Tubing In Vang Vieng, Laos: ULTIMATE GUIDE 2025

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Is It Still Worth Going Tubing When In Vang Vieng?

If you want to go tubing to get drunk and forget the world, then maybe go with a group from your hostel in Vang Vieng. Though the majority of the time tubing is certainly no longer like this.

Sure, there are still a couple of bars set up. But for the most part, it is simply the best way to enjoy the countryside’s natural beauty.

Seriously, there is nothing more relaxing than lying back in your tube, listening to the birds chirp, feeling the sun warm your skin, and listening to the gentle sway of the Nam Song River.

Enjoy the excellent scenery as you pass the countryside, riverside jungles, and incredible limestone karst mountains.

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The History Of Tubing & Deaths In Laos

Back in the day, tubing brought a constant stream of visitors to Laos, each one looking for a party on the river.

At the peak of the infamous tubing shenanigans, over four hundred people would visit each day, providing the town with a constant stream of tourists.

Ultimately put them on the map as a must-visit destination for any backpacker in Southeast Asia.

Makeshift swings from ridiculous heights lined the riversides. Bars enticed party-goers with games, cheap alcohol, and drugs. The infamous ‘death slide’ flung people into the river.

Everyone made their way through the river bars, drank themselves silly, and somehow managed to float downriver. This tubing dream, which resulted in many people traveling to Vang Vieng, didn’t always end in a happy story.

Throughout the years, many people have been injured, and it’s easy to see how. With intense rapids and rocky shallows mixed with drug and alcohol-pumped backpackers. With all these young, drunk, and drugged people, this was never going to be a good combination.

The tipping point, though, was the number of preventable deaths that occurred. Due to the lax laws in Laos, there is no definite number. However, it was reported that at least twenty people died each year.

In 2012, The Laos government was pressured by foreign ambassadors to do something about the crazy tubing in Vang Vieng. The number of people dying was unacceptable especially when it was a result of negligent behavior, dodgy activities, and drug and alcohol-fueled river parties.

The Laotian Government banned tubing while it was given a safety transformation, ensuring the lives of future backpackers.

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What’s It Like Tubing In Vang Vieng Now?

These days, the Nam Song River is no longer a hot spot for drunken debauchery. The crazy swings that lined the river have been dismantled.

The ‘death slide’ has been laid to rest, and to use the zip lines along the river, you need to book with an authorized tour company.

There are still bars, though only a few are allowed to be opened simultaneously. They are ultimately preventing people from bar hopping all day and getting obliterated.

Tubing may have put Vang Vieng on the Southeast Asian tourist trail, but it is no longer the reason it remains there. The government’s rebranding has resulted in it becoming an adventure traveler’s paradise.

With numerous hikes to amazing lookouts, impressive caves, and the beautiful lagoons that dot the area, it’s no wonder why.

Nonetheless, Vang Vieng is still a backpacker’s town, but this is slowly changing. You will find at least one party going on every night. However, it has moved from the river to the numerous bars in town.

Even the once heavy drug scene, thanks to restaurants and bars openly selling ‘magic’ foods and drinks, is slowly coming to an end.

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Where To Hire River Tubes When Visiting Vang Vieng

Now, the tubing office here isn’t in the most obvious location. All the guides seem to say you can’t miss it, but when you are in a brand-new place and everything looks the same, it can be kind of confusing.

Honestly, the shop is barely marked, and with all the sun-bleached signage around the town, it all merges into one!

Unfortunately, it isn’t listed on Google Maps either. To get there, you will need to go down Kangmuong Street. Don’t take the first right, instead, continue until the road forks into two.

When you see this, stick to the right-hand side. Just after this fork, you will find the tubing company on the right. You should see a literal garage with a tuk-tuk out front and hundreds of tubes stacked up. It is near Paradise Vang Vieng Hotel.

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How Much Does It Cost To Go Tubing?

The price for the tube is 80,000 LAK / $3.90. You will also need to pay a 60,000 LAK / $2.90 bond.

However, it is refundable if you return the tube before 8 p.m. This price also includes your tuk-tuk ride to the beginning of the river.

Be aware if you want it to leave before the tuk-tuk is full, you will need to pay an extra fee depending on the amount of people:

1 person: 40,000 LAK / $2.00 per person

2 people: 20,000 LAK / $1.00 per person

3 people: 15,000 LAK / $0.75 per person

4 people: 10,000 LAK / $0.50 per person

There is no charge for 5 or more people.

There is also a spot at the tubing center to leave your shoes. You will just need to hope nobody steals them.

🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Top Tips For Your Tubing Adventure

Essentially, this is just a round-up of my most important tips so you can have the best time:

Less Bars: There are a lot fewer bars these days than are mentioned online. Currently, there are only really a few set up right at the start, then a couple of restaurants when you reach the bamboo bridge about halfway along.

Check Your Tube: Make sure to check the tubes in the tuk-tuk. Don’t be like me and take one with a hole in it. Put some pressure on them to make sure they don’t deflate.

Cash: You will need some cash for your journey. This is mainly for the tube hire, beers, and a little extra in case of emergencies.

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Best Time Of Year To Go River Tubing

Your experience will vary greatly depending on what time of year and what time of day you visit.

The following choices will determine whether you want an exhilarating journey, a drunken time, or just a peaceful ride.

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Seasons

The season will affect your tubing experience because the water levels will vary. Also, if it is too rainy, you may find it actually becomes quite dangerous, as the river currents are too strong.

December to May: December through May is the dry season. During this period, water levels are lower. However, this is when the majority of travelers visit, so you will find plenty of other people to make friends with.

You won’t be able to touch the bottom of the riverbed in some parts, though in some, you may find yourself having to walk over a rocky bed to deeper water on the other side.

June to October: This is the monsoon season in Laos and Southeast Asia. Heavy rains cause havoc throughout the region during this time of year, making it unsafe during storms.

Though on either side can actually be a pretty good option. During this time, water levels are higher, and currents are stronger, but sometimes can still be safe. This leads to a much more exhilarating experience as you are flung down the river.

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Time Of Day

If you want to head to the bars for a few drinks, you should start tubing after 12 p.m. This is when the parties start, and things actually begin to get lively.

Unfortunately, I am not that way inclined, so I usually start at around 10 a.m. or 11 a.m. after a good breakfast. During this hour, there will be a few different groups along the river, as well as some kayaking tours.

It is a lot more chilled out and relaxing to do it in the morning rather than in the afternoon, when the bars have their music blasting.

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My Experience Tubing

My partner and I decided to begin our tubing at 10 a.m. It was probably too early, as the town was dead, and the rest of the backpacker crowds were still sleeping off their hangovers.

We paid our fees and bond, received the tubes, and got the numbers one and two written on our hands.

Jumping in the tuk-tuk, we decided to pay the $1.20 each extra for it to leave early. We knew nobody else would be joining anytime soon. Driving down the road, we head further out to the countryside, leaving the awakening town behind us.

After arriving, we make our way down across the riverside, trying to stay balanced on the rocks that line the shores. The water is shallow since it’s the dry season, though the current is still strong.

After placing my tube in the water, I awkwardly jumped on, with my feet out front and bum dragging on the rocky riverbed.

Heading out into deeper waters, we both enjoy the peacefulness and serenity of floating down the Nam Song River. Soon enough, I realize my tube is feeling as soft as a pillow, it’s deflating. Luckily, we are only about 100 meters from where we were dropped off.

We decided to head back and wait for the next tuk-tuk, as they carry extra tubes. Luckily, we only needed to wait 20 minutes, and our Stray Asia mates just happened to be onboard.

Ready for round 2, the murky water below hides its depth. Locals are burning rubbish from their houses by the river, which sends a shower of ashes down on us.

A group of Asian kayakers paddle past us and are amused by the tubes. Surprisingly people are working at the bars along the riverside.

They try to entice us in with free shots and by throwing a rope out. It’s still morning, and we certainly are not keen, so we just float on by. I am not going to lie, the bars actually look pretty cool, and there are some awesome restaurants set up on the riverside as well.

We float underneath bamboo bridges as motorcycles drive on top. We occasionally jump out for a swim. A group of zip liners flies above us. Life along the riverside certainly is busy.

Remember how I said this was during the dry season, so the water was low. Well, it was so low, and the current was so weak it took us five freakin hours. FIVE HOURS! Everywhere online said in the dry season, expect three hours, not including stops.

Well, it took five hours from start to finish without getting out at any of the bars, just peacefully floating. Though, in the end, we did get over it and started paddling downriver.

It was obvious when we were getting into town that the finish point would be coming up soon. After reading online we reached Smile Beach Bar, the end of our journey. We got out here, and it was a short walk through town to drop off our tubes.

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What Is Tipsy Tubing In Vang Vieng?

If you are keen on a more tour-style tubing experience in Vang Vieng, check out Tipsy Tubing.

On this, you will be put with a larger group (so a great option for solo travelers), as well as a guide who will show you the best bars to visit along the riverside and be able to organize transfers.

You can book Tipsy Tubing through your accommodation or even at one of the local hostels.

I definitely see the appeal of this if you want to go tubing in a large group and fully embrace the old-school vibe of tubing where the party was truly pumping.

Tipsy Tubing lasts about 3 hours. You will tube down the river and visit multiple bars. Enjoy the pumping music and play a few drinking games with new friends.

Make sure to bring a dry bag, as you will need to bring along cash for drinks.

To find out more about the tour experience, you can check out this video:

Day 69 | Tipsy Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos

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What To Pack

There are some things it’s best to take along with you while going river tubing to make the most out of your experience:

Go Pro: If you have a Go Pro, bring it along. You won’t see much under the water, but you can get some epic shots of yourself swimming and relaxing!

Sunblock: Let’s avoid looking like a lobster and bring a reef-safe sunblock along with you!

Sunglasses: It’ll definitely be worth bringing sunglasses along with you. The sun shining off the sea can be super bright, so protect your eyes by wearing a pair of sunglasses.

Dry Bag: Plenty of places in Vang Vieng sell dry bags. Just make sure to test them in a sink before you venture out onto the river. Waterproof phone cases are also widely available, as is anything else related to the water. This is a town whose tourism was built around catering to tubing backpackers.

Cash: Bring a little extra than what you think you’ll need. You never know what could happen. Perhaps you could float on past the exit and need to take a tuk-tuk back to town.

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🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia

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Where To Stay In Vang Vieng?

While staying in Vang Vieng, we slept in a private bungalow at Pan’s Place for $7.10 per night.

The room was basic, with only two single mattresses on the floor and a fan. However, it was the first bamboo bungalow we stayed in, so we enjoyed the novelty.

Plus, it was clean, the reception was helpful, and we had no unwanted visitors throughout the night, which is always a bonus.

During my second visit to Vang Vieng, I wanted to stay somewhere slightly more comfortable, so I settled on Vang Vieng Galaxy Guesthouse.

They had recently opened, and I was amazed at how clean and modern everything was. Rooms there start at $30.00 per night.

VangVieng Backpackers Hostel A fun and social hostel in an excellent location. From $7.00 per night for a dorm. BOOK NOW	Rock Backpackers Hostel A social and party hard hostel on the main road of the town. From $4.00 per night. BOOK NOW
Vang Vieng Diamond Resort A lovely resort with a pool to relax in. Prices start from $22.00 per night. BOOK NOW	Amari Hotel A taste of luxe with amazing views. Prices start from $100.00 per night. BOOK NOW

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Other Things To Do In Vang Vieng

Apart from tubing, there are plenty of awesome things to do in Vang Vieng. If you can, I recommend hiring a bicycle or motorbike to explore the region’s beautiful landscapes.

Honestly, the best thing you can do is get out of the main town, whether hiking a viewpoint, checking out Blue Lagoon 3, or visiting Tham Chang Cave.

Overall, Vang Vieng is an awesome, chill town worth visiting.

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FAQs About Tubing In Laos

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Wrap-Up: The Ultimate Guide To River Tubing In Vang Vieng

Although tubing here in Vang Vieng may not be as crazy and adrenaline-fueled as it once was, it is still well worth visiting.

It is great to experience this town from a different perspective, floating past locals’ homes and the ever-changing riverbank with bars and restaurants.

Whether you are a backpacker looking for a budget activity, a couple wanting to relax, or even a family wanting to make memories, tubing is the perfect activity.

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on one and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and your support is much appreciated.

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Photo credit: “Trying out the giant swing” (CC BY 2.0) by ChristianHaugen . “Floating down the Nam Song” (CC BY 2.0) by ChrisFeser.

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