Vientiane Province

An outdoor destination ringed by karst scenery, where Vang Vieng's caves, Blue Lagoon and river tubing are hugely popular with backpackers.

Vientiane Province lies in central Laos, surrounding Vientiane Prefecture, and its north is largely limestone mountain country. Its best-known destination is Vang Vieng on the Nam Song, where you can go tubing, kayaking, caving and swimming in the Blue Lagoon, or take a hot-air balloon ride for a view over the karst peaks. The broad Nam Ngum Reservoir is dotted with islands. The best season is the dry season from November to April, and in the rainy season the river runs faster. The Laos–China Railway has a station at Vang Vieng, so it is easy to reach by train from Vientiane or Luang Prabang.

Destinations

• Vang Vieng

Itineraries

• China-Laos Railway: Vientiane to Luang Prabang – Travel north along the China-Laos Railway, connecting Vientiane's temples, Vang Vieng's karst landscapes, and the ancie…
• Kunming-Laos Railway Round Trip – Take the international train from Kunming into Laos, traveling south to Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane before…
• Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng via Plain of Jars – Cross the mountains to Phonsavan to see the Plain of Jars and war relics, then head south by road to Vang Vieng, ending…
• Laos North-to-South Mekong Traverse – Travel all the way south from Luang Prabang, passing through Vang Vieng, the Thakhek Loop, and Pakse, before ending in…