The Best Backpacker Hostels to Book in Vang Vieng, Laos

Just metres away from popular restaurants and bars, this three-storey hostel is at the north end of town, right on the busy main street. The comfort of its guests is paramount at this crimson-walled, stylish place: there are personal reading lights and power sockets, plus a women-only dorm and a 24-hour desk ready to book your next outdoor adventure. The guest lounge with pool table and table football adds to the sociable vibe without it being a crush-a-beer-can-against-your-forehead party hostel.

Despite the name, the atmosphere at this abode is anything but regimental – see the mural-bedecked common areas, where guests gather to strum guitars, hold impromptu singalongs or trade travel tips. Bicycles dangle from the ceiling in the breezy restaurant area, where guests queue up for the complimentary buffet breakfast. Here, the former-restaurateur-turned-hostel-owner dishes up an Italian-Vietnamese melange during the day and free vodka shakes come happy hour. Private rooms vary. Some are windowless, while those looking out over green spaces get snapped up very quickly; book ahead.

This chilled-out, family-run hostel is in the heart of Vang Vieng, yet removed from street noise due to its position on a side street. Simple furnishings belie the care and attention of staff, who go out of their way to be helpful, from keeping luggage secure after checkout to providing excellent recommendations for outdoor-adventure outfitters. The street-facing pool is a boon, as is the free breakfast and inexpensive restaurant, serving a mix of Western dishes to the homesick and local specialities to the more adventurous.

Its name notwithstanding, this four-storey hotel at the north end of town is less than 10 minutes’ walk from the main shopping street and bars and restaurants in the centre, and it’s particularly convenient for Vang Vieng bus station. The monochrome rooms, arranged around a large outdoor pool with whirlpool tub, range from doubles to more spacious affairs aimed at families of four. A multi-bed dorm (with lockers and privacy curtains) accommodates backpackers, who get access to all hotel facilities.

A block from the river, this wallet-friendly Art-Deco hotel comprises a selection of voguish, spacious rooms, largely shielded from street noise in spite of its location on the bustling main street. Appealing touches include Lao textiles on beds, walk-in rain showers, parquet floors and a large outdoor pool. The staff are welcoming and very responsive, and proximity to a clutch of restaurants is a bonus. Top tip: ask about the rooms with mountain views from their balconies; they are well worth the extra splurge.

If the motorcycle fumes of central Vang Vieng and the late-night karaoke serenades in the bars do not appeal, this boutique hotel overlooking a citrus-green pool is an excellent alternative. Run by siblings, it exudes a minimalist aesthetic: tiled rooms look out either over the countryside or the inner courtyard. The placement of the property, across the river from town, means a few minutes’ extra walk when you’re in search of somewhere for dinner, but the tranquil setting makes it worthwhile, and there’s an excellent restaurant on site.

This serene hotel stands amidst lush tropical gardens of orchids and bougainvillea on the town side of the river. Its fan-cooled pink adobe bungalows all look good, with dark-wood floors and furnishings, snug interiors and mosquito nets. The al fresco restaurant serves a fine mix of French and Lao dishes with a side order of river views, while the terrace is a favourite for sundowners as well as people-watching, as frequent boat tours depart from in front of the hotel.

Walk through the manicured grounds of this elegant French colonial property at twilight in order to properly appreciate the misty karst views from the pool sundeck. Tranquillity reigns in the high-ceilinged lodgings, each room tastefully decorated with hand-embroidered textiles and artefacts from Laos’ ethnic groups; the suites do the trick with wrap-around balconies and river views. Traditional Lao dishes and local coffee are stars at the on-site restaurant, and you can soak away the day’s adventures at the traditional herbal spa.