Vang Vieng The New Mecca For Backpackers

Bordering Vietnam, the country affectionately called The Jewel of the Mekong

, Laos, became a popular travel destination for backpackers in the post-Vietnam War era, when publications like Lonely Planet began to highlight the majestic scenery and karst hills of the Southeast Asian country. A drive into Vang Vieng in Laos will find a laid-back main street, guest houses, bars, internet cafes and the shoreline of the Nam Song River (The Song), littered with rope swings, water slides and inter tubes. Brimming with drunken backpackers in bars and on inter tubes floating down the Nam Song River, the town has become a cultural phenomena. To inner tube The Song is nearly a prerequisite for backpackers to the region, with points given to those inebriated when honoring it. In recent years, the popularity of the activity has spread beyond backpackers to develop a cult-following, and now garners the reputation as "the place to go," taking over the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan in Thailand. If drinking in the river's lush landscape on inner tubes has sparked Vang Vieng's tourism-oriented growth, then the the second largest contribution is made from those that arrive for spelunking and rock climbing. The limestone mountains surrounding Vang Vieng are not just beautiful, but are also crowded with caves, caverns and unique rock formations.

On the surface, the description of Vang Vieng may seem like an organic, Asian version of Bourbon Street in New Orleans, but its more the ideal outdoor playground. The tourism-oriented town has limits in a communist country, where all businesses must close by midnight. So, while topping off a day at a small bar alongside the the river must be done before midnight, hopping in inter tubes and meandering along the river has to begin early morning. Around the time a tourist to Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras stumbles back to the hotel, the Vang Vieng traveler awakens to begin the day's drinking. Strategically placed alongside the river, bars lining the shore of the Nam Song river often have swing ropes or water slides, accommodating both the tourists on the water and land. The perfect playground oftentimes becomes the jumping off spot where the drunken inter tubers themselves become the main attraction. The real attractions of the area are the excitement in the midst of gorgeous limestone hills and the fun and character it adds to the journey.

Vang Vieng The New Mecca For Backpackers

By: Vanessa Victor

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