Vang Vieng Travel Cost Breakdown
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Curious about the real Vang Vieng travel cost for a traveling family? We spent four weeks in the stunning town of Vang Vieng, Laos, and we’re breaking it all down: from accommodations and groceries to eating out and, most importantly, adventure activities.
In total, we spent $2,211.01 over four weeks, averaging $78.96 per day for our family of four. Here’s how that breaks down. All amounts are listed in U.S. dollars.
Accommodation—$919.44 or $32.84 per night.
Our flight from Hanoi arrived late at night, and with no trains running that late, we booked a place in Luang Prabang for an overnight stay. We paid $49.44 for that night.
Once in Vang Vieng, we spent 27 nights in a cozy, two-bedroom, two-bathroom casita-style home run by a local family. Click here for our accommodation on Agoda. It was slightly outside of town, across the river, but right at the start of the famous west loop—home to many of the area’s best hikes and lagoons. The property also had a charming on-site coffee shop, which made mornings even better. We paid $870 total, which came out to $32.22 per night.
Eating Out – $185.85
Food in Vang Vieng was affordable and surprisingly delicious. For our Google Map Pinned Guide of all our favorite food spots and attractions in Vang Vieng, [click here]. Here’s exactly where we ate and what we spent:
Big Mama’s – A street food sandwich stall just off the bamboo bridge. We went six times. Yes, it was that good.
Total: $43.91
Luang Prabang Bakery – We treated the girls to something sweet here, including a large brownie for my birthday.
Total: $7.44
Chiaxi Restaurant – Try the wonton noodle dish with pork. Simple and satisfying.
Total: $3.95
Night Market – From banana Nutella crepes to street-side dinners and ice cream, we stopped here several times.
Total: $21.39
Lotus Restaurant – Just a few meters from our accommodation, this became a go-to spot. Best pad krapao in town. We went three times.
Total: $27.32
Restaurant at Lagoon 3 – Simple fried rice for the kids and pad krapao for the adults after a swim.
Total: $7.44
The Bakery – The only place in town with birthday cakes. We stumbled on it and grabbed one for our 3-year-old.
Total: $4.65
Ms Bot Restaurant – Located on the main side of the river. The kids actually ate the food here.
Total: $7.91
Naked Espresso – A gem for families. They had a corner with toys, books, and games for the kids, plus air conditioning, which is rare. We went four times.
Total: $29.90
Pha Ho Kham – A family-run restaurant near the Pegasus/airplane viewpoint hike.
Total: $6.97
Cliff View Riverside Restaurant – A local restaurant right on the river. You can even sit in the water to eat during the day.
Total: $8.37
Hom Coffee & Eatery – Our accommodation hosts owned this on-site restaurant. It was closed for most of our stay due to a family trip, but reopened toward the end.
Total: $8.60
Restaurant at Tham Chang Cave – They only served noodle soup, but it hit the spot after the hike.
Total: $3.72
Bing Chun – Huge ice cream cones for the kids.
Total: $1.49
Luang Prabang Airport Restaurant – While waiting for our flight, we grabbed two plates of fried rice with pork.
Total: $9.77
Groceries – $269.13
Most of our groceries came from the morning farmers market in town, which had a great selection of fresh produce, local sausages, rice, and eggs. The everyday basics we needed. For anything we couldn’t find there, we stopped by MC Market or a small corner store near our accommodation. And yes, we made a few snack runs to 7-Eleven too.
On average, we spent $9.61 per day on groceries and snacks for our family of four. Here’s how it broke down:
- Farmers Market – $139.05
- MC Market – $87.59
- Corner Store – $13.26
- 7-Eleven – $29.23
Transportation – $175.83
Our transportation in Laos was a mix of trains, tuk-tuk trucks, motorbike rentals, and Loca (Lao’s version of Uber). I’ve intentionally left out the cost of our flight to Luang Prabang since travelers will be arriving from different parts of the world. That said, we use Daily Drop Pro to help us find award redemptions using points from our favorite travel credit card—highly recommend!
Here’s how our transportation costs broke down:
Train (round trip from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng) – We booked our tickets through laostrains.com, which felt more local and was cheaper than sites like 12go.asia. You can also buy tickets in person at the station or through third-party vendors in town (though both train stations are located well outside the city center).
Total: $85.17 roundtrip for 4 people
Loca – Only available in Luang Prabang, not Vang Vieng. We used it twice to get around.
Total: $12.13
Tuk-Tuk Trucks – These are basically covered pickup trucks with benches in the back. It’s the go-to transport option if you don’t rent a motorbike, but we found them to be pricey and only used them twice.
Total: $11.61
Motorbike Rentals – Our primary mode of transport in Vang Vieng. We rented two motorbikes at a time for exploring hikes, lagoons, and other sights. Each bike rental (including gas) was about $8.37 per day. We rented bikes on four separate days.
Total: $66.92
Tourist Attractions – $289.90
Our biggest splurge in Vang Vieng was the hot air balloon adventure,and it was worth every penny. Beyond that, most attractions were incredibly affordable, and many were free for kids. Read more about the things to do in Vang Vieng here. Here’s what we did and what it cost:
Nam Xay Viewpoint – A steep but rewarding climb with panoramic views. Don’t miss the iconic photo op on the motorcycle perched at the top.
Entrance: $1.86 for 2 adults. Kids Free.
Blue Lagoon 3 – A spacious, scenic lagoon with a zip line, rope swing, and a restaurant on-site. Great for a full afternoon.
Entrance: $1.86 for 2 adults. Kids Free.
Blue Lagoon 1 – The closest lagoon to town and also the busiest. Tour groups tend to get dropped off here, especially in the afternoon.
Entrance: $1.86 for 2 adults. Kids Free.
Blue Lagoon 4 – Located further north and less crowded. While the entrance was cheaper, we had to pay a toll to cross the bridge, making the total cost about the same as the others.
Total: $1.86 for 2 adults. Kids Free.
Water Cave – A true adventure. You sit in an inner tube and pull yourself through a water-filled cave using a rope, with only a headlamp to light the way.
Entrance: $5.53
Pegasus / Airplane Hike – This trail features two summits: one with a life-sized airplane you can climb inside, and another with a Pegasus statue. Along the way, there are also two caves to explore.
Entrance: $1.86 for 2 adults. Kids Free.
Blue Lagoon 2 – Our absolute favorite lagoon. Wish we had discovered it earlier so we could’ve gone twice.
Entrance: $1.86 + Water $0.93 = Total: $2.79
Hot Air Balloon Adventure – Easily the highlight of our time in Vang Vieng. Soar over the limestone karsts at sunrise for a once-in-a-lifetime view.
Total: $255.81
Tham Chang – A hidden gem not often mentioned online. There’s a lagoon frequented mostly by locals and a massive, well-maintained cave system with colorful lighting. To get there, you’ll climb a steep set of stairs, but it’s well worth the effort.
Entrance: $1.86 + Life jacket rental $3.25 = Total: $5.11
Miscellaneous – $262.63
Laos eVisas – We paid $51.75 per person, totaling $206.00 for our family of four.
Airalo – Our go-to eSIM for staying connected while traveling.
Total: $20.00
Western Union Fees – This was a bit of a hiccup. Our Charles Schwab debit card expired while we were in Laos, and we had to rely on Western Union for cash while waiting two weeks for a new card to arrive from the U.S. Since Laos is a cash-dominant country, we lost money on fees and the poor exchange rate.
Total lost to fees and conversion: $36.63
Healthcare- $112.56
Our travel insurance is SafetyWing Nomad Insurance– $112.56
Total: $2,211.01
What we learned:
Transportation:
Renting a motorbike is by far the easiest and most affordable way to get around Vang Vieng. Unless absolutely necessary, skip the tuk-tuk trucks, they’re overpriced and not the most comfortable option.
Food:
The farmers market was one of our favorite spots. Prices were completely fair with no tourist upcharge, which we really appreciated. We shopped there every other day for fresh produce straight from the farm.
Things to Do:
The lagoons are all budget-friendly and absolutely worth visiting. We splurged on a hot air balloon ride, and it was unforgettable—the limestone karsts at sunrise are pure magic.
Final Thoughts
Vang Vieng was exactly what our family needed. We thrive in nature and adventure, and this town had no shortage of either. While it’s more rural and lacks the amenities of bigger Southeast Asian cities, that’s part of its charm. It’s low-key, grounded, and full of hidden gems.
More on the Blog:
Read about the things to do in Vang Vieng.
Did we really take 2 young kids on a hot air balloon?
