[2025 Vang Vieng ] Travel Guide for VLT Tour (Updated May)

My trip to Vang Vieng was absolutely unforgettable, thanks to the magical combination of a sunrise hot air balloon ride and a visit to the stunning Blue Lagoons. Floating peacefully above the misty mountains and Nam Song River at dawn was like a dream—one of the most serene and beautiful experiences I’ve ever had. The views were breathtaking and the entire ride felt incredibly safe and well-organized. Later in the day, I explored Blue Lagoon 3, which was a refreshing and peaceful escape. The turquoise water, surrounded by lush greenery, was perfect for swimming and relaxing. It’s less crowded than the more popular lagoons, making it ideal if you’re looking to unwind. Highly recommend both activities—they perfectly capture the adventure and natural beauty of Vang Vieng!

: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Recommended to get up early and go to the morning market You can see monks begging for alms, and it feels like you have finally got to know the locals I really like this frequency, it took me a while to find it in Laos. It is relatively less commercialized here, and there are many caves and mountaineering attractions nearby. You can go there alone or join a one-day tour with a travel agency. To be honest, I think 30 days here is not enough to explore all the caves. Tips: When renting a motorcycle in Vangrong, Laos, you really have to ride very carefully. The road conditions here are very bad. I slipped on the small gravel on the first day of renting a motorcycle. The city roads are currently under construction, and there are a lot of gravel and big potholes. (Information sharing for January 2025) Sometimes I think that maybe traveling is one of the ways the world heals me. It is also the reason why I walk on the road and heal others. "Everything and everyone who doesn't defeat you will make you stronger." #New Year's Good Place 2025 #Laos #Vangrong #Hot Air Balloon #New Year's Good Place 2025

Vang Vieng, Laos is a famous outdoor paradise in Southeast Asia and the Jerusalem of European and American backpackers. There are a variety of outdoor activities to choose from. The best thing I experienced in Vangrong was the hot air balloon. There are two hot air balloon companies in Laos, one is owned by a French 🇫🇷 boss and the other is owned by a Chinese 🇨🇳 boss. I would definitely choose the company with a Chinese boss. This Chinese company flew not far from Vangrong City, and followed the Nam Song River all the way back to the other side of the city. The scenery was mainly Vangrong's unique karst mountain scenery. The scenery along the way is breathtaking. I originally wanted to take some beautiful photos when the hot air balloon was flying in the sky. But I signed up for the sunrise ride, so they would pick me up at 6am. I got up so early that I was a little anxious and forgot to bring my phone 😭. Hot air balloon price: It is relatively expensive to book through a hotel, and the price for Chinese companies is generally above US$110. I booked it through a random travel agency on the street and bargained it down to $90. So when you go to order, remember to bargain. However, if you want a more assured experience, you can book on Trip and enjoy discounts. Hot air balloon time: You can choose sunrise or sunset. We picked you up at the hotel at 6:00 p.m., the whole journey took more than half an hour, and you were taken back to the hotel at around 7:30 p.m. Sunset pick-up is usually at 5pm. #Outdoor Activities

In my life's checklist, there is one item: ✅Definitely have to take a hot air balloon ride to see a sunrise. Once I was discouraged by the price of two or three thousand in Bagan, Myanmar, and I couldn't bear the price of two or three hundred US dollars in Turkey. In Laos, there is actually the "cheapest hot air balloon in the world", and the scenery is not inferior at all! This guide summarizes all the key points of riding a hot air balloon in Laos, and solves all your doubts in one article~ · ⚠️All pictures and texts are original, any form of reproduction is prohibited. This is a rabbit that has traveled through 130+ cities in China and 13 countries. Reliable travel tips, authentic cuisine, recommended accommodations, and off-the-beaten-path routes to share with friends. · 1⃣️Where can I ride a hot air balloon in Laos? Laos has three main tourist cities: Luang Prabang (for comfortable vacations), Vang Vieng (for outdoor adventures), and Vientiane (the capital city separated from Thailand by a river). Hot air balloons are in the outdoor paradise of Vang Vieng. You can take a train from Luang Prabang (about 1 hour) or a minivan from Vientiane (2 hours) for easier access. · 2️⃣️Detailed explanation of hot air balloons There are two hot air balloon companies in Wanrong, one owned by a Chinese boss and the other by a French boss, but local hotels or travel agencies usually refer to them as the big one (French) and the small one (Chinese). ◼️Difference: Chinese companies fly not far from the city of Wanrong, following the Nansong River back to the other end of the city, with the scenery mainly consisting of urban and unique karst mountain views in Wanrong; while French companies take off from even further away, mainly focusing on the karst landscape (the two hot air balloons surrounded by mountains in the distance in picture 6 belong to the French company). ⬛️Time: Sunrise and sunset, pick-up time for sunrise is between 5:50-6:00, takes about 30-40 minutes, and return around 7:20; pick-up time for sunset is usually at 17:00. ◼️How to choose between sunrise and sunset? If you don't like waking up early, of course you can watch the sunset. The sunset also has the evening sun and the evening glow, but I choose sunrise first because of my life's wish, and secondly because you can see the clouds and mist around the sunrise, unexpectedly beautiful~ ◼️How to choose between two companies? It is said that the French company's plane can fly longer, but personally I think the Chinese company has a better cost performance. But no matter which one you choose, both include pick-up and drop-off (from your hotel). · 3️⃣ Balloon prices Wanrong Hotel Youth Hostel has the highest booking price, usually above 110 US dollars (in China) or 130 (in France). The usual quote for outdoor travel shops is $100 (China) and $120 (France). ⚠️Important: But please remember that all shops can bargain! ALL!! The bottom price for hot air balloon in Wanrong is around $80, and transportation is included in the package by the hot air balloon company, not something extra you need to book! So don't be fooled by their talk of including transportation, remember to stick to the price range of $90-95 (the most expensive being $95) when booking. If one doesn't work, let's switch to another! I disagreed with the $95 price I booked, but they agreed when I threatened to leave. However, if paying with RMB or Alipay, it would be equivalent to $100. So I exchanged money with a Chinese person who had US dollars. I suggest everyone carry some US dollars when traveling in Southeast Asia, as they are more widely accepted than RMB. · Creating is not easy, please support more~

In my life's checklist, there is one item: ✅Definitely have to take a hot air balloon ride to see a sunrise. Once I was discouraged by the price of two or three thousand in Bagan, Myanmar, and I couldn't bear the price of two or three hundred US dollars in Turkey. In Laos, there is actually the "cheapest hot air balloon in the world", and the scenery is not inferior at all! This guide summarizes all the key points of riding a hot air balloon in Laos, and solves all your doubts in one article~ · ⚠️All pictures and texts are original, any form of reproduction is prohibited. This is a rabbit that has traveled through 130+ cities in China and 13 countries. Reliable travel tips, authentic cuisine, recommended accommodations, and off-the-beaten-path routes to share with friends. · 1⃣️Where can I ride a hot air balloon in Laos? Laos has three main tourist cities: Luang Prabang (for comfortable vacations), Vang Vieng (for outdoor adventures), and Vientiane (the capital city separated from Thailand by a river). Hot air balloons are in the outdoor paradise of Vang Vieng. You can take a train from Luang Prabang (about 1 hour) or a minivan from Vientiane (2 hours) for easier access. · 2️⃣️Detailed explanation of hot air balloons There are two hot air balloon companies in Wanrong, one owned by a Chinese boss and the other by a French boss, but local hotels or travel agencies usually refer to them as the big one (French) and the small one (Chinese). ◼️Difference: Chinese companies fly not far from the city of Wanrong, following the Nansong River back to the other end of the city, with the scenery mainly consisting of urban and unique karst mountain views in Wanrong; while French companies take off from even further away, mainly focusing on the karst landscape (the two hot air balloons surrounded by mountains in the distance in picture 6 belong to the French company). ⬛️Time: Sunrise and sunset, pick-up time for sunrise is between 5:50-6:00, takes about 30-40 minutes, and return around 7:20; pick-up time for sunset is usually at 17:00. ◼️How to choose between sunrise and sunset? If you don't like waking up early, of course you can watch the sunset. The sunset also has the evening sun and the evening glow, but I choose sunrise first because of my life's wish, and secondly because you can see the clouds and mist around the sunrise, unexpectedly beautiful~ ◼️How to choose between two companies? It is said that the French company's plane can fly longer, but personally I think the Chinese company has a better cost performance. But no matter which one you choose, both include pick-up and drop-off (from your hotel). · 3️⃣ Balloon prices Wanrong Hotel Youth Hostel has the highest booking price, usually above 110 US dollars (in China) or 130 (in France). The usual quote for outdoor travel shops is $100 (China) and $120 (France). ⚠️Important: But please remember that all shops can bargain! ALL!! The bottom price for hot air balloon in Wanrong is around $80, and transportation is included in the package by the hot air balloon company, not something extra you need to book! So don't be fooled by their talk of including transportation, remember to stick to the price range of $90-95 (the most expensive being $95) when booking. If one doesn't work, let's switch to another! I disagreed with the $95 price I booked, but they agreed when I threatened to leave. However, if paying with RMB or Alipay, it would be equivalent to $100. So I exchanged money with a Chinese person who had US dollars. I suggest everyone carry some US dollars when traveling in Southeast Asia, as they are more widely accepted than RMB. · Creating is not easy, please support more~