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    Vang Vieng revisited

    A couple of months ago we decided to go for a weekender in vang vieng to see what had changed and to visit the wifes uncle , The result was , not much had changed except there are now less banana pancakers around

    Entering VV the first thing you see is the old war era airstrip, now used for racing gocarts





    VANG VIENG
    was until a couple of years back known as the party mecca of the south east asian backpacker trail, with thousand of backpackers flocking there for unlimited drinking, dancing, drugs and floating down the nam song river in an inner tube. and probably a bit of shagging to

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    One thing i noticed was there are now a lot more mainstream tourists than there are backpackers a far different demographic than a couple of years back, new hotels are springing up to cater for these tourists and the flashpacker

    we stayed at the silver naga

    hotel , newly constructed and right on the river with spectacular views of the limestone karst



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    It still takes about 3 hours to reach vang vieng from vientiane and the road is ok but not great,

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    The lao governments rapid decision to close all the bars and waterslides along the namsong surprised everybody in a country not known for doing anything rapidly, Ive "done" the tubing thing a few times and got the teeshirt and stubby cooler to prove it, but personnally i think it was all getting a bit out of control vang vieng seems a much pleasanter place to stroll around and nowadays the only drunken farang you will see is likely to be me

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    Tubing still seems to be done but at a more sedate pace than before, kayaking seems to be popular


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    But fuk the kayaking
    The wifes uncle has some little motorised boats and as im related to him he let me hire one for 100 000 kip instead of the usual 20 000 ,




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    Looks nice, but I think we both liked the old V.V. better?

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by ltnt View Post
    Looks nice, but I think we both liked the old V.V. better?
    Yes, and no, i doubt it was the locals decision to close all the bars and curtail the partying, fact is people were drowning and getting fuckd up, i suspect some ngo,s and embassys put a bit of pressure on to clean it up after having to deal with the dead , its still a fantastic place and theres still heaps to do, not really necessary to do it pissed and stoned out of your head, The uncle has set up a small resort about 3 klicks out of town and bang on the river, he is doing well catering to a mostly Lao customer base, if by some chance farangs start turning up to his place in droves he has had some practice in overcharging them by being related to me

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    The downtown area still seems to be awash with young backpackers and you can still get a bong and a waffle but it doesnt resemble anymore the description given to it once as "if teenagers ruled the world" a sort of a cross between "apocalypse now" crossed with a saturday night on khao san road


    The kids having a stroll on the way to the caves



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    Allways a pleasure to view your threads BLD. A baloon ride over those peaks is on my bucket list. Did bil really charge you ten dollars eight above the usual? Does seem cheap though even at ten bucks. Was this an all day rate with fuel as well? Include a driver ect. Im sure other teak door members wonder if we will get that discount if we look him up someday. Safe travels to you and yours.

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    Good thread. This looks very nice:



    Towliiii?

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    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker
    The lao governments rapid decision to close all the bars and waterslides along the namsong surprised everybody in a country not known for doing anything rapidly
    Something like 14 Aussies died in a year, so I heard.

    I was there 4 years ago, just on a visa run hopped on the bus there instead of the capital to kill some time, ended up staying 4 nights. We got a room with a similar view that you posted, nice little guesthouse for 400 THB. Watching all the drunk kids was fun. I did a thread on this trip too https://teakdoor.com/laos-forum/74565-r-and-r-in-vv.html it was interesting just going over it after seeing this post.

    Looks like it might be worth another visit... hopefully you can still get weed and opium on tap.

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    Lovely picky thread per usual, BLD!

    Thanks...


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    Thanks for the pics, BLD. Looking forward to more.

    Btw, was that your "fave" shirt again? (post #6) Cheers!

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    Nice one bld. Great views

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    Greened for the greenary!

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    Quote Originally Posted by fishlocker View Post
    Allways a pleasure to view your threads BLD. A baloon ride over those peaks is on my bucket list. Did bil really charge you ten dollars eight above the usual? Does seem cheap though even at ten bucks. Was this an all day rate with fuel as well? Include a driver ect. Im sure other teak door members wonder if we will get that discount if we look him up someday. Safe travels to you and yours.
    Fishlocker, the brother in laws a good guy I was just taking the piss (forgot the sarcasm smiley) seriously though my Lao outlaws Are an absolute delight. If you go to VV tell em BLD sent ya, they won't fuk you over,

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    Looks spectacular.

    Never went North of Vientiane.

    I'm thinking of taking my motorbike over and doing a two week tour of the country within the next year or two. Looks great.

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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    Thanks for the pics, BLD. Looking forward to more.

    Btw, was that your "fave" shirt again? (post #6) Cheers!
    Ive got 2 shirts that I reserve for my threads Katie.(( point taken BLD needs a new wardrobe). A couple of those pics were actually taken about 2 years ago when my wife had some Lao relatives visiting from the states, they were part of the flotsam and jetsam after d war , I I will post up some pics later of my wife's Aunty who hadn't been back to Lao in over 30 years and brought her daughter (an absolute hottie)who was born in refugee camp in nongkhai but grew up in Dallas Texas, more about those interesting relatives later.
    Last edited by beerlaodrinker; 04-01-2015 at 10:24 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by 9999 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker
    The lao governments rapid decision to close all the bars and waterslides along the namsong surprised everybody in a country not known for doing anything rapidly
    Something like 14 Aussies died in a year, so I heard.

    I was there 4 years ago, just on a visa run hopped on the bus there instead of the capital to kill some time, ended up staying 4 nights. We got a room with a similar view that you posted, nice little guesthouse for 400 THB. Watching all the drunk kids was fun. I did a thread on this trip too https://teakdoor.com/laos-forum/74565-r-and-r-in-vv.html it was interesting just going over it after seeing this post.

    Looks like it might be worth another visit... hopefully you can still get weed and opium on tap.
    you certainly can, I,ll show you the result later.

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    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker
    he has had some practice in overcharging them by being related to me
    Just mention BLD...for a discount.

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    Vang vieng is surrounded by limestone caves but we only managed this one called jang cave


    its a liesurely 20 minute walk past rice paddies and over the nam song river, 15000 kip entrance fee, the walk to the cave is a sight seeing opportunity itself



    snacks and drinks are available along the way


    a very blue freshwater pool is near the cave as well , freezing cold but quite refreshing after the walk up to the cave





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    The cave itself was nothing special but worth the walk for the views over vang vieng



    The kids were a bit freaked out in there and couldnt wait to get out



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    After that it was back to the uncles gaff for Lunch




    The uncles quite the gardener and grows all his own fruit on the property


    Tried to sell me this underage goat, must be TD member

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    Quote Originally Posted by beerlaodrinker View Post
    her daughter (an absolute hottie)
    Pics please !!

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