Why ComeDramatic karst limestone scenery along the Nam Song river — and the site of this trip's one genuine splurge, a hot-air balloon ride
Pairs WithVientiane (coming from) and Luang Prabang (heading to)
The Hot-Air Balloon
The one genuine splurge of the whole Southeast Asia run: a hot-air balloon ride drifting from the south of Vang Vieng to the north of the city, taking in the karst limestone landscape and the Nam Song river from above. Vang Vieng is one of the more reliable places in the region to actually get a balloon flight, given the reasonably stable dry-season air conditions and the dramatic scenery that makes it worth booking.
Practical Tips
Book the hot-air balloon flight directly with the operator rather than through a middleman — it was worth the cost here, and weather-dependent flights are easier to reschedule directly.
Flights typically go up at sunrise, when air conditions are calmest — worth the early start.