Looking back, we learned there are plenty of hikes around Vang Vieng. You just need to know where to look. So we did our research and found a nearby viewpoint that didn’t seem too difficult. We set off on our bike early in the morning so we could climb this small mountain.
After our last attempt to find a peak ended in a risky proposition, we were glad to find a hike that was actually open to the public. At the base of the mountain there is a small booth where you have to pay to get onto the trail. This was a good sign – we knew now that it would be safe to hike here.
The hike up to the viewpoint is short, but very steep, full of large rocks you need to clamber over to continue your ascent. It’s not quite a scramble, but it comes close. We spotted some wildlife on our way up to the viewpoint. A common mime butterfly mimicking the form of a crow butterfly. We also saw another long-tailed sun skink, an animal we hadn’t seen since Koh Phangan. While we rested half way up to the peak, a grasshopper joined us, basking in the sun as we rehydrated ourselves.
The second leg of the hike was exciting. Walking along small cliff paths and across rickety bridges. It didn’t feel safe, but we knew this route was well-travelled so didn’t turn back. The final path up to the viewpoint got very steep, almost enough to make us give up. But I convinced us to push through, as I knew after ten more minutes of pain we would be rewarded.
And rewarded we were. We could see for miles, all the way to the mountain ranges that surrounded Vang Vieng. With the Laos flag fluttering above, we could see all the way back to Vang Vieng. I could even pick out our hotel. There was a small area with a shop, but no one was home this day. Likely because we were in low season – further evidenced by the fact we only saw two other hikers during the whole day.
On one side of the viewpoint we could see the infamous buggy that had been left up here. This isn’t an accident, it had been placed, and many a tourist would risk climbing down in order to get a quick picture.
We took in the view for a while when we started to feel the humidity in the air. Grey clouds were approaching. It was likely going to rain soon. We decided to make our way back down before things got too wet, back across the bridges, along the cliffs, and over the rocks.
At the bottom we took one last look at the small mountain we had just climbed. There were bigger mountains, of course, but we were satisfied with our small climb. We got back on our bike and returned to find some food.
