Tubing in Vang Vieng over ?

[DrAndy]

Im a young hansum kunt myself tel,shower regular , use a deoderant etc,brush my teeth, sober habits, i could go on and on ,

maybe that is your problem?

Anyway, you'll love this. For the first time ever I joined an Asian dating sight since I'm retiring and going to rent in Bangkok.

Link to your profile please, the old woman next door was only asking me yesterday if i knew....

putting the dollars into the pocket of the locals and I always try to do that.

short or long time?

[DrAndy]

locals kicked out to continue being poor.

even when the big hotels are built, the guesthouses will still function

a lot of the locals do well

[the dogcatcher]

I will lay you a pound to a penny Andy that the local council will legislate the guest houses out of business.
The same as the riverside bars.

[9999]

The riverside bars are already done. Since no one is tubing, there's no access to them. No more free lao khao for the kiddies to lure them into those bars.

[beerlaodrinker]

The riverside bars are already done. Since no one is tubing,

They dont even exist now 9999 gone, knocked down, same as the slides.

Heres an article in the Vientiane Times from a few days ago, It gives a good perspective from a Locals point of view
Thursday March 14, 2013

G u e s t h o u s e o w n e r M s
Vi e n g v i l a y h o p e s t h e
restaurants and parties will
soon return to the Nam Xong
River in the tourist town of
Vangvieng, as she has suffered
a big drop in income this past
high season.
The whole area is much
quieter since the authorities
stepped in to shut down the
numerous rowdy bars and
restaurants that attracted
so many young overseas
travellers. Vangvieng district
has long been Vientiane
province’s most popular tourist

destination.

Ms Viengvilay told the

Vientiane Times

last week with
a wry smile as she welcomed
g u e s t s o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Women’s Day that 80 percent
of visitors are now locals.
“I have accepted the fact that
the number of backpackers has
declined since the Vangvieng
authorities ordered the closure
of restaurants in October and
put a stop to parties along the
Nam Xong River. I know they
wanted to restore the town’s
good image, after a number
of tourists died in the river
through flying-fox accidents
and drunkenness,” she said.
For almost three months,
she has been meeting expenses
without much in the way of
income, which has meant she
has had to make some staff
reductions at her guesthouse
in order for her business to
survive.
Backpackers used to stay
for three days to a week, but
now they mostly come for just
one day. She said 60 percent
of her rooms were empty last
month.
However, she said there
was a good sign last week when
50 percent of her rooms were
booked, especially because the
bookings were mainly made by
Lao people.
S h e a g r e e d w i t h t h e
closing of the entertainment
venues, but would like the
local authorities to improve
services and increase security
for visitors including providing
first-aid training for locals
along the Xong River.
The town is now much
quieter than it used to be, and
other business owners are also
feeling the pinch.
“I am waiting for the
local authorities to reopen the
restaurants, as last month my
business was badly affected,”
said a bicycle and motorbike
rental proprietor, who asked
not to be named.
“For example, I have 20
bicycles and 15 motorbikes,
which was barely enough
before the closures, but now
my business has been cut in
half.”
H e h o p e s t h e l o c a l
authorities will consider
improvements along the river,
issue strict regulations on
alcohol consumption and
encourage restaurants to
employ security staff to take
care of tourists, as well as
ensuring the local police do
more to protect visitors.
He suggested signs be put
up to remind young visitors to
respect local culture and laws,
and avoid risky behaviour to
stay safe.
According to informal
statements from local sources,
the area will be renovated
and new restaurants will be
built that are environmentally
friendly and reflect local

traditions.

[beerlaodrinker]

I will lay you a pound to a penny Andy that the local council will legislate the guest houses out of business. The same as the riverside bars.

I reckon they will be ok dog catcher ,They cant have all 5 star accomadation got to be a choice for peoples budgets, farang and Lao, seems to me the Lao actually want to visit VV now that they dont have to witness the backpackers frollicking, or lying around in those TV bars zoned out and doing fuk all besides having a banana pancake and watching Friends re runs and Breathing

[the dogcatcher]

Yep, what I said.
But it will be big money and big business that will reopen the bars.
Backpackers like the true local feel. ie bamboo huts etc.
Locals won't get a look in on the real money.

[the dogcatcher]

I will lay you a pound to a penny Andy that the local council will legislate the guest houses out of business. The same as the riverside bars.

I reckon they will be ok dog catcher ,They cant have all 5 star accomadation got to be a choice for peoples budgets, farang and Lao, seems to me the Lao actually want to visit VV now that they dont have to witness the backpackers frollicking, or lying around in those TV bars zoned out and doing fuk all besides having a banana pancake and watching Friends re runs and Breathing

I seriously hope so but I'm not holding my breath.
If you didn't know I've owned a house in Laos for 7 years now.
Every time I see a peasant start to do well something fucks them... police or local officials, usually.

[Vientianeboy]

As I said.
Big money moved in (government) locals kicked out to continue being poor.

Can you provide evidence to support this claim?

[the dogcatcher]

As I said.
Big money moved in (government) locals kicked out to continue being poor.

Can you provide evidence to support this claim?

Yep.
Give it 18 months and my evidence will be finished.
Nice shiny new f off hotels next to the river at a ton a night.
All big money in Laos is subject to "tax".
I thought you of all people would know that.

[terry57]

There will always be a place for the genuine backpacker .

The demographics are changing, many cashed up and willing to spend money on good digs and services if there provided. Many well educated young people on the road for shorter times but with more money.

Not like 30 years ago where travelers lived on the smell of an oily rag. These days they want more and will pay for it.

Unfortunately Vang Vieng attracted the party people and the scene got way out of order with the locals cashing in whilst they could.

Cant blame the Back packers as they where doing exactly what young people do when excited by exotic destination. Jesus, I done it when I was a young stinky fuker banging around Asia.

The Backpacking scene will now morph into more gentle pursuits like caving, trekking and exploring the area for its beautiful scenery.

No need to worry for the locals, Vang Vieng is still well on the map.

[the dogcatcher]

I can see it turning into Luang Prabang.
Which frankly bored me to death.

[Finney64]

I thought you of all people would know that.

How dare you cast such disparity to Vientiane Boy/Rufuscat?

(that's more ironic than a black fly in Alanis Morriset's chardonney)

[ch1ldofthemoon]

^^ god help us if it turns into another Luang Prabang....gotta be the most boring place in Laos!

[DrAndy]

I will lay you a pound to a penny Andy that the local council will legislate the guest houses out of business. The same as the riverside bars.

Ok, I have a quid, so you will owe me a hundred

what is the time frame of this bet?

[the dogcatcher]

About 2 years.
But as happens and I've seen happen in countless resorts..... the hotel chains etc buy up the smaller guest houses, turn them into aparments and sell them.

[DrAndy]

see you in two years

start saving

[dirk diggler]

^^ god help us if it turns into another Luang Prabang....gotta be the most boring place in Laos!

Agreed, of my whole trip, I'm glad it was Luang Prabang where I was fucked with dengue.

[the dogcatcher]

I really think it may go the way of Luang Prabang.
But it doesn't have world heritage status, so it doesn't have the hype.... and it doesn't have an airport..... not unless you count the parking lot in the middle of town... which is meant to be an airstrip.
Need to move the dumped car and bolders though.

[DrAndy]

But it doesn't have world heritage status, so it doesn't have the hype.... and it doesn't have an airport..... not unless you count the parking lot in the middle of town... which is meant to be an airstrip.

sshhhh, that is a secret from the Vietnam war, it doesn't exist

and I enjoyed Luang Prabang both times, a charming laid back city, quite beautiful and charming

the only thing I didn't like was the "walking street" night market which was boring

one of the best trips out of town is to the waterfalls, a great day swimming and lazing around

[Vientianeboy]

^^ god help us if it turns into another Luang Prabang....gotta be the most boring place in Laos!

I find these comments amazing. I love LP as does everyone I know who has been there.

[the dogcatcher]

^^ I've been there.
Don't count me as someone that loved the place.
Expensive and shit.

[9999]

I love LP as does everyone I know who has been there.

You mean your high end friends in politics and diplomacy?

[Mid]

Laos – In the tube
Anders Holm Nielsen
June 6, 2013

You might have heard the rumors that there are no more tubing going on in Vang Vieng – they are false. And although it’s not what it used to be, it’s alive and well and a hell of a lot of fun.

By Sebastian Buur and Ida Holt

In 1999, the owner of an organic farm upriver from Vang Vieng send his volunteers down the Nam Song River in tractor inner tubes, as a mean of relaxing after a hard day tending the mulberries. A local man witnessed the peculiar sight, picked up on the idea, and tubing was born. And it didn’t just add to the list of experiences one can have in Vang Vieng and the nature around it. It defined the place for years to come, all the way till last august, at which point the authorities had had enough, and closed several bars on the river.

At that point, 11 people had been confirmed dead on the river that year, and 22 the year before. The small, mellow town of Vang Vieng had become an inferno of young people partying, helped along by easy accessible drugs and cheap whiskey. In many ways, tubing was your typical scary story of what happens when the backpackers swarm in.

Not so much these days

Today it’s a different story. The tubing goes on, but it’s much more relaxed than before. Less than a hundred people tubed the days we we’re there, a small fraction of the up to thousand people who could go down the river when it was at its highest. The three bars that are left on the shore can easily handle the number of tubers, and all that’s left of the old bars are concrete pillars from slides long torn down and abandoned shacks.

People still drink, obviously, but it’s a relaxed and laid back form of drinking, and nobody seems too drunk to take part in the activities on offer, such as volleyball, basket or petanque. You have volunteers at the bars, trying to get people into a party frenzy by offering free shots and talking loudly, but they seem strangely out of place. As if they don’t belong there anymore. And maybe they don’t.

Getting back into normal life

Vang Vieng is a town that flourished during the high of the tubing era. It’s easy to see just by taking a stroll down the main street that there are far more restaurants and hotels than there are tourists. But without the previous somewhat destructive tubing, a new crowd is moving in. Travelers who also take an interest in the beautiful nature and the amazing caves on offer here. As a result, taking a tube down the river may still not be for everyone, but you don’t have to be a party monster to enjoy it.

We came to Vang Vieng hoping for the best and fearing the worst. What we found was a nice little town trying to get back to a more normal life – still catering to backpackers and tourists, but more in sync with itself.
When it comes to tubing, if you like to hang out in the sun, meet other people and go down the river at you own leisure, it’s a must do. It’s great fun, simple as that. And as far as recommendations go, let’s just say that we ended up doing it three days in a row.

NOTE:
The tubing company has no name or website, but located in the main tourist street in Vang Vieng, it is almost impossible to miss at arrival. Happy tubings!

scandasia.com

[DrAndy]

But without the previous somewhat destructive tubing, a new crowd is moving in. Travelers who also take an interest in the beautiful nature and the amazing caves on offer here. As a result, taking a tube down the river may still not be for everyone, but you don’t have to be a party monster to enjoy it.

that "new" crowd was what was there before the drunk tubing crowd moved in, and was always there, just eclipsed