Nam Song River bamboo bridge

Vang Vieng is a small but growing town located in the middle between Vientiane and Luang Prabang.

Backpackers around the world will never miss Vang Vieng in their itinerary as this is one of the country’s most popular ecotourism destinations.

Here, the Nam Song River is the center of life. People from around the globe travel to Vang Vieng to enjoy kayaking, tubing, fishing, caving, and trekking along the river and its surrounding limestone cliffs.

While local tourism and agriculture businesses thrive off the pristine waters of the Nam Song, villagers rely on the river for their main sources of protein: fish and aquatic insects.

 Local communities’ livelihoods and the success of the ecotourism industry in Vang Vieng are inextricably linked to the river’s health and surrounding ecosystems.

Kayaking and tubing along the Nam Song River is among the most popular outdoor activities.

After renting your tube or kayak,a songtheaw will transport everyone 8km away from town upstream near the river edge.

Upon arrival, each “tuber” is presented with a cloth-band, generally adorned around the arm or head, and the first shots of the day Lao-Lao whiskey being offered.

As one floated along the Nam Song River,the beautiful surrounding landscape adds to the transquility.

It’s all good fun, drinking and dancing by the river, but when you add the free whisky, tubing and slides, it’s really dangerous so a slight discipline is necessary.

The concept of health and safety rules around here is lacking.You'll noticed that no life jackets were provided for 'tubers'.

As for the kids here jumping from the bamboo bridge,it was a daily affairs in the late evening where they had their bath in the Nam Song River.

Village boy cleaning body with soap.
There is no such thing as clean water showers or washbasins.

A two lane bamboo bridge over the Nam Song River.This was around 17:30peak hours with heavy usage,a non-tourist area.

Luckily I was here an hour earlier otherwise I would be caught in a difficult balancing situation. Imagine there was nothing to lean nor anything to hold onto,the most I could do was yell at them to stop and let me walk first.

Lady carrying a child walking along the bamboo bridge with ease.

 Young boy getting ready to jump.

Supporting structures of the bridge using sandalwood I guess.












Motorcyclist zooming through .

Having a funfilled dip at riverside.































Kids playing with muddy sandbank.

  Lao boy playing with rocks.

Drifting leisurely on a huge truck tube.

Bamboo species of good quality used in bridge construction.

Hot air balloon ride to get a birds eyeview of the hidden gems of Vang Vieng.

See the terrain surrounding Nam Song River priced at USD70(adults),USD40(children) for a 30-40 minutes flight.

Operates 3 times per day,sunrise (06:30),sun rise(07:30) and sunset (16:30)

During wet season between May till October no services.





Under the bridge.


If you’ve played your cards right, you have kept a close watch on your tube, and can return it to town to receive your deposit back.

But for most, your tube has been stolen, the sun has dropped behind the mountains and you’re struggling for breath as you swim down the river to the closest set of stairs.

With little to no lighting, and obnoxious amounts of alcohol in your system this is no easy task.

 Songtheaws will be available at this point in the event tubers wish to abort completing the finishing line either due to the hot weather or it's getting dark.

Meandering Nam Song River.

Journey to Vang Vieng

Vientiane,the official name Nakhon Luang Vieng Chan has a time zone similar to Thailand,Cambodia,Indo-China.

The skies over here in Vientiane were already very bright at 7:00am and the sounds of the passing vehicles provided me the morning call.

 After a quick washup,I made my way downstairs to pay for the accomodation. Fortunately the owner was there otherwise I'll be delayed as the guesthouse has no receptionist.

 Having arrived at the Khun Din central bus terminal,the 8:00am bus was already at the designated bay.

Bought two rolls of baguette from my favourite stalls nearby each at 5,000 kips with rich fillings and then proceeded into the bus.





There were not many passengers and together with four westerners we occupied near the back seats.

The end seats were occupied with cartons of goods while bags of rice(the brand is khaosan) were laden on the passageway.

Imagine chickens in a rattan cage were also part of the passengers list. Seated in front of me was this friendly farmer who resided in VangVieng.His name was Thiethong.

8:30am:After travelling for about 25km distance,the bus had a brief stop at Sikeud,Mueng Nasaythong which I forsee will be the upcoming boomtown of suburban Vientiane.

 Overhere you have instituition of higher learning,factories,agrobase industries,ecotourism and a large concentration of young population.

Bounlead Instituition,Sekeud Primary School,Trio Export garment factory,Lao-Korea Vocational School,Houay Namyen Primary School(with assistance from Boo Young Group of South Korea),Ban Nalien village and a road sign to Hinkanna Waterfall were some of the landmarks.

 Sikeud (Sikeut) roughly has the same latitude of Pak Chom (Loei Province,Thailand)


8:45am:-Passing by Ban Houa Sang with large tracks of paddy field.

 9:00am:-Phonethong(Phon Thong) District,town name sounds similar to that in Roi-Et Province,Thailand.
Fa See Kam School undergoing renovation.Distance to Luang Prabang is 354km.

 9:30am:-Phonemong(Phonmouang) District. Mani Factory which is a dental equipment factory from Japan in the locality.
Couple of guesthouses around here such as Mithana,Phadsany,Mai Yang Lee and one Duang Chai nightclub.

9:50am:-Now at Ban Naboune,Distance to Hin Heub 35km,Vang Vieng 96km.

10:00am:-Phonsawang(Phonsavang) town. Som Chai Guesthouse and one Van San Resort nearby. A good base for those intending to explore villages near the huge Nam Ngum Dam.

  10:05am:-Ban Namcheng.
Ton Po Restaurant,Saylom Guesthouse,Pattana Guesthouse.Now 80km to Vangvieng.A right turn another 100m leads to Viengkham.

10:15am:-Phonhong town,a road junction to the Nam Ngum Dam.
Lots of shops around here. Touhta Resorts and Guesthouse,Toucham Province Ketsana Aquilira Project,Nam Chan River,Pele Guesthouse,Poppy Guesthouse,Phoukam Hotel were in the locality.

Distance to Luang Prabang 308km.

10:30am:-Hin Heup Tai.
The Phou Phanang National Biodiversity Conservation Area from western part of Vientiane ends here.

 11:00am:-Kasi town is still 115km to go.

11:05am:-Huay Souane,Huay Pong Song,Huay Hin Tit 1.

11:15am:-Huay Hin Tit 2.

11:20am:-Huay Dok May 1,Ban Tauthan,Hoay Phoung,Lan Fay,Hoay Somcanauk.
Still to go Vangvieng 27km,Luang Prabang 68km.Lunch break at a restaurant.

 



12:00noon:-Huay Pamom,a large lake.

12:10pm:-Huay Mo 1,Saysombon District.
Lehamvee Guesthouse,Khonsavanh Guesthouse,Khampong Guesthouse,Nuathang Guesthouse. Huay Hin Tit 2,Vang Huey,Nam Ngo,Kiek Cham(67 km)

12:45pm:-Huay Ngam,Vang Pong,Viengxay Village.I would suggest you get off the bus at this village where the old bus terminal is or if you see most villagers getting off here,do follow the crowd.

  12:50pm:-New Vangvieng Bus Terminal is 2km from the old town. Oudated travel book says,just walk across you'll be in town.That will be ending no where.

Travellers have to return and use the songtheaw.(10,000 kips) Within vicinity are accomodations like Thavikoun Guesthouse,Phouang Kham Hotel,Boua Khao Guesthouse,Kampaseth Hotel.To Luang Prabang(230km).

Welcome to Vangvieng District,a backpacker oriented town.
The main attractions of the town include inner tubing and kayaking on the Nam Song River, which is lined with bars selling Beer Lao and Lao-Lao, and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing.

 During the 1964-73 Vietnam War,the US developed an Air Force base in Vang Vieng and the runway was used by Air America.

The airstrip was then called 'Lima site 6'. The influx of backpackers attracted by the opportunities for adventure tourism in a limestone karst landscape is slowly transforming the economy of this area. Upgrading and reconstruction of the main road(National Highway 13) is underway and one have to bear with the extreme dust pollution.

A short distance across the new bus terminal is the Vang Vieng market(talad).

Ticketing counter of the new Vang Vieng Bus Terminal.
Counter staff do speak English and very helpful. Local buses to northern parts of Laos bypass the terminal.

One may catch the buses at the bus stop beside the main road  but not feasible due to the irregular time of arrival.

Transportation from Vang Viang.

Local bus to Vientiane:05:30,06:00,06:30,07:00,12:30,14:00 Fares:40,000 kips

 Minibus to Vientiane:09:00 Fares 60,000 kips

Express bus to Vientiane:13:00,14:00 Fares:60,000 kips.

  Minibus to Luang Prabang:09:00,14:00 Fares:100,000 kips

Minibus to Phonsavanh:09:30 Fares:100,000











Express Bus Luang Prabang:13:00 Fares:90,000 kips

Fancy becoming a MAHOUT,that is a person who is the driver,keeper or handler of the elephant.

 A company is running the 1-6 days course. This can be quite interesting and fun activity as you'll be interacting with an elephant.

  Lorry being transformed into a bus.This cannot be called a songtheaw either. Villagers returning home.

  Right across the Vang Viang New Bus Terminal was a side road that leads to the Nam Song River.

A ten minutes walk from the main road. Beautiful sceneries of limestone karst mountains can be seen in the horizon.

It was a breathtaking walk along this countryside to be associated with nature.

The restaurant and bar nearby only opens in the late evening.

  Sechaleunkham Guesthouse was just beside the Nam Song River at the very end of the road.

The frontage faces the evening sunset. A very clean guesthouse possibly owned by a local ethnic chinese.

A huge double fan bedroom with hotwater bath,western toilet styling.Free mineral water provided.Room rates:60,000 kips.










During the night,surrounding temperature can be around 15 degree celsius.

The only disadvantage is that you'll be 2km from the main activity centre but near to the main market.

Sechaleunkham Guest House has a small coffeehouse with panoramic view beside the Nam Song River.

 Bamboo bridge across the Nam Song River.

Toll collection for using the bridge. Motor:5,000 kips
Bicycle:3,000 kips
Walking:2,000 kips.

On reaching the other side of the river,I could see a community with less than ten households some stay on stilt houses
.The women folks were around.No sign of any bridge crossing toll booth.

Village kids playing nearby. One of the juniors was demanding payment for the bridge crossing.
I was crossing the bridge at my own risks as there weren't any guardrails and the bridge was bouncing as I stepped on it.

The most worrying part will be if someone or a vehicle were to come from the other end.

Imagine I'll be losing my balance and will fall onto the river.

Village thatched house,no cement flooring inside,everything constructed with the use of bamboos and woods.

Passing through the village,I ended up in an open area which must be the paddy field and couldn't find any path that leads to any other villages.











Village women taking a bath on the Nam Song River.
 A closeup of the bamboo bridge can make you feel fearful of using it.

Looked like a private home.

Around here most of the tuk-tuk will be hanging around as most tubers might give up completing the final 2km laps.

Little boy at the nearby one and only one sundry shop with a restaurant. Most of the schoolboys and girls tend to hang around here as there was a school nearby. 

Vientiane local bus to Vang Vieng

In the central business district of Vientiane along Lane Xang Avenue is the Lao Holding State Enterprise(LHSE) Building beside Lao-Viet Bank headquarters.

 LHSE is a wholly Lao government entity established in year 2005 whose primary function is to hold,manage and maintain for the government shares in Nam Theun 2 Power Company or any other power plant projects that were acquired or transferred to it by the government.

 The scope of business of LHSE does not include development and operation of generation, transmission and distribution facilities designated for domestic use only.

The IPP projects that LHSE invests is to provide cross-border bulky power supply in accordance with power purchase agreement.

 Foreign partners in some of the hydro elctric projects include Electricite'de France,EGAT Inter(Thailand),Banpu(Thailanad),Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc(Thailand),Gamuda Berhad(Malaysia),Marubeni(Japan),GMS Power(Thailand),Kansai(Japan),SK Engineering Construction(California,USA),Korean Western Power.

As for financial services in international money transfers,Western Union Bank agents includes Lao-Viet Bank, the Agricultural Promotion Bank, Bank of Ayudhaya Public Co. Ltd., the Enterprise Des Postes Lao, the Lao Development Bank, Phongsavanh Bank and the Saikhong Trading Import-Export Company.

At the corner of the Lao-Viet Bank road junction towards the right is Wat That Foun occupying a large parcel of land in the city centre.

The temple's building has superb Buddhist architectural design.

I noticed one description on a stone pillar that reads, Hosantinimit (might be the actual temple's name)Debut De La Construction Maroi 2 Mai 1955Achevement Et Remise Des Thavaux.Vernordi 20 Novembre 1958,maitred Deuvre Et Representany Des Donateurs Mr Pascal Doter Ressortissant Francais Cout Des Travaux. 95,000 $US.

There was reconstruction on 2nd May 1995 and completed on the 20th November 1998. One may walk through the temple's ground and reached the other side with the Patuxay Monument just across the road.

It was already 8:30 in the morning when most of the monks have returned from their morning alms round.

At Wat Chan which is just opposite the newly completed Mekong embankment riverside park,a few monks were seen pruning some of the bonsai shape trees.

 This is one of the typical routine life of being a monk. When the temple's bell rung at 4:00am at predawn,they were already out of their beds.

The Buddha said: ‘Monk, you and you alone are your refuge. You and you alone are your pathway.'

There won't be any lights on when the first bell rang as only the candles that remain lighted.

After a quick washup at their kuti ,they then changed into their golden orange robes and proceeded to the viharn and start meditating in half-lotus together with others.

Another bell rings at five. This is the traditional hour when “the light shows the lines on the palms of the hands.” It’s the beginning of the active day.






Even a leisurely walk in this mid-afternoon scorching heat can easily cause exhaustion if one does not have the sun shade so an umbrella looks handy.

At this hour of the day,the monks have completed their morning tasks and were possibly going for a little bit of shopping.

No walking but these monks require the tuk-tuk services due to the distances of their temple. Maybe they were student monks.

  Fancy this nice quilted Dragon,you can find this unique item in one of the shops beside Talat Sao Mall 2.

This make a good souvenir item and hardly can you get it elsewhere.

Hey!my hostelmate from Switzerland who has been here for nearly a week.

He'll be leaving for Savannakhet soon.
I tend to choose the upper deck which is under the fan and more airy.
Noticed the lockers where we keep our backpacks and belongings each having a key of their own.

The notice on the wall says lights out by 11:00pm and no noise.
To get your puff,the balcony is just nearby which is beside the all male dormitory.
Each partition has six beds.I was here in the mixed dorm.

Sabaidy Guesthouse along Setthathirath Road is a family run hostel.
The shared bathroom is now a bit run down compared to two years ago when I was here. Rates:20,000 kips.

  Khun Din central bus terminal only has local buses to Vang Vieng non aircond slow moving at 60 km per hour as it tend to stop along the way to receive passengers and sometimes goods as well.

The distance from Vientiane is about 146km.If you are in no hurry and wish to see the lifestyle of the people,this can be a good alternative.
The fares is 40,000 kips payable in the bus.

For better comfort,you can also book a VIP bus or minivan from your hotels and guesthouses with fares ranging from 60,000 -80,000 kips per person. Slow bus duration is about 4 hours while express can be 3 hours.Please bear in mind that there will be a mid afternoon half hour lunch stop at a restaurant.

 


Timetable of bus stop in the Municipality prefecture:
[X]
48-Sikeud(about 30minutes north of Wattay Airport),
49-Nongteng. (hourly 06:00-17:00)

[VII]
19-PakXap,Lao Pako(09:00,17:00,16:00) 25-Veunkham(07:00-15:00)

[VI]
43-Nongping 47-Donokkhum

[IV]
29-Dongdok,33-Nongtha 32-Donepamay,23-Thangone,31-PhonTong 30-Thongpong,03-Tatthong,20-Dongkham Xang, 40-Nonghai,
14-Buddha Park. [I] 04-Kasi(08:00am,only one trip) 01-VangVieng(07:00,09:00 and 13:00) 10-Bandone(13:00),09-Thalath(06:00,07:00,08:00 and 09:00) 07-PakCheng(07:00,12:00,19:00),05-NamXuang(09:00,13:00,17:00) 10-Sendine(09:00,13:00,17:00),06-Phialath(10:00,15:00) 15-Thakhek(06:00,11:00,12:00),36-Savanakhet(05:00,06:00) 35-Pakse(13:00,14:00,16:00),16-Namone(14:00),51-Attapeu(09:00,17:00) 52-Saravanh(15:00) 53-M.Khong-Veungkham(10:00)

Northern bus route.

Bus stops in the outskirts of Vientiane within 6km radius.

Counter for international bus ticket Vientiane to NongKhai in Thailand.(noted here as Oudonthany)