Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Close to Vang Vieng on the west side of the river lies
Tham Pha Puak
, a cave tucked into a
karst encircled by Pha Daeng, or the Red Cliffs. Pha Daeng is considered particularly sacred
and some locals even maintain that planes flying over the cliff do so at their peril, no doubt
a legend with roots in the Second Indochina War, when Vang Vieng was used as an airbase,
known to pilots as Lima Site 6. Although in and of itself nothing special, the cave makes
a good short walk or bike ride out of Vang Vieng, and is generally quieter than other caves
close to the centre.
Phou Kham Cave and the Blue Lagoon
6km west of Vang Vieng; cross the toll bridge next to
Riverside Boutique Resort
and follow the road to Na
Thong, 4km west. Signs will lead you to the car park, where the 10,000K admission fee is collected. If you take
a torch, you'll avoid having to rent one (10,000K). A tuk-tuk from the centre to the lagoon should cost no more
than 80,000K, including a two-hour wait
Tham Phou Kham
makes a rewarding half-day trip that takes in some fine scenery and af-
fords the chance to visit a cave and enjoy a good swim along the way. The path to the entrance
is a short, steep climb and is extremely slippery in the rainy season, but there's plenty of bam-
boo to grab onto on the way up. In the main cavern reclines a bronze Buddha, while there
are tunnels branching off the main gallery that you can explore if you have a torch. Tours of
the cave cost 50,000K but are not mandatory. On the way to the cave, the bright-blue
lagoon
(actually a stream full of fish) is a great spot for a swim, and you can buy cool beer, fruit and
snacks at stalls nearby. Small wooden shelters provide shade, and the well-maintained lawn
is a good place to sunbathe, play frisbee or chat with other travellers.
Kaeng Yui Waterfall
Around 6km east of Vang Vieng ∙ To get to the falls from town, cross Route 13 just north of the old airstrip and
follow the bumpy road east (a sign points the way) ∙ A 10,000K admission fee is charged when you reach the
car park
While it may seem counterintuitive to turn your back on Vang Vieng's majestic karsts, a day
spent out east at
Tad Kaeng Yui
, with its twin 30m-high waterfalls, is well worth the trip -
especially in the rainy season. Once off the beaten track, Tad Kaeng Yui is now connected to
the town centre by a bumpy dirt road, but is still a peaceful spot, nestled in the forest among
the hills protecting Vang Vieng's eastern flank. Besides offering a refreshingly cool picnic
spot, with small pools of water directly under the falls to lounge in, it rewards the journey
with the sense of being smack in the middle of the tropics, miles from anywhere. Along the
path to the falls, keep an eye out for reptiles, giant stick insects and butterflies. Tourists ar-
riving at the waterfall on
zip-lining
trips from town tend to stop for refreshments at the food
stalls near the car park, where locals sell cold drinks and fresh coconuts.
Pha Thao Cave
13km north of Vang Vieng; turn left after the bridge just beyond the Kilometre 10 marker on Route 13 - a road
sign points the way to the cave - and head for the river. Cross the skinny suspension bridge and you'll reach the
