani at 6 pm. We left our luggage at the bus station. The bus fare back to Udon Thani was 22,000 kip, but on weekends it is 24,000 kip. They really charge extra for everything.

All tourist attractions in Vientiane close around 4 pm, so we only have about 3 hours. We need to hurry up. The first stop is to buy souvenirs at a shop in Vientiane. Then we go to Wat Pha That Luang. The entrance fee is 5,000 kip per person. Women must change into a sarong.

Next, we head to the Patuxai, where you can climb to the top for a panoramic view for an additional 3,000 kip.

Exiting the Patuxai monument, we continued to the Pha That Luang temple and Wat Si Saket, which are located close to each other. With less than 10 minutes remaining, we paid an entrance fee of 5,000 kip for Pha That Luang and another 5,000 kip for Wat Si Saket. Photography is prohibited inside Pha That Luang.

Photography is prohibited inside the Wihan of Wat Sisa Ket. Photography is only permitted in the surrounding areas.

After our tour, the van took us back to the bus station. We had about an hour and a half to spare, so we decided to look for something to eat near the front of the station. However, the morning market and the mall were already closed, even though it was only 4 pm. We walked around looking for something to eat on the sidewalk in front of the morning market. We found a shop selling rice sandwiches with pâté, so we decided to try it. We didn't get to eat any while we were in Vang Vieng because we didn't have enough time to go out and walk around. The cleanliness of the place was not something to talk about, as it was located on the side of the road with dust and smoke everywhere. However, the locals were eating there, so we decided to give it a try. The taste was quite unique, and there were many different fillings to choose from.

Next to the Khao Jii shop, we found a barbecue stall selling grilled pork belly with jaew dipping sauce, various grilled meats, and sausages. We decided to try it, and it was delicious! The shop also sells papaya salad, so we sat down and had a proper meal. The papaya salad was fantastic. Of all the food we've had in Laos over the past four days, this roadside stall near the bus terminal has been the most delicious and satisfying. The bill came to just over 500 baht, and we were all full. Highly recommended! This food cart is located in front of the morning market and opens around 4 pm until the morning.

Having come all this way, we should make the most of our time here. We ended our Vang Vieng trip on a high note and have already started planning our next adventure.

**Estimated expenses for the 4-day, 3-night trip:**

• Round-trip flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani: 1,300 baht
• Transportation within Vang Vieng: 1,000 baht
• Accommodation: 2,345 baht
• Entrance fees to various attractions: 150 baht
• One-day trip + zipline: 1,050 baht
• Food (estimated at 100 baht per meal): 1,500 baht

A total of 7,345 people.

See you on the next trip. Goodbye...

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