Vang Vieng Tube

Tubing area
The ramshackle wooden bars in the first stretch of the tubing area are too numerous to single out any individual ones and heave with people in the early afternoon even though many of them haven’t rented tubes and some of them have no intention of even going in the water – there are plenty of pathways and bridges to get around. Lie on plastic mats by the river and drink Beer Lao, or dance the day away on an outdoor dance floor.

Westerners employed by the bars for food and accommodation hand out free shots and organise drinking games to encourage you to stick around; many will also offer promotions to encourage you to their visit twin bars in town later in the evening. The competition among the night bars is so fierce that the deals are often genuinely pretty amazing, and if you time it right you can go from bar to bar for free buckets and cheap deals.

Too much alcohol or “special” or “happy” shakes which can contain cannabis, magic mushrooms or any manner of substance are not a good idea if you plan on going back in the river.

Fluid Bar and Restaurant, tam lom (4 km north of town), (fluid.partnership@gmail.com), Is filled with abstract art, strange sculptures and an eclectic mix of music. If you want a break from the norm this is the place to be