…Vang Vieng, everyone is sharing posts about Vang Vieng… I couldn't resist and decided to go too. It started with sharing a post about Vang Vieng on Facebook, and then my friends commented and invited me to go with them. Plus, there was a promotion for AirAsia flights at 0 baht, so I booked it. The round-trip flight to Udon Thani cost around 900 baht. I have to say that we planned this trip several months in advance. I'll tell you what we did in Vang Vieng…

May 4-8, 2017

Day 1: Bangkok to Udon Thani

Our journey began with a flight from Bangkok to Udon Thani via AirAsia. We opted to spend the night in Udon Thani for logistical reasons, as one of our companions could only take half a day off work and resided in Chonburi. She arrived in Udon Thani around 11 pm. Our group for this trip consisted of three individuals.

Day 2: Vang Vieng Adventure

Departing from Udon Thani, we arrived in Vang Vieng around 3:00 PM. After checking in and settling into our accommodation, we explored the town to compare tour prices. Ultimately, we opted against a tour and instead hired a car to take us to Pha Ngern, a scenic viewpoint. Returning from Pha Ngern, we freshened up and headed out for dinner. The evening continued with drinks at Sakura Bar, culminating in a lively night at Jungle Party. We returned to our accommodation at 2:00 AM, exhausted but content.

DAY 3 - After returning late last night, we woke up late at around 10:30 am. We checked out of our accommodation and moved to another location. It was already very late, so we decided not to buy a tour and instead rented motorbikes to ride around. We also decided to go kayaking. Luckily, we had a friend who was a skilled motorbike rider and took us to Blue Lagoon 2. We planned to go to the orange bridge, but we didn't make it because it started raining. After returning from Blue Lagoon 2, we went kayaking. We paddled while it was raining, which gave us a different and enjoyable experience. It was incredibly relaxing, and the view was truly breathtaking. After kayaking, we went back to shower and change, then went out to find food. We ended the night at Sakura Bar. Wow, is it really the last night already? Time flies by so fast.

DAY 4 - The last morning in Vang Vieng. I didn't want to leave. I woke up and took pictures of the view from Vieng Tara Villa. The view was amazing, with mist covering the mountains. It was so relaxing to look at. Why did I wake up early? To watch the hot air balloons, of course! The balloons were so far away, I think I went at the wrong time. Oh well... Breakfast at Vieng Tara Villa had a lot of options to choose from. I had to have the American breakfast, of course. And the time I didn't want to come arrived. At 10 am, I got on the van to Vientiane. My friend has a relative there, so we stopped by to visit them for a bit.

Around 2 pm in Vientiane, a friend's relative picked us up at the Northern Bus Station. They took us to check in at our accommodation, showed us around the city's landmarks, took us to their home, treated us to dinner, took us for a walk at the night market by the Mekong River, and then dropped us off at our accommodation.

DAY 5 - Early on the last day of the trip, we woke up early to buy tickets back to Udon Thani. We walked from our accommodation for about 10 minutes to the morning market and booked tickets for the 8:00 AM bus. The bus left on time and arrived in Udon Thani at 10:30 AM. We then hired a three-wheeled taxi to the airport. The flight departed at 1:00 PM and arrived in Bangkok at 2:00 PM. That's it! This trip was called #SingleTripSoWhat because we are single, all 3 of us. 5555

---

DAY - 1

Departed from Don Mueang Airport at 8:00 AM and arrived at Udon Thani Airport around 9:00 AM.

Upon arriving at Udon Thani Airport, we hailed a taxi to our accommodation for 200 baht, splitting the cost between two people. While there was an 80 baht shared van option available, we opted for the taxi due to our hunger. During the ride, we inquired about local culinary recommendations from the taxi driver, who suggested Som Tam Jae Kai. Interestingly, we had just passed the restaurant moments before.

Upon arrival at our accommodation, we checked in at the B2 Udonthani Hotel. Our room for three people was as expected. After settling in, we headed down to the lobby and asked the staff to call a taxi for us. Our destination was a renowned papaya salad restaurant in Udon Thani, Som Tam Jae Kai, known for its exceptional dishes.

The restaurant, Som Tum Jai Kai, offers a diverse menu with delicious options like Som Tum Thai with salted egg and Som Tum with fermented fish sauce. The chicken dishes are particularly tempting, but be aware that some people may have a fear of chickens.

After finishing papaya salad, we took a three-wheeled car to Central Udon Thani for a walk. In the picture, it's our friend. She's afraid of chickens. 2017 5555555 I'm laughing at her. But she's cute. Hehe. / We walked around Central Udon Thani until there was nothing left to walk. Finally, we went back to our accommodation and went out to find something to eat again in the evening at UD TOWN. There are a lot of food to eat. And then we went back to our accommodation to wait for our friend. Our friend arrived at 10 pm. It's time to rest. Good night and sweet dreams.

---

DAY - 2

Set the alarm for 5 am, wake up, shower, and get dressed. The hotel car will take us to Udon Thani Bus Station. The peak point is that the tickets to Vang Vieng are full. OMG! There is only one trip per day. I didn't book in advance. Luckily, there are many trips to Vientiane. We got the first ticket at 8:00 am. The bus schedule is like this, as shown in the picture above.

After purchasing the ticket, I went to 7-Eleven to stock up on snacks for the journey. Then, I waited for the bus to depart. The bus to Vientiane departed on time at 8:00 AM. The bus ticket indicated the seat number, allowing me to choose my seat. During the journey, an officer distributed immigration forms, which I completed on the bus to avoid wasting time due to the large crowd.

Crossing the Mekong River with a scenic view, we are heading to Laos!

Upon arriving at the immigration checkpoint, we disembarked from the vehicle twice. Once to receive the exit stamp for Thailand and again for the entry stamp for Laos. In the picture, it appears to be the Lao immigration checkpoint, if I recall correctly. Despite the short queue visible in the photo, the line actually extended far behind us. There were a lot of people. The immigration officer we encountered was a beautiful woman. When it was our turn, she examined our passports and stamped our entry permits without any issues. It was a smooth and straightforward process.

**Currency Exchange: My friends and I exchanged Kip before going through Lao immigration. However, another friend crossed over to exchange on the other side. It is recommended to exchange before going through Lao immigration to get a better rate.**

After passing through immigration, there will be another officer to check your passport. I just handed it over. I secretly took a picture of him checking my friend's passport. Not for anything, but he's really handsome. 55555555 He's really good-looking.

Walk past the most handsome officer. You will notice a group of Lao Telecom employees wearing blue shirts and skirts. There will be a lot of people around them. Just go up to them and ask about the package prices. I got a 1.5 GB SIM card for 100 baht that is valid for 7 days.

Everything is ready. We exchanged money for kip, got a SIM card with internet, and got on the bus. After a while, the staff came to tell us to get ready to get off. We will arrive at the junction where the van to Vang Vieng is waiting. When we arrived, we got off the bus and got our bags on the van. At first, we were a little confused because the door of the van was on the right side, haha. When we got on the van, there was an aunt who collected the fare. We paid 300 Thai baht each. Luckily, everyone on the van was Thai who were going to Vang Vieng, so we made new friends.

The journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng took quite a while due to the steep and winding roads, which gave me a headache. I slept most of the way, waking up intermittently, but it felt like we were never going to arrive. We finally reached Vang Vieng around 3:30 pm, after a journey of approximately 4-5 hours.

The van dropped us off in front of Sakura Bar. Alright, tonight's the night. No need to waste time searching. We found Sakura Bar first.

After getting off the bus, we started looking for accommodation. The first night we stayed at Champalao Bungalow, which we booked through Booking.com before arriving. This saved us the hassle of walking in. Vang Vieng is a very small town, and we thought the accommodation would be far away based on the reviews. The view from the back was stunning mountains. It only took a short walk to reach the accommodation.

We have arrived at Champala Lao Bungalow, a budget-friendly accommodation with stunning million-dollar views.

Upon arriving at the accommodation, we checked in and stored our belongings. To reach our room, we had to cross a suspension bridge. Jokingly, I remarked to my friend that if we were intoxicated, we might fall.

We arrived at our bungalow, which cost 280,000 kip per night, or 93,333.33 kip per person for three people. It could accommodate three people and had a fan, but it wasn't hot at all. We slept soundly until late the next morning.

Our first night's accommodation: The bed was incredibly comfortable. It was a double bed.

Single bed for 1 person

The front of the house has a hammock for relaxing. How relaxing is that?

After packing, we went out for a walk and took photos. We also surveyed the prices for a one-day trip.

Let's take a picture with the beautiful mountain view.

Strolling around taking photos, we came across many tour shops. There were so many options that we couldn't decide where to go. Finally, we found one and went in to negotiate. After some discussion, we decided not to buy a One Day Trip because it didn't include everything we wanted to see. Instead, we decided to rent a car and drive to Pha Ngern.

Bargaining for a car to Pha Ngern, the final price was 150,000.00 kip, divided by 3 people, 50,000.00 kip each.

A view of the Song River while crossing the bridge

The bridge toll is 5,000.00 kip per person.

Admission to Phaเงิน costs 10,000.00 kip per person, which is approximately 42 Thai baht.

We started our ascent of Pha Ngern at around 4:00 PM. The trail was approximately 650 meters long and incredibly steep. It took us about 40 minutes to reach the summit, with the final 50 meters feeling particularly challenging. However, upon reaching the viewpoint, all our fatigue vanished. The view was breathtaking, especially with the sun beginning to set. It was truly a sight to behold, making the arduous climb completely worthwhile.

Silver Cliff Trail

The view on the way up to Pha Ngern is already beautiful.

The next 50 meters were excruciating. My legs were begging to give up.

We have arrived at the Pha Ngern viewpoint. Seeing it with my own eyes is truly amazing.

There is water for sale upstairs, but the price is doubled. We drank a bottle of Sponsor for 10,000.00 kip. Wow, it's incredibly expensive.

Let's take a look at some of our photos. There are quite a few of them.

I've seen people in reviews standing on the rocks to take photos, and I wanted to do the same, but it was too high. I'll just sit down and take a photo instead. Haha.

The highlight of our trip to Pha Ngern was meeting a Thai couple who were photographers. They took amazing photos of us, and I only had to do some minor edits. Their work was truly exceptional.

It's time to say goodbye to Pha Ngern. Let's say goodbye with a picture of the sunset. Farewell.

Descending from Pha Ngern at around 6 pm, it was almost dark. As our friend was afraid of heights, we walked a little slower than usual. This resulted in our descent being shrouded in darkness. Fortunately, two Thai people were following behind us. With 50 meters left to reach the bottom, the sky began to darken, making it difficult to see. The Thai people shone their phone flashlights for us, demonstrating the kindness of Thai people. Upon reaching the bottom, we said goodbye to the Thai people and took a car back to our accommodation.

7:00 PM. Arrived at the accommodation, showered, changed clothes, and went out for dinner. Tried the wonton noodles, curious if the taste would be similar to back home. It was decent, either good or I was just hungry. The cost was 15,000 kip per bowl.

Let's continue to Sakura Bar. There are free drinks from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM every day, I think. But we didn't make it in time. 55555 Who cares? We can buy Lao beer instead. It's 20,000 kip per bottle. Using kip can be a bit confusing. I used a 20,000 kip note to buy a beer and then foolishly asked for change, thinking I had paid with a 60,000 kip note. As if! I walked out with a poker face, pretending nothing had happened. Oh my god!

Not yet, I'm not drunk yet. After that, I had no money left. I got completely drunk and ended up at the Jungle Party. I'm still wondering how I got there.

Jungle Party: Admission Fees and Free Beer

Admission fees for the Jungle Party are 30,000 kip for Thai nationals and 40,000 kip for foreigners. A free can of Lao beer is included with each admission.

The journey from Sakura Bar was free, but the return trip required a full car for the driver to agree to take us. The fare was 20,000 kip per person, which seemed expensive. However, my friend, who was intoxicated, managed to negotiate the price down to 10,000 kip per person.

The car dropped us off right in front of the roti shop, so we decided to give it a try. We were curious to see how Lao roti tasted. The damage was 20,000 kip. The taste was decent.

Arrived at the accommodation at 2 am, took a shower and went to bed. Sweet dreams, good night. See you tomorrow.

---

DAY - 3

Day 3 of the trip, but it was the morning of the 2nd day of living in Vang Vieng, a super chill city with million-dollar views. I woke up early and thought, "Damn, why is it so hot?" Oh, the power went out at the accommodation, and the water wasn't running. So I went to find the owner of the accommodation, and he turned on the water from upstairs for me to use first. The water was flowing slowly, but it was better than not having any water to shower with.

The morning view of the mountains behind the accommodation was breathtaking. The atmosphere was truly blissful.

11:00 AM: Check out of our accommodation and set out on foot. We asked for directions to Vieng Tara Villa and came across a motorbike rental shop. We decided to rent motorbikes for our sightseeing trip. The reason for renting motorbikes was that we didn't purchase a One Day Trip package the previous day, and buying one today wouldn't be worth it. We figured we could just ride motorbikes ourselves. The motorbike rental cost 60,000 kip, which we split three ways, making it 20,000 kip per person. Additionally, we purchased a kayaking tour package, which cost 80,000 kip per person.

After renting a motorbike, we drove to fill up the tank. The cost was 22,000.00 kip.

After refueling, we drove to our accommodation to store our belongings. However, one car was not enough for the three of us. Fortunately, a kind man volunteered to drive us to the front of Wiang Tara. This was extremely helpful, as it saved us time from going back and forth.

We have arrived at Wiang Tara Villa.

Upon arriving at Vieng Tara Villa, we headed straight to the lobby to check in. As usual, my friend had booked through Booking.com, but had forgotten to add an extra bed. As a result, one of our friends had to sleep alone in a nearby accommodation. We booked a bungalow with a river view at Vieng Tara for 416,000 kip per night, which we split between the two of us, coming to 208,000 kip each.

The room is beautifully decorated. The bed is very comfortable and the towels are shaped like swans facing each other to form a heart. It feels like we're on our honeymoon! 55555555

After packing our belongings, we continued our journey on a motorbike, riding three abreast to the Blue Lagoon. The road was a bit rough as we passed through rural villages. We were just a few kilometers away from Blue Lagoon 2 when it started to rain heavily. The downpour prevented us from capturing any photos along the way, much to our disappointment.

The rain was falling, but we didn't take shelter. My friend drove through the rain until we reached the Blue Lagoon. An old woman was waiting at the entrance to collect the entrance fee. We each paid 10,000 kip.

We have arrived at the Blue Lagoon. There are very few people here.

A crystal-clear body of water.

Two young children are playing in the water, while our friend swings from a rope, as if the pool were ours.

Okay, here's the translation:

Let's take a look at some pictures of us. There will be a lot, haha!

There are three Blue Lagoons in total. The second Blue Lagoon is the furthest, located approximately 15 kilometers from Vang Vieng town. Personally, I prefer this location due to the smaller crowds.

After taking photos at the Blue Lagoon until our hearts were content, it was time to go. Goodbye, Blue Lagoon 2. We will definitely be back again.

The next stop is kayaking. We have an appointment with the guide around 3:00 PM. We arrived at the accommodation at 2:00 PM. We rested and took a nap to regain our strength. After the rain, the fog floated in, and the mountain view was beautiful. At that time, all I could think about was how to absorb the atmosphere as much as possible.

Secretly taking pictures of a friend.

A friend secretly took a picture of us.

15:00. It's time to have some fun. Let's go kayaking. The guide will take us to the starting point for kayaking. There is a car to take us there. The guide is very friendly and approachable.

On the way to meet the guide, we crossed a bridge. It was a free wooden bridge, but it was a bit scary to walk on. Actually, we came on a motorbike, but the bridge was too narrow to accommodate three people riding across.

Translated from Thai to English: "A breathtaking view from the wooden bridge, with mountains shrouded in mist and a riverside cafe. What could be better?"

The view of the Song River from the other side, in Vang Vieng, is truly a relaxing sight.

We have arrived at the starting point for our kayaking adventure. The group pictured is a Chinese tour group, while we are only three people.

This is the kayak we'll be paddling. It's our first time kayaking, so let's get started!

Paddling while it rained, the mountain view during the paddle was amazing, so beautiful.

The paddling distance was approximately 2-3 kilometers, taking 1-2 hours, though I can't recall the exact duration. I do remember the abundance of rocks and the strong current, which left my arms aching. Nevertheless, it remains one of my favorite activities, and I cherish the memory.

The green-shirted guide standing by the boat is the one who took care of us. We have to say goodbye to him now. We will definitely come back to paddle again. Bye…

The view of the Song River is particularly beautiful near sunset. This photo was taken on the way back from a kayaking trip.

The road was muddy after the rain, but luckily my friend is a skilled driver. They deserve the title of "GrabBike" for this trip.

Photo taken while riding in a car, near Wiang Tara Villa.

We arrived back at our accommodation after 6 pm and took some photos together. We couldn't stop taking photos, haha! We took so many photos.

The evening view is also beautiful in a different way.

After taking photos, we showered and got dressed to go out for food. We walked around and ended up sitting down at a local restaurant. The menu was typical, with dishes like fried rice with pork, pad thai, and so on.

We ordered Pad Thai for 15,000.00 kip per plate, which is approximately 64 Thai baht.

After finishing dinner, we headed to Sakura Bar. I met up with a Thai friend I had met on the van earlier, and I also made a new friend, a Korean guy. Oh my, he was so handsome! I couldn't help but stare. 555555

00:00 AM: Sakura Bar closes. Time to head back to your accommodations. Sweet dreams and good night.

---

DAY 4

---

Note: The original text appears to be a schedule or itinerary of some sort. The first line indicates the closing time of a bar called "Sakura Bar" at midnight. The second line is a heading for "Day 4," suggesting that this is part of a multi-day schedule. The third line is blank.

On the last morning in Vang Vieng, I set my alarm for 5:30 am to watch the hot air balloons. I ended up waking up at 6:00 am instead. The morning was very foggy and the air was incredibly fresh, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

This place is ours. There is no one here except for me and my two friends. It might be a bit too early.

Friend secretly took a photo

This morning was even better than yesterday. I stood there, soaking in the atmosphere for a while.

I saw the balloon, but it was very far away. Oh well, I woke up early for nothing.

The morning view of the mountains contrasts with the green grass.

Using a fixed lens for the first time, the rice field was soaked due to the fog. It was a truly natural experience.

He secretly took pictures of his friend again. He's not a psychopath, he just likes to capture candid moments.

Breakfast time at Wiang Tara Villa. Breakfast is served from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM. The view from the dining table is simply breathtaking.

The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of options to suit all tastes. For those who prefer a simple breakfast, the American Breakfast is a great choice. The restaurant also offers self-service options, allowing guests to choose from a selection of coffee, juice, milk, and other beverages.

The meal was so visually appealing that I couldn't stop taking pictures. I wanted to capture the beauty of the food and the ambiance of the dining table.

It's time to say goodbye to Vang Vieng. See you later, bye…

My friend and I purchased bus tickets to Vientiane yesterday for 50,000 kip each. We were picked up for the journey, which departed Vang Vieng at 10:00 AM in a comfortable van. The trip from Vang Vieng to Vientiane takes approximately 3-4 hours, arriving at the Vientiane Northern Bus Station around 2:00 PM. We then waited for my friend's relative to pick us up.

A friend's relative picked us up to check in at our accommodation in Vientiane city. We stayed at the New Lao Paris Hotel, which can accommodate three people. The cost was 219,000.00 kip per night, which we split three ways, coming to 73,000.00 kip per person.

The kind uncle and aunt took me on a tour of the city. The first stop was Wat Ho Kham Kaeo, which cost 45 Thai baht to enter. I actually paid with 10,000.00 kip, which felt like I was being taken advantage of.

This person's name is Nice. They are single and open to flirting. Wink wink. 55555

This is the author speaking. 5555555

At Wat Ho Kham Kaew, there are sarongs available to borrow before entering to pay respects to the Buddha. Since my friend and I were wearing shorts, we had to wear sarongs like this. It will be a bit more modest.

Note: There are postcards for sale at the entrance. We bought 2 postcards + stamps for 22,000 kip. Was it expensive? Haha.

The second location was Wat Sisa Ket. When we arrived, the temple was already closed, but they allowed us to stand outside and pay our respects.

Please take a picture of the temple entrance.

The interior offers a space for visitors to walk around and admire the Buddha statues. Unfortunately, due to my late arrival, I was unable to enter the church.

Friends are choosing souvenirs.

Souvenirs include keychains and refrigerator magnets, priced at 20,000.00 kip per item, which is equivalent to 100 Thai baht. Wow!

On the way to the car, the black sedan parked there.

Let's get on the bus. Our next stop is a major landmark, the iconic Sai Gate.

Photo taken on the way to the Victory Gate

You have arrived at the Patuxai Gate. If you haven't been here, it's as if you haven't been to Vientiane.

White building, government office of Vientiane.

This trip is for an odd number of people. There are 3 people coming.

I wanted to take cool and stylish photos, but they turned out like this. 55555555

Capture a solo shot.

The gate to Sai was closed. Unfortunately, due to the limited time, I was unable to climb to the viewpoint. I will definitely not miss it next time.

The Luang Prabang Stupa, also known as the Wat Phra That Luang, is open to the public from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. However, we arrived too late and were unable to pay our respects.

Equestrian statue of King Aphai Phutthabut Chaiyachettha, King of the Lanna Kingdom

This evening, I had the opportunity to enjoy a complimentary meal at the home of a friend's relative. They prepared a traditional Lao dish called "Phaan Hoo Moo," which resembles a type of fermented sausage similar to Vietnamese "nem nuong." The ingredients differed slightly, but the overall flavor was exceptional, leaving a lasting impression.

Note: The original text is empty, so the translation is also empty.

After lunch and chatting with relatives and friends, my aunt and uncle took me for a walk at the night market by the Mekong River. The market sells similar goods to those in Thailand, most of which are imported from Thailand.

Similar to a Thai flea market, but with different prices.

Every time I see a tie-dye clothing store, I have to stop by. The prices are comparable to those in Thailand.

The nighttime atmosphere in Vientiane.

Water costs 4,000.00 kip at the minimart across from the accommodation. Most of the products are imported from Thailand and are similar to those found in 7-Eleven stores in our country.

While my friends were choosing snacks, I couldn't help but take a few sneaky photos of the staff. The Laotian guy on the right is incredibly handsome! 5555555

22:00 - Arrive at accommodation and take a shower before going to bed.

---

DAY - 5

On the fifth and final day of the trip, I woke up early again, at 5 am. After showering and getting dressed, I left the accommodation at 7 am and walked to the morning market to buy a bus ticket back to Udon Thani. The walk was not too far.

On the way to the morning market, I saw a pagoda in the middle of the intersection.

Arriving at the market early, I rushed to buy a bus ticket. I secured a seat on the 8:00 AM bus for 22,000.00 kip per person.

Our challenge was that we hadn't sent the postcards yet, and the mailbox was very far away. By chance, we met an elderly Laotian man while waiting for the bus and asked him to send them for us. (Note: The postcards arrived in Thailand in just 7 days.)

The rice sandwich shop sells very cheap, only 5,000.00 kip per piece. Much cheaper than in Vang Vieng.

The tour bus to Udon Thani departed promptly at 8:00 AM. After a short drive, we reached the Lao exit checkpoint, where we had to disembark for exit stamping. We continued our journey and soon arrived at the Thai entry checkpoint. The entire process was remarkably efficient.

10:30 AM: Arrive at Udon Thani Bus Terminal. Take a tuk-tuk to the airport for 40 baht per person.

Upon entering the gate, I encountered a standee of Nadech. I couldn't resist taking a picture. He's so handsome! 555555

11:00 AM arrived at Udon Thani Airport. The flight wasn't until 1:00 PM, so I had a long wait.

13:00 hrs. The plane departed from Udon Thani Airport and arrived at Don Mueang Airport at approximately 14:00 hrs. It was time to bid farewell to my friends and go our separate ways to work. The time of joy passed by so quickly. Goodbye…

The solo trip has come to an end. It has been an incredible journey, filled with experiences that words cannot fully capture. I have made new friends and witnessed sights I have never encountered before. It has been truly remarkable.

Ultimately, like every trip, the destination is not as important as the good friendships encountered along the way.

This is our first review. We apologize for any mistakes.

This is a blank paragraph.