Laos forum

I would give Vientiane more than one quick day and overnight. I would also allow more for Vang Vieng. Sure the tubing bar scene is a frat party but there's much more to enjoy in the area. Bicycle or motorbike to explore the valleys, go kayaking or swim into caves, beautiful scenery all around.

The rest looks fine. Go from LP up to Nong Khiaw for a couple days then get a 1-day boat down the Nam Ou to the Mekong then another back to LP. Daily 1-hour flight LP-Chiang Mai for about $150, or if you have time work your way up to Luang Namtha and Muang Sing (especially if you're interested in ethnic minorities)

It comes down to personal choice, but I agree with Bob-O and Rufus that Vientiane is worth a longer look if you have the time. I've been at least six times over the years, and each time the city seems even more charming. There are a couple of great temples down along the river, including the original Wat Phra Keow, that are worth a look, and from there you can stroll up river past fruit vendors and waterside restaurants. There is a good museum, cultural shows, bakeries, and interesting colonial buildings to look at. That Luang is amazing, as is spending an early evening at Anusauri, the Ard d'Triumph-looking monument on the way to That Luang. There are other things to do too. Those are just some of my favorites.

Frat part = fraternity party, those all-out drunken bashes represented in classic American films like "Animal House." You'll find that in Vang Vieng if you wish. But like the others have said, there is also the scenic countryside and some good outdoor activity options if you wish.

Most of us would suggest having a rough itinerary of where you want to go and then playing it by ear on the road. For example, just because your friends suggested giving Vientiane a miss, you might decide you love it and want to spend a few days. Or you might decide that you just can't face the bus ride on a particular day and hang out a while longer.

Your trip sounds really fun to me. Have a great time. Cheers.

My two cents about Vientiane:

I've been there 3 times over the past 10 years or so and it never impressed me. It certainly has some things to keep you busy and only one Wat that stood out (the one with all the small buddhas in the walls). The rest I found forgettable. The Arc was a nice curiosity but nothing more than that to me. Neither has the riverside or the much fabled food convinced me to spend more time. It's a pleasant enough town though and must be one of the most laid back capitals in the world.

But as Exacto has said, it's personal. Would I trade a day in LP for a day in Vientiane? No. In general I'd say that for the average tourist who comes only once it doesn't have much appeal and your time is better spent in LP.

Posted from within Vietnam.

Nong Khiaw is great, in my opinion, but if you book for LP for during the festival that still gives you flexibility to decide on extra days in Vientiene (I'm more with eastwest on this) or VV and to skip Nong Khiaw nearer the time doesn't it? I'd go with that option.

Thanks! The more I read about Vientiane , the more I think we'll just do the one night. It doesn't really sound like our kind of place. We'd rather check out Nong Khiaw for a couple of nights as that is more in line with our interests. We live in Thailand, so we don't need to stay in a town to see more temples. We want to get out of being in a city, so I think Nong Khiaw will be nice. We want to do some hiking and maybe kayaking. Also, we'll be coming from Siem Reap and moving on to Chiang Mai and I think we'll be templed out by the end of the trip.

I would love to check out the Plain of Jars, but I don't think we'll have time. You pretty much have to overnight there, right? We can't afford to fly back as we're on a Thai salary.

However, if we do Nong Khiaw for 2 nights, we can only do Vang Vieng for 1 night. We hope to catch the first bus out of Vientiane in the morning, so hopefully we can make it to Vang Vieng by early afternoon to still be able to check it out. If not, we can always come back.

Thank you all for your suggestions and feedback! We'll definitely try to keep our trip open.