Running out of time in Laos, and have to choose either Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng to explore?

The two cities (towns, more like) are very distinct from one another- in almost every way.

But if you’re like me, there’s a clear winner.

Luang Prabang is more idyllic, with its beautiful, French-inspired old town and cuisine. But Vang Vieng is just plain fun.

In this post, I’ll be comparing the two in terms of their activities, food, and vibes. Because what else matters?

Activities- Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng?

Luang Prabang

There’s one area where Vang Vieng is far ahead of Luang Prabang, in my opinion- and that’s in their respective activities.

But here, I must submit the caveat that I’m being entirely subjective.

I can see how some would prefer the activities offered by Luang Prabang. For instance, its activities offer more culture and history.

The more objective issue for me is that the activities in Luang Prabang are more numbered. They can really all be done in a day.

That isn’t to say it wouldn’t be an incredible day. But the next one might not be.

Anyway, enough of this- let’s get into it.

Head to the Kuang Si Waterfalls

The Kuang Si Waterfalls are- undoubtedly- the prime attraction of Luang Prabang.

The waterfalls are vast, with many different tiers and pools- and the color of the water is something out of a fairy tale.

The Kuang Si Waterfalls aren’t actually located in Luang Prabang, but are an hour or so drive out of town.

The easiest way to get here is by motorbike, although you should opt for group transportation (all hostels organize) if you don’t feel too comfortable- the roads aren’t the best.

When you arrive at the falls, you’ll pay the 60k kip ($2.70 USD) entrance fee and then be driven to the falls.

I won’t dive into too much detail here, but the waterfalls are absolutely spectacular, and by far the best thing to do in Luang Prabang.

You can get more details here. (Just don’t get excited when she mentions the secret pools- they’re not open to the public anymore. Trust me, I spent a while searching for them).

As a bonus, you can also head to the Tat Sae Waterfalls- but only if you’re visiting in wet season.

I went on a scorching February day, bathing suit on and ready to jump in- only to find that there wasn’t even a small puddle remaining.

One of the bigger disappointments of my life.

Hike up Mount Phousi for sunset

The main town of Luang Prabang is pretty flat- other than the small mountain of Mount Phousi, which sits right in the center.

Locals say that Mount Phousi was formed when a giant mountain spirit carried a huge chunk of rock and dropped it right in the middle of Luang Prabang to protect the town. So there’s your explanation for the typography.

Hiking Mount Phousi at sunset is a very popular activity in Luang Prabang.

The entrance fee is 30k kip ($1.40 USD) and the hike can take anywhere from 5-20 minutes, depending on your speed.

You’ll reach a temple at the top. The view is nice, but there’s no denying that the crowds spoil it a bit.

Explore the town and night market

The town of Luang Prabang is great for strolling around.

The era of French colonialism left an indelible mark on Luang Prabang, which- if you’ll excuse my painfully nuanced take- may not have been such a bad thing?

Sure, there may have been exploitation, cultural erasure, and all that jazz- but wait until you see the shutters on those colonial villas.

The best time to stroll around town is after sunset, when the night market pops up.

Make sure to check it out- the main food section is by the beginning of the market at the intersection, and the market then spans down one long street.

Attend the sunrise Tak Bat (Alms Giving Ceremony)

Each morning at the crack of dawn, the streets of Luang Prabang fill with orange-robed monks silently collecting offerings in a centuries-old Buddhist ritual known as the alms giving ceremony.

It’s a peaceful and spiritual experience. And only slightly ruined by tourists shoving iPhones into monk’s faces like they’re at a zoo and paid extra for feeding.

Locals kneel quietly and offer sticky rice to the passing monks. There’s a lot of people, but it’s still exceptionally peaceful and accentuated by the rising sun.

Just don’t be the guy with a DSLR lens in a monk’s bowl.

Vang Vieng

The activities in Vang Vieng are more my cup of tea.

Think motorcycling on remote dirt roads, zip-lining into turquoise lagoons, gliding over mountains in a hot air balloon.

There’s just more to do in Vang Vieng. Especially for those who don’t mind a rush of adrenaline every now and then.

There’s so much that I have a post strictly about things to do in Vang Vieng. It gives much more detail than I’m giving here, so check it out.

Visit the Blue Lagoons

The Blue Lagoons are a series of natural pools with turquoise blue waters and beautiful mountains backdrops, all located within 30-40 minutes of the town center.

There are six blue lagoons in the area, each offering a unique experience.

If you want in-depth details about all of the Blue Lagoons, you can check out this post of mine for the best Blue Lagoons in Vang Vieng.

For now, I’ll mention a few of my favorites.

If you only go to one Blue Lagoon, make it Blue Lagoon 4.

The water here is just different– the waters are a deeper turquoise, and more clear than I had seen at any of the other Blue Lagoons. There’s also a rope swing and zip-line, which adds to the fun.

Of course, you shouldn’t just go to one blue lagoon. I’d recommend also checking out Lagoons 2 & 3.

Two is the largest, the highlight being its high jumping platform. Three comes with a rope swing and zip-line, as well as a nearby cave with a short walk to a pool.

Go hiking (Nam Xay)

Nam Xay Viewpoint is the most popular hike in Vang Vieng.

Depending on who you are, that can be a positive or a negative. For me, it’s generally a negative.

But hiking it at sunset is something everyone said was necessary. And after seeing pictures people had taken at the top (especially the famous shot with the motorbike), I had to give it a shot.

It was exactly the peaceful nature escape I had imagined- bumper-to-bumper with 200 other hikers, all climbing under 2 mph so Becky can get the perfect shot of a rock.

But kidding aside, the atmosphere was fun. Maybe not much of a hike, but it had a nice and social vibe.

It takes around 30 minutes to make it to the top at a good pace, maybe slightly longer.

Then you reach the summit and can get your moment of serenity.

Or you can, like me, queue up for a picture with a rusted motorbike and a chance to pretend you’re cooler than you are.

I’m having a laugh but it’s a good time. Definitely add it to the list. The pictures with the motorbike really are quite awesome.

There are also plenty of other hikes in the area. Pha Ngern and Silver Cliff are two other great ones.

Hot air balloon and paramotoring- cheapest in the world!

Can you think of a better way to start a day than by hovering hundreds of feet in the air, gliding over valleys and mountains in the early morning light?

I didn’t think so.

Paramotoring and hot air ballooning are two of the most popular things to do in Vang Vieng.

It’s really an incredible experience. You can choose between sunrise or sunset- I’d personally recommend sunrise.

I recommend paramotoring over hot air ballooning for two reasons. First off, I feel that it offers a more personal and adrenaline-inducing experience. You have a closer connection to the landscape below.

Second, it’s cheaper. If you choose a good place and bargain a little, you can get it down to 1.5-.6 million kip ($70 USD). A hot air balloon trip would likely put you back more like 2.5 million ($110 USD).

Not cheap, but you probably won’t find it cheaper anywhere in the world.

Explore by scooter

Renting a scooter opens up what you can do in Vang Vieng.

Many of the Blue Lagoons and the hike I mentioned (among other things) are located along a loop you can do from the main town, and having a scooter makes everything much easier.

But beyond that, a scooter is an activity on its own.

I’d recommend venturing off the main roads. You’ll find endless dirt roads weaving through countryside and up to the most incredible views.

If you want specifics, I give some in my off-roading section of this post.

Of course, only attempt if you have experience driving a scooter.

Food- Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng

Food in Luang Prabang

I think I’ve made it clear that I prefer the list of activities Vang Vieng has on tap.

But the food scene in Luang Prabang is undoubtedly superior.

The era of French colonization didn’t only lead to a pleasing array of window shutters- it also led to a meshing of its cuisine with the local cuisine of Luang Prabang, generating a rather splendid result.

Not to beat a dead horse- but again, who cares about decades of colonial exploitation when you’ve got a flaky, buttery croissant melting on your tongue?

There are lots of these Laotian-French fusion restaurants around town. By Laotian standards, many of them are pricey. But even the priciest of joints are still relatively affordable.

I can personally recommend Tamarind. It’s an awesome place with some pretty incredible food. They also have a tasting menu that’s very affordable. I don’t remember the exact price, but it was nothing crazy. Try to reserve in advance.

If you want more recommendations, I found this post to be very beneficial.

Food in Vang Vieng

The food in Vang Vieng is nothing too special.

As we’ll get to in the next section, the town itself of Vang Vieng doesn’t have too much going for it.

That extends to the cuisine. Much of the restaurants you’ll find here are international, and the few Laotian places there are seem almost more Thai than Laotian.

That being said, nobody’s really complaining about Thai food.

I ate most of my meals at one of these places, called Cook Savang. Nothing extravagant, just good, cheap food.

There’s also a bunch of banh mi and roti (fried crepe/pancake of sorts) stands interspersed around town. 30k ($1.20 USD) for a sandwich doesn’t give much to complain about.

Vibes- Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng

Through the activities and food, you probably have a good idea of the vibes of Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng.

I’d like to go into more specific detail to really explain who each town is catered to.

Vibes in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has a chill and low-key vibe.

The streets are quieter, the night ends earlier, and the town seems as catered to families as it does the younger crowd.

It also offers a more cultural and historical experience than Vang Vieng, if that’s what you’re searching for.

That’s not to say that you’ll be bored out of your mind here if you’re in that younger crowd.

A lot of the hostels are quite lively, and if you want to go out at night there’s a bowling alley that stays open late.

If you look at it one way, it sucks that the bowling alley is the only place open late in Luang Prabang. On the other hand, it means that’s where everyone goes- so you can always count on it.

But yes- generally speaking, the vibes in Luang Prabang are more low-key.

Vibes in Vang Vieng

The vibes in Vang Vieng are immaculate.

And it’s not because it’s a party town- that’s what research had prepared me for, but it wasn’t at all the case.

While there was plenty to do at night (unlike in Luang Prabang), what made the vibes so great in Vang Vieng was how easy it was to gather a random crew and be surrounded by jaw-dropping nature within minutes.

Whether that meant heading to a blue lagoon, hiking a cliffside trail, or zipping off on a motorbike through rice fields, it didn’t matter. The options were endless.

The town also has its charm. The touristy parts leave much to be desired, but other areas show a very different side- the local way of life in Vang Vieng.

If you explore, you’ll come across some of these spots- like the pictured outdoor market.

If you want nightlife, don’t fear- there’s plenty in Vang Vieng. Even though the town may not be what it used to be in terms of its party orientation, there’s more than enough to keep you satisfied.

Conclusion

I made my opinion pretty clear at the top.

Luang Prabang is great for a day- the Kuang Si Waterfalls, center town and night market are all amazing. It’s also great for families.

But the sheer amount of things to do in Vang Vieng make it the unquestionable choice for me in the battle of these two Laotian locations.

Turquoise blue lagoons, caves, crazy hikes, zip-lines and rope swings, paramotoring, hot air ballooning.

Who even cares if the food is mediocre, or if the town never got those beautiful colonial French window shutters?

Vang Vieng is a vibe, and it’s the place to be.