Vientiane Province
Vang Vieng, 160 km north of Vientiane municipality, is a scenic district of Vientiane province, enjoying excellent weather with breath-taking views of rock and limestone mountains (Pha Tang, Phatto Nokham), caves and rock outcrops overhanging the Xong River. At only three kilometers of its center, you'll find Tham Jang, Tham Phra, Tham Baat, and Tham Leusi the holy caves in the Chang rocky mountains. The rocks are honeycombed with numerous caves, the most famous of which is Tham Jang. Many of these caves can be reached by foot from Vang Vieng.
Nam Ngum Lake is situated about 80km to the North of Vientiane. The beautiful scenery over the Nam Ngum river and its green valley is enhanced by the presence of a vast, spectacular lake. This is a man-made reservoir of an hydroelectric power dam, generating most of the electricity sold to Thailand. The forests with a big variety of woods is still there on the thousands of islands dotting the lake. It is a rewarding experience to cruise around by motor-boat or spend the day or the week-end at the many bungalows or on the "floating restaurant boat" to enjoy the picturesque scenes of water, island, forests and charming fishing-villages.
On the way to Nam Ngum Lake, a short detour will take you to Vangsang, an 11th century Buddhist archeological site, where primitive Buddha images are carved right on the rock cliff. A salt extraction plant using traditional methods and the Zoo can be visited at Ban Keun.
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