Vang Vieng: A Bewildering Epic Journey to Unparalleled Bliss

Laos

This is the English translation of "ประเทศลาว" in Thai.

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Let's get started!!! The first thing is travel and accommodation.

After inquiring about the booking by phone, the OP rushed to Mo Chit Bus Terminal to purchase tickets, of which only 9 were left (the OP was told on the phone that everyone's passport was required). In a hurry, fearing that there would be no way to travel, as the plane tickets were expensive and there would definitely be a lot of people transferring to Udon Thani during the long holiday, the OP decided to take a chance and went to buy the tickets. The OP managed to get the tickets for the return trip on April 30, 2015, for 4 people at 900 baht each, using only the passport of the person who bought the tickets. To purchase international bus tickets, you must go before 9 pm.

Note: If the bus is operated by the Thai Bus Terminal (BTS), you can book tickets in advance. However, if it is operated by a Lao company, you can only purchase tickets on the day of travel.

Our final destination was Malany Villa, conveniently located in the heart of Vang Vieng. With its proximity to food and amenities, it offered an affordable option. We opted for air-conditioned rooms, anticipating the possibility of spending time indoors during the day due to the expected hot weather. Free Wi-Fi was an essential amenity. We booked two single beds for May 1-4.

Four days and three nights for 3,152 baht (this price is already discounted by 20% from the website's big pack sale). Payment can be made upon arrival, but if we cancel, the full amount will be charged to the registered credit card. It is recommended that anyone who books through the website check the free cancellation policy. As for the return trip, we'll figure it out when we get there. Haha, as I said, everything was so sudden, and the bus tickets were all sold out, and the plane tickets were expensive. The timing was also uncertain.

Time passes . . . . . April 30th, Travel Day

After a long journey from Bangkok to Vang Vieng, lasting 16 hours, we finally arrived at our accommodation. We had booked our room in advance and showed the booking app to the staff. The total cost for the room was 3,072 baht (96 US dollars | 32 baht = 1 US dollar), which was cheaper than the price listed on the app. We paid in Thai baht.

**Price per room/night = 512 Baht. The regular price is around 700-800 Thai Baht.**

Leapt into the room, shed clothes to shower, rested briefly, then rushed down to exchange money, buy a bus ticket, and find food near the accommodation.

Full and satisfied, we decided to take a nap as we were exhausted from the long journey. We prepared our belongings for the return trip. Above is a picture of the ticket for our journey back from Vang Vieng to Bangkok.

The first leg of the journey is a VIP bus from Vang Vieng to Vientiane.

Second bus from Nong Khai checkpoint, VIP sleeper bus to Bangkok

Sunglasses are essential due to the intense midday sun, serving as a tool for preserving cherished memories.

SJCAM 4000 Wifi + FUJI XP: These models are waterproof, making them ideal for all water activities.

**In low light conditions, the image quality may not be as sharp as it could be, depending on the camera's capabilities. However, during the day, the image quality is comparable to that of a GoPro camera.**

As soon as we woke up, we were hungry. It was already getting dark when we went downstairs, so we wasted no time in searching for dinner. Our fellow travelers were craving Lao papaya salad, so we set out to find some.

The papaya salad was decent, but not quite to my taste. However, the grilled meats were excellent.

The aunt finished making each dish so quickly that they were all eaten before I could take a picture. I then wandered around aimlessly. I decided to skip the Sakura Bar, even though it was close to my accommodation. On this trip, we bought a Lao SIM card for 40 baht. However, we had to top it up with about 50,000-60,000 kip to buy a data plan, bringing the total cost to 240 baht. The seller set up the SIM card for us, including a 5GB data plan (which, I must say, was more than enough for the trip).

Prior to arriving at the accommodation, we opted to purchase a One Day Trip with Happy Tour, which cost 90,000 kip per person, equivalent to approximately 300 baht. Our departure was scheduled for 9:00 AM.

To be continued... The climax is approaching.

We soon arrived back at our boat launch point after a short drive back along the original route.

Three people are on this boat. I don't know if I should tell the other person that they are lucky or unlucky to be on this boat. 5555+

During our visit, there was a rocket festival. The guide was afraid of the rockets exploding and flying towards the water.

Not yet, not yet. It's not time to travel yet. 2 more days, don't break down!!!!

After arriving at our accommodation and freshening up, we took a leisurely stroll along the Song River.

Crossing the Song River, I strolled along and came across a breathtaking sight. A vast expanse of fields stretched before me, bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun.

We walked until it was dark and we were exhausted. Our stomachs were also rumbling. It's safe to say that we used up a lot of energy today.

Following the recommendation of our accommodation host, we embarked on a quest to locate a delectable "ตำบักหุง" restaurant. (This was after failing to find one on our first day.)

If you're craving something grilled, you can walk to another restaurant and bring it back to eat here (it's quite a walk from this restaurant). There are many grilled chicken and pork neck restaurants to choose from. The one I tried and enjoyed was near the Korean buffet. We were full and satisfied, and walked back to our accommodation with heavy eyelids, ready to fall asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow. Another day well spent.

The next destination is the Blue Lagoon. We continue on a rough road. I told you to look at the view, not the ground.

So what are you waiting for? Rent a life jacket for 2 hours for 10,000 kip after a fun and exciting journey, shaking and getting hot.

During the float, people jumped non-stop. The queue was long, and the cheers were loud. This was the most fun part.

We spent another day at the same delicious papaya salad restaurant. The last day of the trip was truly enjoyable thanks to the wonderful atmosphere. The trip is now complete, and we will return to Bangkok tomorrow. I miss home a lot. At exactly one in the afternoon, we went to get on the bus. Goodbye!

Incredible! The epic journey continues with...

The Grand Finale: A Journey Back

Who would have thought that the VIP experience at this place would be like this? (So much so that no one even took a picture to keep as a reminder, just the memory is enough to haunt you).

It all started with a final breakfast at Luang Prabang Bakery (I'm sure everyone has seen it in every Vang Vieng review post). As usual, no one took any pictures. As soon as the food was placed on the table, the vultures descended. Then we waited for the bus.

When the bus arrived, we were shocked. We thought it was the VIP bus, but it wasn't. This was just a shuttle to the bus station outside. The bus that was supposed to pick us up at 1:00 PM didn't arrive until 1:30 PM.

After passing through the Lao checkpoint, we purchased border crossing cards for 45 baht each, the same as on the way in. The driver who dropped us off gave us tickets to cross the bridge for 15 baht each. Once we crossed over to the Thai side, we completed the necessary paperwork. A representative from the Thai tour bus company, Chaan Tour, was waiting to pick us up.

Crossed over to Thailand

Bus driver: Follow me, the bus leaves at 9:30 PM sharp, no stops.

Everyone: AAAAAAAAAAA!!!

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Walking to catch the bus, I came across a 7-Eleven.

Everyone: Hey!!!!!

There is no text to translate in the provided input. Please provide the text you would like translated.

Everyone was famished and exhausted after a long journey from Vang Vieng. The heat and fatigue had taken their toll.

Customers freely enter 7-Eleven, each stocking up on essentials like boxed meals, water, milk, and snacks.

At 9:30 p.m., the car arrived. As soon as I jumped in, tears welled up in my eyes.

The author borrowed a picture from a friend because they immediately put on their headphones, turned on the massager, and watched a movie with enjoyment as soon as they got on the bus.

Thank you, Chan Tour, for taking our exhausted bodies home. Now,

The total travel time back is 18 hours.

The real story of Vang Vieng's dark side.

Thank you all for watching! ^^