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Region: Vientiane And Surrounds> Province: Vientiane> Location: Vang Vieng
Bungalows Riverside and Restaurant
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Vientiane
Boutique hotel in Vientiane, with river views. Lonely Planet says "Excellent Value".
Air-con rooms: US$37
Best of the budget bungalows
On the riverbank, Vang Vieng
Vientiane Province
Tel: (023) 511 035, (020) 225 4560
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Description
Just to the north of the main party island, Riverside offers a choice of budget bamboo huts, or full scale air-con wooden bungalows. It's not the most attractive stretch of the river, but the guesthouse's grounds are large and well tended, and the views across to the mountains are spectacular. The basic bungalows are a bare bamboo hut on stilts, with nothing inside but a mattress, mosquito net, fan and light bulb. Each stand alone bungalow also has a balcony. Bathrooms are shared. There are also fully furnished wooden bungalows in a separate section of the spacious grounds. These, which are also on stilts, comprise of two adjoined rooms sharing a balcony. Decoration is quite floral and frilly, but the rooms are clean and have nice bathrooms. The bungalows can be rented with fan or air-con. They have motorbikes for rent, organise bus and train tickets, visas and recycle plastic bottles. Laundry and deposit box services are available. There is also a restaurant on the grounds. This is one of the better value choices of budget riverside bungalows available.
Total rooms: 22
Bungalow fan private b'room
70,000 Kip (low season)
70,000 Kip (high season)
Bungalow A/C private b'room
107,000 Kip (low season)
107,000 Kip (high season)
Bungalow fan share b'room
48,000 Kip (low season)
48,000 Kip (high season)
Added to Travelfish on: 21st June, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 20th March, 2007
Guest feedback
Best of thin pickings... - 
By tuna ( total comments: 2 
) Stayed here 1/2008
We were a little underwhelmed by the 'riverside' location however this was probably a reflection on central Vang Vieng overall than the resort itself. Bungalows with fan are great value, cute thatched huts with bathroom and cozy balcony which was good for chilling and getting to know the neighbours. Simple and rustic, preferable to some sterile marble monstrosity with a TV though. Away from the hustle and bustle yet still central enough. I was expecting the grounds of the resort itself to be more scenic and have a better atmosphere, again that could be said about anywhere in central Vang Vieng though, head out 1 km any direction and its epic.
Nb. It is known as 'Riverside' only, not Bungalows Riverside.
Cleanliness | Facilities | Location | Romance | Rooms | Service | Value | Vibe |
Basic but nice location -
By GandN ( total comments: 9 ) Stayed here 12/2007
Nice location away from the craziness of the center of Vang Vieng in a very picturesque setting. The hut was very basic - mattress on floor, holes in mozzi net, fan, and cold shower bathroom that was full of ants but nothing worse. Spent a lot of time with a few BeerLao on the balcony watching shooting stars and chatting to our neighbours. Got our laundry done there as well. Not the best or worse accomodation. $7 per night.
Beware - 
By pierre55 ( total comments: 9 ) Stayed here 11/2007
The place is quite nice. Away from the pathetic TV bars. The bungalows are really pleasant (I had no cockroaches). If you need something from the reception come in the morning. In the afternoon the staff is so stoned that they are completely lost in space. Beware the mini market next to the riverside, they will rip you off for everything you ask. Be also extremely careful if you buy a VIP bus ticket to Vientiane with a free pick up at the guesthouse. we bought ours at the riverside. We never saw the VIP bus. The pick up (a crapy old mini bus) didn t stop at the bus station and continued it s way to Ventiane. All the people in the bus had bought their ticket in their guesthouse. To avoid this go to the bus station by your own means. Rip Off is the rule in Vieng Vien. Most off the people are really unpleasant. The toursism you ll see is pathetic. The place in general is quite dangerous: dealers, junkies, corrupted police... welcome in far west!
Lots of cockroaches!! - 
By Mars ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 1/2007
We first checked into our wooden bungalow on stitls in the afternoon for $6.60 a night we were quite pleased. We went into the main part of town for dinner and when we returned the bungalow was CRAWLING WITH COCKROACHES!! We noticed they were crawling up through the open drain pipe in the ensuite bathroom. There were literally about a hundred of them, all shapes and sizes. We quickly checked out and booked into a larger guesthouse in town and for an extra $1.40 got a clean room with A/C, a tv and no bugs! Maybe the larger A/C bungalows have better pest control. It is a pity this ruined our stay as besides the cockroaches (and the mosquito net being covered in holes) it is a quiet place to stay and in a good area.
Best value for money - 
By karelv ( total comments: 10 ) Stayed here 12/2006
Staff are adequate and not overly friendly, English decent. Room with own bathroom cheap and great value for money. Room clean, spacious with own front and back balcony and breathtaking view of the mountains (you don't share a balcony in a US$6.60 bungalow -- double with fan and private bathroom). Bed was good and firm with decent pillows, towels okay but have your own handy. Quiet area (unless you have noisy insomniac Japanese neighbours!), noise from riverside bars very soft. Bathroom clean, flush western toilet with hot shower, hot water doesn't last too long. Numerous electrical outlets. Don't know about bag storage but sure they have it. No internet facilities but a couple of internet cafes in town. Has a restaurant but only open for breakfast and lunch, food cheap and pretty good. Laundry service and not expensive. No international payphones that we saw but there are places that provide international call services. Best accommodation and value for money in Vang Vieng.
Fantastic - 
By cedezlepassage ( total comments: 8 ) Stayed here 12/2005
If you don't want to be on the "Island" or on "Pizza Street" this is a veritable oasis. Tucked away on the river, turn right before the bamboo bridge to "Smile" and "Sunset" bars. About 200m. The good value huts and bungalows are fine place to relax after your day on the river. Recommended.
Good bungalows - 
By millionario ( total comments: 11 ) Stayed here 7/2004
A good choice for its nice wooden bungalows and quiet location on the river, and the staff proved themselves helpful.
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