Laos forum

You really should do a little research and look at a map before coming on this forum. If you did you would see that Vang Vieng is east of Luang Prabang and if you go to Vang Vieng from Huay Xai in the west you will have to backtrack to get to Luang Prabang. I suggest that after you finish the Gibbon thing you go out to Highway 3 at the junction at around 09:00 and wait for a bus to come by from Huay Xai that is headed north to Luang Namtha, Oudom Xai, Luang Prabang or Vientiane . Just flag down any bus and get on it, they all go through Luang Namtha and there you can change buses if you need to at the bus station south of town. If you are lucky to get on the Vientiane bound bus it will go through Vang Vieng and will drop you there but be sure to remind them to stop.

#2 has the most straightforward & cheapest option.

if you really abhor backtracking, a more expensive option:
Gibbon Ex > bus > Luang Namtha > fly > Vientiane > 3.5+h bus > Vang Vieng
check http://www.laoairlines.com/ domestic schedule.

& also other far more time consuming options (e.g. through Sayabouly province, minimum ~4 days depending on transport connections).

as #2 said, have a look at a map (though VV has always seemed more south than east of LPB to me )

scenery-wise, backtracking between VV & LPB isn't that bad...

Thanks, I was just hoping there was a route that goes west of luang prabang to vang vieng.

No you definitely need to pass Luang Prabang to get south to Vang Vieng. Route 13 is the way through as shown on this map.

Between LP and VV is very hilly and scenic. Although it can be a 6+ hour ride you probably won't mind seeing it twice.

Don't worry about Hmong "bandits" along the way. Not a problem anymore.

Kellipoop - thanks for not being offended at my rude remark about prior research, it bothered me all night. The first bus out of Huay Xai north past the Gibbon junction is a mid-sized local bus headed for L. Namtha and Oudom Xai and it leaves Huay Xai at 08:30 so maybe be on Hwy 3 waiting for it at 08:45 just to be sure. I'd take this bus and then wait in Oudom Xai for a bus going to Vientiane or head on the next bus to L. Prabang.