Cycling Around Vang Viang

Vang Viang, in Laos, has been known as a party town. I get the impression that it is trying to reinvent itself as an adventure sports mecca instead, with business offering all kinds of outdoor activities.

Alan and I rented bicycles to cycle around 7 km out of town to the Blue Lagoon, a swimming hole, and Tham Phu Kham cave. When we crossed the bamboo footbridge, we saw boats, kayaks, and tubes. On our very bumpy ride, we saw motorcycle, four wheelers, two-seater carts and other vehicles tearing along the dirt paths to various attractions.

The Lagoon turned out to be quite small, and we simply enjoyed watching the folks jumping off the tree or swinging into the water. We climbed up to the cave, luckily arriving at a time of day when light streamed in, illuminating a Buddha shrine and paths deeper into the cave.

In the evening, as we were cycling around town, we were lucky enough to be near hot air balloons, taking off, rising up, for a sunset tour over the town and the river.