Vang Vieng - Tubing

We spent Friday in a small party town called Vang Vieng. The town itself is not very special, but the area is beautiful. Tall sharp rock mountains covered with green trees (reminded me of Milford Sound) and a river where all activities happen.

We signed up for a little tour that took us to a cave with a river flowing inside. See the picture of Simon standing. In the center there is a hole at the back. That's where we entered. Once inside a few times we had to crawl to get from one cave to the next, but most of the time we walked with water flowing, but never higher than chest level. We bumped our heads against stalactites several times.

After lunch, we sat on tubes (inner tube of tractor tire) down the Nam Song river. The town is known for the bars along the river where people stop for a drink and for a swing/slide jump into the water, and then continue tubing to the next bar. Simon and I tried the swing. You climb up to the platform on a tree, then hold the swing with your hands, and go. When you get tired of swinging, you fall into the river. Simon wasn't getting tired and kept swinging forever. Hence, I was able to take the picture.

Lots of fun. But the town seems to be even more fun for younger tourists getting drunk, so tomorrow we are moving on. Next stop Vientiane, by bus.

Mercedes