Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is other worldly beautiful. Rain or shine. And we saw both.

Vang Vieng is in the midst of a rice-paddy-filled valley surrounded by dramatically steep limestone mountain covered in lush green jungle. It takes my breath away.

Vang Vieng is a destination spot for action adventurers - a great place for climbing, caving, rock-climbing, trekking and tubing, to name a few. Tubing involves floating down the river on an inflated inner tube from a tractor wheel and stopping for Beer Lao Lao at regularly spaced and conveniently located bars along the way. Alas, the rain clouds obscuring the sun prevented us from getting into the icy river during our regrettably short stay in this idyllic town. However, we were lucky that the clouds did break long enough for Charlie and me to go mountain biking across some rice paddies on matching hot pink bicycles.

I wish we had more time to spend here. I will just have to settle for the hope that we come back soon. If anyone wants a nice, slightly off the beaten track place to go on an adventure and be assured a great time, this is it.