I almost didn’t go to Blue Lagoon 4.

Nobody was talking about it. A map search showed that it was in the complete opposite direction of all the other lagoons. Everyone said to stick to Blue Lagoons 1, 2, and 3. I didn’t give 4 much thought until my very last day in Vang Vieng.

Then I went – at 9:30 in the morning – and found the clearest, most turquoise water of any lagoon in Vang Vieng, and had the entire place to myself.

So I realized that this guide was necessary to write. I’ll cover why Blue Lagoon 4 is worth the trip, how to get there, and ways to maximize your experience.

Why Blue Lagoon 4 Is Worth the Trip

The water is the first thing that gets you. It’s a deeper, clearer turquoise than any of the other lagoons, reflecting the surrounding cliffs and greenery like a mirror.

The water is the perfect temperature, cool enough to be refreshing but nowhere near the shock some spring-fed pools give you. You can spend hours floating about (they rent floaties), or hanging out at one of the bamboo platforms both inside and surrounding the lagoon.

There’s plenty of fun stuff to do, including a rope swing and zip-line – which they have at some of the other Blue Lagoons, but they’re better here. I spent close to two hours teaching myself to do a backflip off the rope swing, which – with nobody around in the morning (more on that below) – meant a long, private blooper reel of back, belly, and face-flops before I finally landed one.

But by the time the afternoon crowd rolled in, I was ready to perform.

Which brings me to my next point – not only is it nicer, but Blue Lagoon 4 is far quieter than 1, 2, or 3. I arrived at 9:30 AM in peak season, and had the place basically to myself for a couple of hours.

When you get hungry, there’s a small restaurant on site serving – for reasons I still can’t fully explain – Middle Eastern food, complete with homemade pita. I had a falafel pita sandwich that was shockingly good, and very fairly priced for what it was (90k kip, $4 USD).

Eating a fresh falafel wrap next to a turquoise lagoon in rural Laos is one of those pleasantly absurd travel moments – highly recommend.

Also – new as of 2026 – there’s now a sauna and steam room on site for 100k kip ($4.50 USD). It’s a splurge relative to Laos prices, but a nice touch that none of the other lagoons offer.

How to Get to Blue Lagoon 4

Here’s the good news: it’s not complicated.

Unlike the other lagoons, Blue Lagoon 4 isn’t on the Vang Vieng Loop – the roughly 90-minute circuit road west of town that strings together lagoons 1, 2, and 3 (and where basically everyone spends their day).

While those sit west of town, Blue Lagoon 4 is north, straight up Route 13. You plug it into Google Maps, follow the navigation, and it takes you right there. That’s genuinely it.

A few things worth knowing before you go, though, since the drive is a little different from the loop.

A navigation tip. Google Maps works fine the whole way, so just follow it in. One thing I found very useful in Southeast Asia – make sure your rented scooter has a phone mount so you can actually see the directions as you ride. If it doesn’t have one, ask – almost every rental shop I went to had one, and it makes navigating so much easier.

Note: A scooter also gives you the freedom to explore other spots around Vang Vieng, which I talk about in detail in my post on the Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng!

Note: Blue Lagoon 4 is pinned on Offpath, my interactive map app showing hidden gems around the world! Give it a download if you want to find other off-the-beaten-path spots like Blue Lagoon 4.

Blue Lagoon 4 Essentials

Entry fee	30k kip (~$1.30), includes the 10k kip bridge crossing
Location	North of Vang Vieng, up Route 13 (off the loop)
Drive time	~30-40 min from town
Getting there	Scooter (recommended if experienced), tuk-tuk, or tour
Best time	Morning – empty water, better light, before the mountain shades the lagoon
On site	Restaurant (falafel + Middle Eastern), rope swing, zipline, water platforms, floaties for rent
Sauna & steam room	100k kip (~$4.50), new for 2026
Bring	Swimwear, towel, cash (small notes for entry + food), water shoes optional

A couple of things worth planning around.

The morning really is the move – I got there at 9:30 and had it to myself for a couple of hours, and beyond the empty water, the light’s better. By the time the late afternoon rolls around, the surrounding mountains start throwing the lagoon into shade.

As for water shoes: not essential, but the rocks around the edges can get slippery, so if you’re planning to spend the day cycling through the rope swing and zipline, they’ll save your feet a lot of grief.

Otherwise, bring cash in small notes for entry and food, and you’re set.

Is Blue Lagoon 4 Worth It vs the Others?

Short answer: yes – it topped my list of all the Vang Vieng blue lagoons (and it wasn’t especially close).

Blue Lagoon 1 is the famous one, closest to town, and it’s a zoo – packed, small, and the least rewarding of the bunch.

Blue Lagoon 2 is actually pretty great and my number two: big, calmer than #1, and a high jump platform (which I love).

Blue Lagoon 3 is the one most other guides crown as the best, and it’s a great time – solid activities, a swimmable cave nearby – but it’s small enough to feel busy, and it still doesn’t touch #4 in my book.

Then there’s Blue Lagoon 5 – which is nice, but the water is more of a murky green-brown, rendering it more of a ‘Brown’ Lagoon.

So #4 wins: it’s got clearer water, better versions of the same activities, and a fraction of the crowds, all because it’s the one lagoon everyone else skips.

If you want a full breakdown of all five, worst to best – I ranked every Vang Vieng blue lagoon here: [The Best Blue Lagoons in Vang Vieng: All 5 Ranked].