Vang Vieng has seen a rapid transformation from remote backwater to hidden gem to an infamous drug-fueled backpacker party hotpot to an upper-end destination for Korean and Chinese tourists, but it still makes for a convenient base to explore the breathtaking landscape surrounding the town.

Sunset in Vang Vieng Bamboo Bridge

On our way back to Vang Vieng from exploring the natural wonders of the region, it got dark quickly and driving the motorbike on the small and bumpy roads in the dim light of the headlight was quite an adventure. But then, who wants to leave early from such a beautiful sunset?

Pink Sky over Bridge near Vang Vieng

The area around Vang Vieng boasts countless caves and viewpoints, but at one point a local tour guide started promoting a swimming spot as the "blue lagoon". It became such a hit with the ever-increasing number of tourists that countless other "blue lagoons" popped up. While some lagoons now see large tour groups pulling in, this one called "Blue Lagoon 4" is one of the lesser-visited lagoons and made for a fun day chilling in the water and jumping off the rope swing.

Blue Lagoon 4 in Vang Vieng

The Plain of Jars boasts thousands of ancient jars scattered around the fields which are thought to be ancient burial sites. As many cool places in Laos, the Plain of Jars is quite remote, but once there, a motorbike makes for a convenient way to reach the sites that are scattered in the area around Phonsavan. It is important to stick to the marked paths though since the area has a very sad recent history: During the Vietnam war, American planes dumped more than two million tons of bombs on Laos and the Plain of Jars was one of the areas that saw the worst impact. While the sites of the Plain of Jars have been cleared of bombs, countless bomb craters remain and many people in the area are dying every year from unexploded bombs.

Sunset over Plain of Jars

I got the location of this place from a photographer friend who has posted several amazing photos from here, so I knew that I had to check out this place myself. This luxury resort in Vang Vieng certainly is one of the most photogenic spots in Laos!

Captured	January 27, 2020
Location	Vientiane Province, Laos
Camera	BuyNikon D5500
Lens	BuyNikon Nikkor 10.0-20.0 mm f/4.5-5.6
Exposure Time	1/250s
Aperture	f/8
Focal Length	14mm
ISO	100

Rice fields in Vang Vieng

Nearby Photos

Sunset in Vang Vieng Bamboo Bridge

Pink Sky over Bridge near Vang Vieng

Blue Lagoon 4 in Vang Vieng

Sunset over Plain of Jars