Things to do in Vientiane Prefecture

Start your full-day adventure with pickup from your hotel in Vang Vieng and join a 6-mile ride north to Ban Vieng Samai, the kayak starting point. Your kayaking guide will provide you with paddling instructions before you set off downstream on Nam Song River. On the journey, glide over many small rapids and enjoy the scenery of the incredible mountain karts along both sides of the river. Then, take a break from your kayaking tour with a visit to Tham Nam Cave. Tube inside the marvelous, 1,640-foot-long cave, dragging yourself with the help of a fixed rope. Take some time to enjoy a picnic lunch and then hop back on your kayak, paddling until you reach the center of Vang Vieng. Afterwards, you will have the choice to either be transferred back to your hotel, or to participate in activities such as zip lining and swimming in the Blue Lagoon 1. Before the zip line experience, your guide will walk you through instructions and safety training. Fly 4,440 feet over the green forest and river. The journey consists of 7 lines, 12 platforms, and 2 bridges. The Blue Lagoon 1 is one of the most famous locations in the city. Sit back and relax or jump in the natural pool to cool down. After your fun day out, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Vang Vieng in the evening.

Start your half-day trip with pickup from your accommodation in Vang Vieng city center and transfer to the kayak starting point. Before kayaking experience begins, your guide will give you the basic paddle instructions and some history about the mighty Nam Song river. Glide over many small rapids and enjoy the scenery of the incredible mountain peaks along both sides of the river. Apart from the kayaking experience, you can also choose to partake in either the zip-lining experience or Tham Nam None cave tubing. If you choose the zip line option, you’ll experience the green forest canopy that covers the mountains on the side of the river. Make your way along a stream down to the zip line at the Tham None river bank. Take a short trek up to the hut on Phar None (sleeping wall). This is a great location for taking pictures of the surrounding mountains, and has a beautiful view of the Nam Song river. Get strapped in and take an exciting zip line ride flying over the green forest and river below. There are 6 lines in total for you to enjoy. If you choose the Tham Nam None Cave option, you can explore the secluded cave that served as a place of refuge for people caught up in the chaos of the Indochina Wars. Making your way into the cave by an inflatable tube, pull on a rope to reach the walking point where you’ll see many beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

In the morning, get picked up by your guide and head to Wat Sisaket, Vientiane's oldest surviving Buddhist temple. The temple is famous for its cloister wall that houses more than 6,800 Buddha icons of all sizes. You may also be able to witness the many locals that come to pray in the morning, enlightening you to traditions of the area. Stop at Wat Prakeo, which once held the Emerald Buddha and now functions as a museum, and the Patuxay Monument, a symbol of the country's resilience and independence, to learn of Laos' complex history. Take time to lunch before walking through Vientiane's laid-back streets, enjoying the refreshingly easygoing atmosphere of the capital. Pass through a number of gorgeous temples before arriving at Talad Sao, Vientiane's central market. With two distinct areas, a modern shopping mall and the sprawling original market, Talad Sao offers an abundance of treasures for you to discover. Bring your day to a stunning conclusion by heading to the Mekong River, where the sun paints the water in brilliant orange hues as it sets below the horizon.

See the very best that Vang Vieng’s landscape has to offer while enjoying an action-packed day of adventure. The tour begins with pickup from your hotel then heads to Tham Xang, also known as Elephant Cave. The cave lies on the bank of the Nam Song River and is an important Buddhist temple with a remarkable limestone formation inside. Listen to your guide share fascinating insight into the history of this charming cave which dates back thousands of years. Next, pass through a small Lao farm village, bursting with luscious green rice fields. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the clear spring water that lies at the mouth of Tham Nam water cave, then go tubing up to 500 meters inside. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, fill up with a tasty BBQ lunch served on banana leaves. After lunch, it’s time to start making your way back to the city along the river, either by kayaking or tubing. For the kayaking option, your guide drives you to the starting point in Khmu Village, 10 km north of the city. From here, start the 3-hour kayaking journey down to the Vang Vieng, stopping at idyllic bars along the river for refreshments and a well-deserved rest. The journey follows a few twists and turns, and you’ll pass by local fishermen at work on this gentle journey. Arrive in the city just in time to view the beautiful sunset over the mountains. The tubing option starts at Ban Phou Din Daeng, which is 4 km north of Vang Vieng. Sit back and relax as your tube glides along the river, and soak up the surrounding scenic views from start to finish. Your guide explains how to control your tube on the water, and leads the group downstream in a kayak.