Nam Song River
The river that runs past Vang Vieng beneath limestone cliffs. People float on it in inner tubes or paddle kayaks, and its banks have cafes and viewpoints over the jagged karst peaks.
Vang Vieng
Limestone hills ring this small town, which is popular for hot-air balloon rides, blue lagoons, caves, tubing and kayaking.
Attractive locations
Tham Jang
Cave at the foot of a limestone cliff just south of town, reached by a short climb. A cool spring pool lies by the entrance, and the viewpoint above looks across rice fields and the river.
Nam Ngum Reservoir
Large man-made lake north-east of the capital, dotted with islands and surrounded by forested hills. Visitors come for boat trips, fresh fish at floating restaurants and a quiet day by the water.
Vang Vieng Town
A riverside town on the Nam Song, ringed by jagged limestone peaks. It is the base for cave visits, kayaking, tubing and cycling through rice fields and villages.
Airports
Wattay International Airport VTE
It is about 105 km in a straight line from Vang Vieng.
Luang Phabang International Airport LPQ
It is about 113 km in a straight line from Vang Vieng.
Xieng Khouang Airport XKH
It is about 94 km in a straight line from Vang Vieng.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan19.2 °C9 mm
- Feb21.7 °C6 mm
- Mar24.6 °C28 mm
- Apr26.6 °C51 mm
- May26.3 °C120 mm
- Jun25.6 °C126 mm
- Jul24.8 °C182 mm
- Aug24.5 °C209 mm
- Sep24.5 °C137 mm
- Oct23.8 °C53 mm
- Nov22.0 °C15 mm
- Dec19.3 °C7 mm
Driest months: Jan, Feb, Dec. Wettest months: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Costs
Prices here are about 22% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 191. Fire 190. Ambulance 195.
local government
Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department (Ministry of Culture and Tourism)
Helps with: Lao government department that runs the tourismlaos.org website. Its contact details are given on the site's Before You Go page for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Laos or planning a trip there.
Phone: +856-21-212248
Address: Lane Xang Avenue, Hatsadi Village, Chanthabouly District, Vientiane Capital
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Lao PDR
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working in Laos since 2002. It gives humanitarian help to migrants, displaced people and returnees and supports the government on migration management.
Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +856 21 26 77 95
Email: iomlaopdr@iom.int
Address: UN House, 3rd Floor, Lane Xang Avenue, Vientiane
local government
Police emergency number 1191
Helps with: Reaches the police in Laos. The number comes from UK government travel advice, which also lists 021 251 128 for the tourist police in Vientiane.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 1191
local government
Ambulance emergency number 1195
Helps with: Reaches the ambulance service in Laos. UK government travel advice also lists 030 525 7239 for the ambulance.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 1195
local government
Fire emergency number 1190
Helps with: Reaches the fire service in Laos. The number comes from UK government travel advice.
Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.
Phone: 1190