Things to do in Vang Vieng

Tham Jang Cave

Tham Jang is a cave just to the southwest of Vang Vieng, Laos. Approached by a bridge over the Nam Song River and then a long flight of steps, a spring is located about 50 metres (160 ft) inside the cave.
Considered by many as Vang Vieng’s most important cave, Tham Chang (or Jung) became the home for migrating people, who settled near the town’s southern Meuang Xong Village to grow vegetables. The locals stumbled into the cavern during the civil war while seeking refuge deep in the forest. Because its high location offered a perfect view of Vang Vieng, the entire village moved there to sit out the war.

Years later during the colonial era, the local returned to cultivating the nearby fields and would bathe in the cave’s basin, where the water was so cold they said it could freeze your legs to a firm stiffness. Then they adjusted the cave’s name to Tham Jung, which mean “unable to move”, leaving locals no choice but to “hang around”.

Note: Follow the river road south of Meuang Xong village. Pay the entrance fee at the gate of Vang Vieng Resort and cross the bridge over the Nam Xong to the steps leading up the cliff to Tham Chang.

Directions to Nam Xay View Point

Getting to Nam Xay View point is very easy. Just cross the wooden bridge after Riverside Boutique Hotel on the other opposite of Nam Song River and continue on the path to Blue Lagoon 1. Before arriving at the lagoon, turn left instead of right onto the dirt path and you will encounter hut within a parking area with a sign indicating the start of the trail.

This is one of the best spots for a breath taking view of Vang Vieng and the climb is roughly 20-30mins. Upon arriving at the summit, you will have a curious opportunity to take a photo with the motorbike mysteriously placed for your Instagram moment. Soak in the amazing views of the jagged limestone cliffs, lush forests and rice fields while catching your breath and relaxing in the hammocks.

Bicycle Rental: It is very easy to get a bicycle in Vang Vieng from local shops for around 2-3 USD a Day.

Scooter rental: Rent a Scooter and it will be deliver to your Hotel/Guest House at your requested timing for only 8-10 USD/Day. We recommend you to take the option of returning the Scooter by 7pm for the safety of the vehicle. Click Here to find out more

Buggy Rental: Options of 2 seater/4 seaters buggy are readily available in Vang Vieng for an adrenaline-rushing experience. Click here to find out more

Entrance Fee: 10,000 Kips

Opening Hours: 5am – 5pm Daily

Adam’s Rock Climbing School

Rock climbing – a “must-do” in Southeast Asia! Vang Vieng is a stunning area for rock climbers. Rock climbing – a “must-do” in Southeast Asia! Vang Vieng is a stunning area for rock climbers. Adam’s Rock-Climbing was the first company that began climbing’s activity and provided the Rock-Climbing service in Vang Vieng. It located on the banks of the beautiful Nam Song River at WanSaNgao village.

Adam’s Climbing School commences gathering up all the essentials climbing gear consist of a helmet, harness, chalk, and climbing shoes, as well as plenty of water. Afterward heading towards the crag to climbing at Sleeping Wall which is about 3.5 km far away. The limestone formations at Sleeping Wall at Tham Norn crag were very unique! Climbing up a narrow karst canyon with trees overhanging the cliffs within 12m-18m to 12-25m of high.

This is one of the activities in Vang Vieng that you shouldn’t miss to try the climbing with an experienced, multilingual guide along with the sturdy kit.

Additionally, there are Tham NangFa (angel cave) and Tham Lom (wind cave) close at hand that easy to reach just crossing the Nam Song River.

Testing your Rock-Climbing skills at Vang Vieng with Adam’s Rock-Climbing School

Tham Nangfa (Angel Cave)

Vang Vieng has overwhelming umpteen caverns waiting for you to probe and one of them is the newfangled cave that was recently discovered by the owner of the land so-called “Tham NangFa (Angel Cave)” which is located on the banks of Nam Song River around 3 miles from the town at WanSaNgao village in the north of Vang Vieng.

This cavern considered a big cave that massive eerily lit up with gel spotlights that filling by the huge limestone formations and has spectacular stalactites in various unique formations, whether in Buddha, kitchen, or animals, and so forth. Take a guided or self-guided tour walk through the grand hall, along the pavement into a narrow alley and relish the attractiveness of stalactites that was hidden in this cavern.

In addition, after completing the Tham NangFa (Angel Cave) exploration, Continue to explore the close at hand cavern named “Tham None” that has water inside the cavern which is you can easy to get inside with kayak boat or tube and rope. Then Ziplining along the Nam Song River to admire the aesthetic overview of the river, cliffs, and mountains from on high.

How to get there: it fairly simple to reach there, you can either take a tuk-tuk or rent a scooter/ATV.

Pha Ngeun (Silver Cliff)

Among the most magnificent of Vang Vieng’s geological wonders, Pha Ngeun (Silver Cliff) rises 250 meters high and offers stunning views of Vang Vieng from atop its sheer silver-colored rock face. The 2km-wide cliff looks down on the forests, rice fields, and villages below as well as across the valley to Pha Boua Mountain, but it takes a bit of a climb to reach the peak.

The cliff’s name is clouded in confusion. Local villagers had called it Noi (Small) Cliff, while the national map labelled it Kang Cliff. In 1995, villagers moved closer to Pha Ngeun and started to explore it more thoroughly. Because of the beauty of the monolith, they agreed it should take on the name “Silver Cliff”.

Location: Cross the Nam Xong in the southern end of townat the Paradise Island Bridge to Ban Houay Nyae. Follow the dirt road for around 4 km until Phone Ngeun Village. From there, hike up the trail to the top of Pha Ngeun.

Kaeng Nyui Waterfall

Kaeng Nyui is a 30 meter waterfall situated on the eastern side of Vang Vieng town. Kaeng Nyui Waterfall is very powerful in the wet season, but can slow to a trickle in the driest months of April/May. Reaching the waterfall involves a walk along the Houay Nyui and Nam Lao streams past a number of cascades and a smaller waterfall called Kenlon falls. Kenlon has a drop of about 5 meters, into a lovely swimming pool about nine meters in diameter.

Villagers from Ban Naduang are the traditional owners of the site, and have constructed the paths following the stream to both waterfalls, small bridges and other facilities, as well as maintaining swimming holes, and a picnic area along the stream and in the surrounding nature reserve. They also manage the car park and own the foodstalls. Pick up some local delicacies here for a picnic alongside the stream.

Note: If you would like a village guide, you can enquire in Naduang Village. A village guide can identify the flora and fauna of the forest as well as explain how some of the forest products encountered on the trails are traditionally used. Also note that a small entry fee is charged at the ticket booth to raise essential funds for the village to manage and maintain the site

Tham Pou Kham

Golden Crab Cave dive 100 meters into the ground after passing through the small entrance hole. However, the cave widens once inside, where a reclining Buddha statue welcomes visitors to a place once serving as home to bats, gibbons, monkeys, and antelopes. Tham Pou Kham has several wet rock formations, including a pair of “Golden Crabs”. Don’t forget your torch. After you are done exploring the cavern, go for a cold swim in the Ka River’s water hold. The water is clean, deep, and safe for jumping in from the trees, and a small locally-owned shop serves meals and snacks.

Location: Cross the Nam Xong in southern end of town at the Paradise Island Bridge to Ban Houay Nyae. Follow the dirt road past the village and turn right (north) at the sharp left-hand turn at Nathong Tai Village. The trail to the cave starts about 1 kilometer past the junction in Ban Nathong Neua.

Ban Tham Xang

Journey North of Vang Vieng to explore the Ban Tham Xang, a cluster of four caves just across the Nam Xong, with Tham Xang (Elephant Cave) at its gateway. Northmost is Tham Hoy (Shell Cave), which is named after Hoysang, a hero who protected his aunt from giants in this tunnel with no known end. Moving south along the canal, Tham Loup (Hole Cave) appears as a huge cleft created by Laos’ massive mythological elephant, Siho, to hide from his enemies. Further along, the 500m-long Tham Nam (Water Cave) was once an intricate wooden irrigation system and now a mysterious experience for thrill-seekers. It takes 40 minutes to pull yourself through the cave using a rope. Depending on the season, you may have to walk with your tube over certain parts of the cave.

Location: Travel north of Vang Vieng on Route No.13 for about 14 km, and turn left (west) between KM 169 and KM 170. Follow the road and cross the river to reach the entrance.

Tham Pha Pheung (Bee Cliff Cave)

Located on the northern face of Pha Khongkao Mountain southwest of town, the Bee Cliff Cave Complex consists of several caverns clustered together. The most popular is Tham Pha Pheung (Bee Cliff Cave), which is often called Tham Phou Thong. Others include Tiger Cave, Diamond Cave, and the Gold Mine Cave.

The 70-meter-long Bee Cliff/Phou Thong Cave deceives its visitors with a small entrance leading to a 5-sqm room with a 4-meter-high ceiling and elephant head with a golden tint reflected from the dangling bee hives. The view looking back outside the cave reveals a scene of rice fields, green trees, and the Ka River snaking past the entrance. Inside, a water basin offers a fresh and clean bathing pool.

Location: Cross the Nam Xong in the southern end of town at the Paradise Island Bridge to Ban Houay Nyae. Follow the dirt road for around a kilometer until you see the sign for the Bee Cliff Caves, and the trail leading south to the cliff.

Tham Nam Water Cave

Tham Nam Water Cave is one of the most amazing natural highlights of Vang Vieng. It a river system running within the cave that is accessible by road, 15KM from Vang Vieng town. The water cave is managed by AK Home and one of the best local operators in Vang Vieng.

To get into the water cave, you will need to rent a tube which is included with the entrance fees or tour fees. Continous pull yourself within the water cave system through a system of ropes attached to the top of the cave. The water below you is knee to waist level and very safe if you fall over and could not swim well.

Once you reach the end of the rope system, it is towards the deeper areas where you will be required to swim. Head Lamps will be provided for everyone and it is an experience of a lifetime for families, friends and groups of people to enjoy the thrill of the unexplored.

Other than the Water Cave, AK Home has built an extensive zipline platform with cable bridges, treetop views/tree houses that are not to be missed. The guides are extremely professional and take great care of the customers. Lunch of fried rice/noodles with fruits and drinking water are usually included in their packaged tours. Feel free to check their packages out on our website or www.akhometours.com