Hello again!
I just got back from a five-day trip to the gorgeous country of Laos. I decided to approach travel in this country similarly to its lifestyle – nice and slow. Instead of trying to hit every single place on the map, I decided to allocate most of my time to the small town of Vang Vieng and soak up what it had to offer.
The main reason why I chose Vang Vieng was because I wanted to take a ride in the hot-air balloons, which were being offered at the price of $90 – the cheapest in the world by a couple hundred dollars! I just couldn’t pass up on that offer, and I knew that it was something that I wanted to check off my bucket list. And sure enough, the ride was worth every single penny. I decided to take the morning flight, which started at 6 a.m. and would last around 40 minutes, thus timing it with the sunrise over the mountains. It was one of the most amazing experiences that I have had in recent memory – there is just something so magical about floating through the clouds, watching as the whole world around you slowly stirs awake. If you are ever in the area, I would highly recommend you make a stop at Vang Vieng and experience this for yourself!
Other than that, I spent my days lounging around the town and exploring the areas around it on a bike. I loved how everything was so close to each other – you could go from lush forests and rivers to mountain views to waterfalls, all within about a thirty minute radius from the town center. It was a great way to relax, especially since most of my previous travel experiences had occurred at break-neck paces (which is enjoyable, but sometimes, you have to just spend a few afternoons chilling with a ridiculously cheap coconut smoothie and taking a nap under the open sky).
Laos, one day I will be back!
Best,
Jae
Snapshots around Vang Vieng:
