Vang Vieng, Laos – Tubing and Mud Bath

Short Note: I'm beginning to feel annoyed that some people think that all my trips are sponsored. Unless someone out there is willing to quit his/her job, I am travelling the world on my own with my own hard earn money. Thank you very much.


Sun sets around 4~5pm here in Laos. By 7pm the land would have been completely shadowed.




It was pitch dark when the bus stopped and I peeped open my eyes from my slumber.

“va veng~” croaked the lady conductor. Barely making out the destination, Raj and me, along with other few other travellers, hurriedly hopped off the bus and have our backpacks “grabbed” by the driver and thrown out onto the street before he left, as abruptly as he stopped.

Few street stalls with measly light bulbs flickering in the night stood near us, but it was too dark to make out the location of the area.

We walked across a vast and dark air strip towards some lights in the distance and landed ourselves on the main street of Vang Vieng.


Vang Vieng at night


Vang Vieng, a town constructed mainly on a single road, is small enough to walk from one end to other end in 10 minutes. 15 is you’re a slow walker.


Vang Vieng at night with power cut


Due to its geographical placement, many travellers stopped by Vang Vieng for a few nights and to partake in some outdoor activities before heading on to Luang Phabang in the north.


Reminds of Sweeny Todds


Most guesthouses and restaurants here cater to foreign travellers, don’t be surprised to see more Caucasians here than the locals.


am I in Europe?


Despite its underdevelopment (except some tour agencies that offer pretty good outdoor package), Vang Vieng itself isn’t exactly cheap.

A meal can come as easily as 10,000 kip for a bowl of soup noodle to 45,000 kip for a set of American burger with chips. (RM4 ~ 17 / $1.20 ~ 5). Exchange rate here can be as outrageous as $1 = 8,000 kip. So make sure you have enough kips to survive through the town, however there are many tour agencies who accept US dollars as well.

I checked into a riverside fan hut at the end of the town for 48,000 kip (RM18) with no attached bathroom,




it was dark and shabby looking at first but I didn’t have a choice as midnight is catching up.




Little did I know, that night I had the most amazing view. As I switched off the light and lay down on my pillow in the enclosure of a pink net (to protect from bugs), the street light traced through slits on all four walls of the rattan hut and cast a double reflection on the swaying net.

And stars started dancing and swimming in the hut. I was bedazzled, like a baby in her crater with thousands of toys hanging high above singing and cooing her to dreamland; I was brought to baby world in no time.


The view in the morning was quite breathtaking too


You can find anything and everything to do in Vang Vieng to test your endurance, from Kayaking, rock climbing, half day trekking to a full 3 days trek and camp package, mountain biking, caving, etc. It is endless, just be sure to watch out for your wallet.




If you’re on a tight budget, like me, there is one thing in Vang Vieng that doesn’t really come at a price to do.




With a mere 40,000 kip (RM15 / $4.5), you can rent a tube, get a tuk tuk ride for free to a drop off location 4km upstream of the river and well.. start tubing!





Tube number just in case I get lost (with the tube)


Tubing comes as extraordinary as it gets, almost everyone who has been to northern Laos will talk about the tubing experience here in Vang Vieng.


At the beginning





2 hours down the stream without stopping can last up to a whole day if, like me again, you’re stuck at one of the stops somewhere in the middle for too long just because you don’t know how to stop having fun.




At these stops, they serve cocktails and alcohol from 10,000 kip to next to nothing.




Steer clear of Lao-lao (local Whisky), a drink that starts to burn not at your throat but your lips the moment you drink it. It’s free if you want to get cheap high.

And once you’ve reached that point, don’t forget to climb up a very high plank and jump/swing /flying fox into the river.


Wee~~ Oh shit this is high~ Mommy~!!!


My tubing mates:

John from Ireland (can’t remember his friend’s name)




Beth from Australia (and her bunch of friends too)








Drinking and tubing, what perfect way to enjoy


One of these stops has so many topless bodies on it, you can spot the whole flesh war before the loud boom box music get to you, and they say sound travel faster in water, pfft. (Oh you mean I have to be underwater? )

Volley ball, alcohol, music, alcohol,




hot hunks, alcohol, hot chicks, alcohol,




hotter chicks, alcohol,




Topless hot hunks (and bikini chicks) covered in mud dancing to music and alcohol…



What?! Mud?! Hot bodies?! Did someone say mud?!


Yea baby that’s what I’m talking about!




Mud Bath!!! Phewit!!!!

No! Don’t hug me!


hunks: com’on give us a hug~


It gets as dirty and naughty as it can get. Yum~

Remember to start early, as I said, this can take a whole day.




After the stops, you can enjoy the rest of the 90 mins ride gently and quietly down the stream till you end up where you begin again. :)










In the evening, you can chill at one of the many bars on the island.







At night, the whole island lit up and the party began,


Left to lucky bar, right to smile bar. How are you feeling today?


provided it doesn’t rain.





So what do you get after 3 long hours of hot sun and cold water, mud bath, lots of alcohol and hot hunks overload?

Fever, that’s what!

That night, I came down with high fever and was resting my sorry ass in the hut missing out on the BEST party (it was a Saturday night) ever!! *sob*


*Ah choo~*