Vang Vieng is a medium-sized city of about 20,000 inhabitants 2 hours north of Vientiane. I went there for the burn season. The sky is still foggy therefore, and of a particular brightness, but I did not feel a respiratory gene.

It’s a city of backpackers. Backpackers of all ages (many young people alone or as a couple, some families) arrive constantly by train or bus, the big bag on the back.

The city is full of youth hostels, guesthouses, and some more or less chic hotels

All these hotels offer sports activities and discovery of the beautiful region of Vang Vieng

The list of activities is impressive

Kayak

Tubbing in the caves

Swimming and diving in the Blue Lagoon

Caving

Climbing

Treks

Zip Lines (zip line and tree climbing)

Quad

Hot-air balloon

ULM

Bike ride

And of course scooter rental companies everywhere

I was quite seduced by this city. She is very calm especially during the afternoon. It must be said that most of the activities raised require a move several kilometres from the city. Pickup pick-ups pass every morning in the hotels to take tourists to the caves, the Blue Lagoon and from the kayak descents.

In the evening, the city comes alive a little, but finally not much compared to the number of backpackers who live there. In one of the Walking Streets (pedestrian street in the evening), there is a night market as in all cities in Asia, but it is very little frequented. There is another market behind the bus station that is completely empty.

The city obviously also offers many restaurants, but the great specialty of Vang Vieng is... the sandwich. Indeed, many stands offer them all day long in the streets. These are very appetising sandwiches extremely garnished.

There are some very beautiful temples in the city, but even if the city has a lot of tourist activity, it is very poor, especially public buildings, and remains very inexpensive.

What is also very visible in Vang Vieng, and that I had not perceived in Vientiane, but maybe I did not stay long enough is how Laos has a strong ecological concern in its development compared to the other Asian countries that I have been able to visit so far Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Even if there are many trash cans lying around and a lot of plastic, there is a desire to sort waste that I have not observed elsewhere. On the other hand, if there are many motorbikes in circulation, there are also many electric scooters for rent. But above all, Laotians use it for their personal use to move around the city, but also to go to school. I was able to see many young men, and especially young girls, going to college on one of these electric scooters.