Tubing in Vang Vieng! Finally!

Hooray we finally made it!!

After a week and a half of sleeping in, playing queen of spades, eating dinner, then getting drunk with the A-Team, we finally made it tubing on our last day in Vang Vieng, Laos. The sun was shining, we didn’t wake up hung-over and were rip roaring ready to go!

Typical sight to see in Vang Vieng, Laos

There are two tubing stations on the same street which are impossible to miss. Depending on the day of the week depends on which tubing station you go to. There really is no difference between them. Same style/quality tubes, same rules and timelines and same line up of tuk tuk’s outside waiting to take you and as many others they can fit into the back. A tube rental costs 55,000 KIP (about $7 CDN) plus a 60,000 KIP deposit (about $8 CDN). All tubes are due back by 6pm. If you return it late they only give back 30,000 KIP of your deposit. Reasons why its best to leave earlier then later to go tubing! The river runs slow and take about 4 hours of floating time to get back to town. That does not include the time you might spend drinking away at any of the riverside bars along the way.

Various menus and treats you can find at any bar

The bars however are all placed right next to each other except for “The Last Bar” (and in our opinion the best bar!). The music of each one is blaring at full decibel level and train-wrecking with each other. Bars also have giant swings, giant slides, and other means of random entertainment aside from cheap buckets and beers. But really the main reason to stop at any bar is to have a drink. However, their “special” menus do also tempt the curious. Or maybe you wish to try some snake whiskey? Really, you can find whatever you want if you just look for it!

Gorgeous!

Everyone is in good spirits and having the time of their lives. How can you not be gleeful as you float down a river in a tube? Which is really the best part of the whole experience. Just sitting back and looking at the sky and amazing mountain scenery with your feet latched onto your friends tubes and just letting the river take you away. Some spots are so slow and peaceful while other spots have a wee bit of a rapid. My favorite parts of the day were when no bar was in sight or earshot and it was only you, your friends, your buzz, and mother nature. Perfect.

Fishing for tubers at “Last Bar”

Because of our time spent drinking at the bars, watching Adam use the giant swings, and talking to randoms we did not make it to the end of tubing. We tried our best but it quickly turned dark out and became quite scary and cold on the water. Once you past “Last Bar” there is nothing for a long time. No lights, no nothing! So we decided to head to shore, walk up a dark farming road with hopes we can make it to a major road to find a tuk tuk. Luckily we were successful!

Good times!

I really wish we managed to get ourselves tubing earlier, as we all agreed if we were staying in town longer we would totally do it again and spend less time at the bars so we could just enjoy the float part some more. So, if your heading to Vang Vieng don’t be like us and wait till your last day to go! Skip those buckets for one night and make it out there early!