Vang Vieng

Where to stay

Most budget travelers base themselves along the riverfront road that runs parallel to the Nam Song River, where hostels are a short walk from the tubing launch point and the main strip of restaurants. One block inland, toward the morning market, prices tend to drop a little and the crowd skews more toward people who actually want to sleep.

Getting around

• Rent a bicycle or motorbike in town to ride out to Blue Lagoon 1 yourself rather than joining a tour. It cuts the cost significantly and you can leave when you want instead of when the group does.
• The morning market that opens around 6am near the town center sells noodle soup and sticky rice at local prices. Eat there before the tourist cafes open and you will spend a fraction of what the riverfront spots charge for breakfast.
• Minivan seats to Luang Prabang sell out in high season. Buy your ticket the afternoon before you want to leave, not the morning of, or you may be stuck waiting for a later departure or paying a premium at the last minute.

When to go

Hostels are cheapest and easiest to book during the rainy season, roughly June through September. Beds fill up fast and rates climb from November through February, with the biggest crunch around Christmas and New Year.