Vang Vieng, Lao PDR

3 nights in Vang Vieng.   If you want it, it is probably here and you will not need to look too far to find it....

Unbelievable scenic beauty.

Walked around town in the AM after having a mocha and a water mellon smoothie for 20,000 Kip.

Street outside my Guest house on the river.

My impression of the town is the same as on a prevoious post.   A tourist town, a young backpacker tourist rite of passsage in SE Asia.  It like in the US saying you have been to Breckenridge or Vail to ski, or to Napa to taste wine.  A destination.  Nothing but young backpackers.

Lacks the atmosphere of Kung Tung or Phonsavan.  They were not tourist destinations;  this place is.

Mostly Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis. 

I think they meant Laundry - 2+ pounds for $0.65

10,000 Kip = about $1.25

50,000 Kip = about $6.40

The van ride to Vientiene was 5 hours and only $5.00

Vang Vieng is safe, honest (you can depend on correct change), friendly.  Not a bit different than walking through the mall in your hometown.....stop, look, price, walk away to the next store...gawk, touch, feel, price?  Surrounded by teenagers?  Then walk away...look, price, and on and on....except the road is dirt.

Stll had the splifs purchased at the dinner two nights ago, so returned to the restaurant with the "Room Upstairs" to work on paring one of the splifs down with a BeerLao.  

Was greeted upstairs by 5 twenty somethings, all from England.   They were having pizza and smoking.  They lent me a lighter. They were friendly and outgoing, but from a different country, culture and age bracket.  The offered me some of their pizza; I declined.  

The girl repeated "I just met these 4 guys two hours ago and they offered to let me stay with them tonight."   The second time she repeated her story, I paused at length..............then said to her, "Sounds like fun.......for someone."    She was quite overweight.

Downstairs I made more inquiries about the number of places that allow these purchases and have a smoking room.  Was told that that the place I was at - was the most popular out of about 6-8 places still in town.  6 to 8 years ago, every shop/restaurant sold.....today it takes connections and payoffs.......

Was told the owner of this place is a Col. in the Army.  There must be payoffs coming/going somewhere, but that is not my concern.

Shops mostly have crap.  As I am looking for more eclectic, hand made, collectible purchases, there is little here that interests me......other than a T shirt or maybe the cap with a single red star on it.....it would be great to wear in west Texas fishing with my good friend Rick Borden....or maybe in the panhandle of Idaho.....or maybe not.........on second thought.

Lots of loud music from across the river.  A concert with high quality PA, speakers and amp systems.  I am 1/2 mile away and it is clear as a bell.  Closed the door and put the Goldberg Variations by Bach on the Jambox to drown out the outside sounds.  

My music, my way.

Booked the 8:30 AM mini Van with a front seat to Vientiane for 40,000 Kip.

Vientiane and Siem Reap are the next travel destinations.  My travels in the hinterlands of Northern Lao are over, me thinks.  Big city, tourists from here on out.

But I still have more shopping to do.......and Vientaine should have what I want.

Southward,

Byron