Vang Vieng: Difference between revisions
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==History== |
==History== |
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One of the main features of the town is a long, mostly unused, airfield runway parallel to the road. It was used during the [[Vietnam War]] by the [[Air America (airline)|Air America]]'s planes (the airstrip was then called "Lima site 6"). The town has grown substantially due to the influx of [[Backpacking (travel)|backpackers]] in recent years, with the opportunities for adventure tourism in an incredible landscape has attracted more-and-more tourists |
One of the main features of the town is a long, mostly unused, airfield runway parallel to the road. It was used during the [[Vietnam War]] by the [[Air America (airline)|Air America]]'s planes (the airstrip was then called "Lima site 6"). The town has grown substantially due to the influx of [[Backpacking (travel)|backpackers]] in recent years, with the opportunities for adventure tourism in an incredible landscape has attracted more-and-more tourists<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.vangvieng.org/| publisher=VangVieng.org| date=2011| title=Vang Vieng}}</ref>. |
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==Tourism== |
==Tourism== |
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[[Image:Laos Landscape in Vang Vieng.jpg|thumb|left|Landscape in Vang Vieng]] |
[[Image:Laos Landscape in Vang Vieng.jpg|thumb|left|Landscape in Vang Vieng]] |
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Today, Vang Vieng today is mainly a backpacker town. The main street is full of guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies, and western tourists |
Today, Vang Vieng today is mainly a backpacker town. The main street is full of guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies, and western tourists <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.laos-travel-guide.com/vang-vieng.html| publisher=Lao Travel Guide| date=2008| title=Vang Vieng Travel Guide}}</ref> Attractions of the town include[[Tubing (recreation)| inner tubing]] and kayaking on the [[Nam Song]] River, which is lined with bars selling [[Beer Lao]] and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing <ref>{{cite web| url=http://goseasia.about.com/od/laos/a/tubing_vang_vieng_laos.htm| publisher=goseasia| date=2011| title=Vang Vieng tubing}}</ref>. During the [[wet season]], the river can be a series of [[rapids]] <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.vangvieng.org/| publisher=VangVieng.org| date=2011| title=Vang Vieng}}</ref>. |
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Other activities include trekking and [[rock climbing]] in the limestone mountains |
Other activities include trekking and [[rock climbing]] in the limestone mountains <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.laos-travel-guide.com/vang-vieng.html| publisher=Lao Travel Guide| date=2008| title=Vang Vieng Travel Guide}}</ref>. There are also numerous caves, such as Tham Phu Kham cave half an hour from Vang Vieng by [[tuk-tuk]] or the Tham Jang cave closer to Vang Vieng <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.laos.co.uk/VV.html| publisher=Lao.co.uk| date=2007| title=Vang Vieng ... as it used to be}}</ref>. |
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| ⚫ | A market located five kilometres north of the town sells Lao textiles, household items and foodstuffs. The town is situated on the main north-south highway, [[Route 13 (Laos)|Route 13]] from [[Luang Prabang]] to the capital, [[Vientiane]]. It is about eight hours by bus to Luang Prabang and four hours to Vientiane (152km)<ref>{{cite web| url=http://goseasia.about.com/od/laos/a/tubing_vang_vieng_laos.htm| publisher=goseasia| date=2011| title=Vang Vieng tubing}}</ref>. |
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| ⚫ | A market located five kilometres north of the town sells Lao textiles, household items and foodstuffs. The town is situated on the main north-south highway, [[Route 13 (Laos)|Route 13]] from [[Luang Prabang]] to the capital, [[Vientiane]]. It is about eight hours by bus to Luang Prabang and four hours to Vientiane (152km) |
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Just a short walk from town are many ethnic |
Just a short walk from town are many ethnic Lao, Kmou, and Hmong villages, while Vang Vieng Organic Farm is located around 4km north of the town in the village of Phoudindaeng. There are also opportunities for community involvement such as teaching, while it's also possible to stay in a house made of mud bricks at the organic farm. <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.travel-to-teach.org/laos/volunteer-vang-vieng.php| publisher=Travel to Teach| date=2008| title=Volunteer Laos - Vang Vieng}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://greentravelerguides.com/2009/01/vang-vieng-organic-farm/| publisher=Green Traveller Guide| date=5 January 2009| title=Vang Vieng's little big man}}</ref> |
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It is also possible to teach monks English at a monastery in the center of the city, buy books for local children, or visit a Lao Sauna.<ref name="vv.acti"/> |
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==Effects of tourism== |
==Effects of tourism== |
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There have been worries that the town is in danger of losing its charm as it becomes full of tourists, mushroom shakes and [[Friends]] - the US sitcom is shown in many bars <ref>{{cite web| url=http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2009/08/paradise_lost.html| publisher=Sydney Morning Herald| date=26 August 2009| title=Paradise Lost}}</ref>, while some have compared it to the touristy Thai resort [[Phuket]] |
There have been worries that the town is in danger of losing its charm as it becomes full of tourists, "mushroom shakes and [[Friends]]" - the US sitcom is shown in many bars <ref>{{cite web| url=http://blogs.smh.com.au/travel/archives/2009/08/paradise_lost.html| publisher=Sydney Morning Herald| date=26 August 2009| title=Paradise Lost}}</ref>, while some have compared it to the touristy Thai resort [[Phuket]] <ref>{{cite web| url=http://blogs.theage.com.au/travel/archives/2009/10/where_to_get_your_travel_cred.html| publisher=The Age| date=21 October 2009| title=Where to get your travel card}}</ref>. [[The New Zealand Herald]] wrote, "If teenagers ruled the world, it might resemble Vang Vieng"<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10598855| publisher=New Zealand Herald| date=22 September 2009| title=A tragedy waiting to happen }}</ref>. Safety measures for the tubing have been described as "non existent" and a mixture of this and heavy drinking has seen tourists drown.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/news/article.cfm?c_id=7&objectid=10598855| publisher=New Zealand Hearald| date=22 September 2009| title=A tragedy waiting to happen}}</ref> |
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==Note to visitors to Vang Vieng== |
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Due to the recent influx of backpackers, the natives of Vang Vieng have seen a drastic change in their community. It was once a quiet and peaceful town, rarely visited by western tourism, except by the most adventurous of hiking and caving enthusiasts. However in recent years, Vang Vieng has become a milestone stop along the South East Asia backpacker tour and the main street is now littered with guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes and tour agencies. Backpacker numbers have skyrocketed and the place has changed drastically - for the worse. Inconsiderate behaviour such as walking through the town without a shirt, or in a bikini (both are VERY disrespectful to the locals), drinking to excess, and smoking opium in public means Vang Vieng is no longer a magical place, and the senior locals, once so friendly and hopeful for the future, have now become distant and disillusioned. Crime has increased markedly as local youths attempt to imitate western culture and battle substance abuse. Compared to what it once was, Vang Vieng is now a rather depressing place, especially for travellers fortunate enough to have seen it previously as it once was. |
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All visitors to Vang Vieng are requested to be respectful and observe local customs by dressing modestly in public and behaving in a manner that will give Laotians a positive view of western society. |
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The Laos government is planning to put more controls on the urban sprawl of Vang Vieng, <ref>{{cite web| url=http://laovoices.com/2009/07/22/keeping-vang-viengs-tourism-vibrant/| publisher=Vientiane Times| date=16 June 2009| title=A plan to keep Vangvieng tourism alive}}</ref> while the Laos National Tourism Administration has "awareness programs" that ask tourists to "respect and strictly follow the rules, regulations, tradition and cultures of the Lao people," while also educating local people to maintain the Lao identity, way of life, tradition and culture and not imitate tourist behaviour |
The Laos government is planning to put more controls on the urban sprawl of Vang Vieng, <ref>{{cite web| url=http://laovoices.com/2009/07/22/keeping-vang-viengs-tourism-vibrant/| publisher=Vientiane Times| date=16 June 2009| title=A plan to keep Vangvieng tourism alive}}</ref> while the Laos National Tourism Administration has "awareness programs" that ask tourists to "respect and strictly follow the rules, regulations, tradition and cultures of the Lao people," while also educating local people to maintain the Lao identity, way of life, tradition and culture and not imitate tourist behaviour <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/world/idyllic-laos-threatened-by-sex-drugs-and-debaucherous-behaviour/story-e6frezk9-1225841761972| publisher=The Daily Telegraph| date=17 March 2010| title=Laos threatened by sex and drugs}}</ref>. Vang Vieng is known to have a problem with drugs, which are easily accessible to both tourists and local children <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/314/features.shtml| publisher=Chiang Mai Mail| date=2 March 2009| title=The decline and fall of Vang Vieng}}</ref>. The town has been described as "The finest example of how to let a town be spoiled by tourism." <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.travelfootprints.ca/vang-vieng-its-more-than-back-to-back-friends-episodes/| publisher=Travel Footprints| date=2010| title=Vang Vieng, It’s More Than Back to Back Friends Episodes!}}</ref> |
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Brett Dakin, the author of Another Quiet American, a chronicle of two years in Laos working for the tourist authority, said, "Each time a young Australian woman strolls down the street in a bikini, a bearded American smokes a joint on a guesthouse terrace, or a group of Koreans tumbles drunkenly out of a restaurant, it saps a little more of the essence of a town like Vang Vieng."<ref |
Brett Dakin, the author of Another Quiet American, a chronicle of two years in Laos working for the tourist authority, said, "Each time a young Australian woman strolls down the street in a bikini, a bearded American smokes a joint on a guesthouse terrace, or a group of Koreans tumbles drunkenly out of a restaurant, it saps a little more of the essence of a town like Vang Vieng." <ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/travel/world/idyllic-laos-threatened-by-sex-drugs-and-debaucherous-behaviour/story-e6frezk9-1225841761972| publisher=The Daily Telegraph| date=17 March 2010| title=Laos threatened by sex and drugs}}</ref>. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 05:17, 14 March 2011
Vang Vieng
lang-lo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Laos |
| Admin. division | Vientiane Province |
| Population | |
| • Total | 25,000 |
| • Religions | Buddhism |
Vang Vieng (Lao: ວັງວຽງ) is a tourism-oriented town in Laos, located in Vientiane Province about four hours bus ride north of the capital. The town lies on the Nam Song river. The most notable feature of the area is the karst hill landscape surrounding the town.
History
One of the main features of the town is a long, mostly unused, airfield runway parallel to the road. It was used during the Vietnam War by the Air America's planes (the airstrip was then called "Lima site 6"). The town has grown substantially due to the influx of backpackers in recent years, with the opportunities for adventure tourism in an incredible landscape has attracted more-and-more tourists[1].
Tourism
Today, Vang Vieng today is mainly a backpacker town. The main street is full of guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes, tour agencies, and western tourists [2] Attractions of the town include inner tubing and kayaking on the Nam Song River, which is lined with bars selling Beer Lao and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socializing [3]. During the wet season, the river can be a series of rapids [4].
Other activities include trekking and rock climbing in the limestone mountains [5]. There are also numerous caves, such as Tham Phu Kham cave half an hour from Vang Vieng by tuk-tuk or the Tham Jang cave closer to Vang Vieng [6]. A market located five kilometres north of the town sells Lao textiles, household items and foodstuffs. The town is situated on the main north-south highway, Route 13 from Luang Prabang to the capital, Vientiane. It is about eight hours by bus to Luang Prabang and four hours to Vientiane (152km)[7].
Just a short walk from town are many ethnic Lao, Kmou, and Hmong villages, while Vang Vieng Organic Farm is located around 4km north of the town in the village of Phoudindaeng. There are also opportunities for community involvement such as teaching, while it's also possible to stay in a house made of mud bricks at the organic farm. [8][9]
Effects of tourism
There have been worries that the town is in danger of losing its charm as it becomes full of tourists, "mushroom shakes and Friends" - the US sitcom is shown in many bars [10], while some have compared it to the touristy Thai resort Phuket [11]. The New Zealand Herald wrote, "If teenagers ruled the world, it might resemble Vang Vieng"[12]. Safety measures for the tubing have been described as "non existent" and a mixture of this and heavy drinking has seen tourists drown.[13]
Note to visitors to Vang Vieng
Due to the recent influx of backpackers, the natives of Vang Vieng have seen a drastic change in their community. It was once a quiet and peaceful town, rarely visited by western tourism, except by the most adventurous of hiking and caving enthusiasts. However in recent years, Vang Vieng has become a milestone stop along the South East Asia backpacker tour and the main street is now littered with guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes and tour agencies. Backpacker numbers have skyrocketed and the place has changed drastically - for the worse. Inconsiderate behaviour such as walking through the town without a shirt, or in a bikini (both are VERY disrespectful to the locals), drinking to excess, and smoking opium in public means Vang Vieng is no longer a magical place, and the senior locals, once so friendly and hopeful for the future, have now become distant and disillusioned. Crime has increased markedly as local youths attempt to imitate western culture and battle substance abuse. Compared to what it once was, Vang Vieng is now a rather depressing place, especially for travellers fortunate enough to have seen it previously as it once was.
All visitors to Vang Vieng are requested to be respectful and observe local customs by dressing modestly in public and behaving in a manner that will give Laotians a positive view of western society.
The Laos government is planning to put more controls on the urban sprawl of Vang Vieng, [14] while the Laos National Tourism Administration has "awareness programs" that ask tourists to "respect and strictly follow the rules, regulations, tradition and cultures of the Lao people," while also educating local people to maintain the Lao identity, way of life, tradition and culture and not imitate tourist behaviour [15]. Vang Vieng is known to have a problem with drugs, which are easily accessible to both tourists and local children [16]. The town has been described as "The finest example of how to let a town be spoiled by tourism." [17]
Brett Dakin, the author of Another Quiet American, a chronicle of two years in Laos working for the tourist authority, said, "Each time a young Australian woman strolls down the street in a bikini, a bearded American smokes a joint on a guesthouse terrace, or a group of Koreans tumbles drunkenly out of a restaurant, it saps a little more of the essence of a town like Vang Vieng." [18].
See also
References
- ^ "Vang Vieng". VangVieng.org. 2011.
- ^ "Vang Vieng Travel Guide". Lao Travel Guide. 2008.
- ^ "Vang Vieng tubing". goseasia. 2011.
- ^ "Vang Vieng". VangVieng.org. 2011.
- ^ "Vang Vieng Travel Guide". Lao Travel Guide. 2008.
- ^ "Vang Vieng ... as it used to be". Lao.co.uk. 2007.
- ^ "Vang Vieng tubing". goseasia. 2011.
- ^ "Volunteer Laos - Vang Vieng". Travel to Teach. 2008.
- ^ "Vang Vieng's little big man". Green Traveller Guide. 5 January 2009.
- ^ "Paradise Lost". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 August 2009.
- ^ "Where to get your travel card". The Age. 21 October 2009.
- ^ "A tragedy waiting to happen". New Zealand Herald. 22 September 2009.
- ^ "A tragedy waiting to happen". New Zealand Hearald. 22 September 2009.
- ^ "A plan to keep Vangvieng tourism alive". Vientiane Times. 16 June 2009.
- ^ "Laos threatened by sex and drugs". The Daily Telegraph. 17 March 2010.
- ^ "The decline and fall of Vang Vieng". Chiang Mai Mail. 2 March 2009.
- ^ "Vang Vieng, It's More Than Back to Back Friends Episodes!". Travel Footprints. 2010.
- ^ "Laos threatened by sex and drugs". The Daily Telegraph. 17 March 2010.
External links
