Vang Vieng 15th - 18th

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Vang Vieng is quite the opposite to Luang Prabang. It offers many western comforts including video bars streaming episodes of Friends and Family Guy continuously throughout the day. Dispite this, I easily fell in love with this small town which sits beside the Nam Song river and beautiful jagged limestone mountains.

Against all my natural instincts I somehow lugged my 15kg backpack across a never ending wobbly makeshift bridge to the other side of the river to Paradise Island Bungalows. And paradise they were.
After dropping off my bags in my own private bungalow with its hammock attached to the terrace I sat in the cousin covered lounge area where i remained for the entire day gossiping and drinking with other travellers.
For the 4 days I spent here, I was adopted by a bunch of crazy Israel's. We Tubbed, hung out at Bucket bar, swam at the nearby lagoon, crawled through caves, walked in the local villages and generally chilled out by the bungalows.

I guess the best way of describing tubbing is basically a pub crawl on the river.
You start around 11am where you pick up your giant rubber ring and begin your descent down the river. Every 100m is a bar where the locals throw you a rope and pull you into the banks. You then irresponsibly drink on the deck whilst soaking up the sun and listening to music. Those crazy enough to do so throw themselves off the giant rope swings, zip lines and slides.
All highly amusing and hardly cultural but damn good fun!

It would be easy for me to stay here for over a week. The views are stunning and the vibe of the town is just right. I felt right at home. It'd take me over an hour to walk down the main street as you'd continuously bumped into people you'd met in past towns or on activities such as the tubbing. Its impossible to feel lonely here. Even the locals generally seem to enjoy the company of the travellers as the buzz around town is catching.

Sababa!

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Photos

Vang Vien
View from my bunglows!

Vang Vien
Not the easiest bridge to cross after a few drinks!

Comments

[Big Daddy]

Shine On
Shine On You Crazy Diamond

[susana grabowska]

You bring a big soppy smile to myyyyyyyyyyyy face Miss Smiler86. Huge hugs from proud mummy bear.

[Sashi Bashi]

From the sounds of it I could make a career out of Tubbing... I WISH. Cous you are FAB don't stop doing what you're doing. Miss you, love you. xxx

[big daddy]

[e-mail]
Well it's all your own fault. You make it all look so good and so much fun that we're coming out to join you for Xmas. That's right, the family from whom you fled thousands of miles is going to join you in Vietnam! You have been warned. Hey, we're on our way. Can't wait to see you. xxxx

[Auntie Annette]

Hiya!
Hi Hannah, we enjoy reading all about your experiences. Hope you had a fab Christmas with the family and that they're not cramping your style!! Lots of love and hugs are sent to you from us all including Grandma. Wishing you lots more fun times ahead.....Auntie Annette xxx

[Puj]

U go girl!
Han - wow wow i wanna come. Ur tan looks awsome btw!! xx

[Carrie]

Hiya
Hi there sweetie, What a time you are having it's really gt me going and I have now got my draft itinery for October onwards. hope I get to see you before I go and you return!!! Hoping to get your mum and dad up here for supper and sleepover so I can hear first hand all about their stay with you. Look after yourself and much love to you xx