Lao PDR - Vang Vieng - Travel Story
Written by Thomas Dembie Tuesday, 06 April 2010 00:53
Vang Vieng, Lao PDR
Scenic Stop
Though the distance between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is not that great, all the curves in the road and hills can make this voyage last for what seems to be an eternity – especially if you’re crammed on a bus with no air-conditioning, no seat and plenty of heat. As I had a day to waste while I was waiting for my Vietnamese visa to be processed, I decided to check out the area which was clearly geared towards tourists. If it weren’t for the tourists, this town would most likely be almost deserted. The two main streets that run parallel to the Nam Song River were lined with restaurants serving pizza, steaks, and burgers. All other buildings were likely tour operators or guest houses.
What attracts people to this quaint little town is what you find on the river. The limestone cliffs that surround are incredible and enchanting and they also give you plenty of untouched scenery to explore. There are trails and caves all around that you could easily spend a few days exploring either on foot, on bike or on a motorbike.
As soon as I found a place to stay, which took all of two minutes, I dropped my luggage and headed for the hills. Luckily I brought my wallet, as there was a tourist-toll to cross the flimsy bamboo bridge that gives you access to the hills. After a good fifty minutes of walking through a barren field following a well-beaten path, I found myself at the foot of a small (maybe 50 metres) limestone cliff that had “climb me” written all over it. Of course, it also had “pay me” written in nice big English lettering. Luckily there were no rules (or waivers for that matter) because I don’t think my sandals were appropriate for the climb. But given that I was only planning on staying for a day and the cliff closed at 16:00, it was either give it a go or keep walking towards the caves. Being very monkey-like by nature, could not resist the temptation. 
The climb was extremely difficult, with sharp unsteady rocks and questionable holds and roots, but that just added to the rush. I expended quite a bit more energy than I expected for the climb, since I wanted to make sure that with every step my hands and feet were secure and ready to back each other up should a rock move or a root come free.
The view from the top was a great reward. On one side you could see the town in the distance and on the other side were multiple limestone cliffs. Of course, I didn’t have much time to admire the view, as I wanted to give myself extra time to make the even more difficult descent. Fifteen minutes later my feet were on flat ground and my body was absolutely drenched in sweat. This was definitely not a climb for beginners or for those who are horizontally challenged. I continued to follow the path through the cliffs for a good hour before obeying my empty stomach and heading back to town. It was quite a relaxing night, which turned out to be a real blessing as I was left standing in the aisle of a crammed bus for my three hour journey back to Vientiane.
Vang Vieng Photo Gallery
