Vang Vieng

The day before , we moved south to Vang Vieng on the bullet train. This town is located in a beautiful valley that is surrounded by limestone mountains and hills.

We therefore took full advantage of that and climbed up a rather steep path for about an hour to the Nam Xay viewpoint, which does give stunning views. I managed to sit peacefully and admire at the top, despite occasional bouts of vertigo driven anxiety. The way down was a bit harder for the kids as the steps on the rock are quite large at times.

Near the bottom just 5 minutes away is a blue lagoon, where we went to cool off and have a snack. All of the kids jumped into the lagoon from a 5m platform. The other visitors cleared and clapped, including adults who confessed to me that they couldn't even swim.

Overall, Vang Vieng is a bit strange. It's dominated by tourists. It feels a bit soulless as a result. Nevertheless, it's pleasant and relaxing, and we do need a break from being active 24/7Read more