Vang Vieng

Sa bai dee!
I have just ended a week stint in Vang Vieng, a small town of about 25,000 people about 7 hours (in a local bus) south of Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng is an interesting place, what the guide book likes to call a "traveller's haven" and a "backpacker's destination." I would have to agree with this. Vang Vieng, while beautiful, is mostly made up of foreign backpackers who come looking for a good time.
Example 1) A large proportion of the restaurants in Vang Vieng have what is called a "Happy" or "Special Menu." No, this does not mean you get more cheese on your pizza, or more banana in your shake, it means you get a nice helping of marijuana or magic mushrooms in your food (if you order from this menu.)
Example 2) A large proportion of the people walking around on the streets are not locals but foreigners under the age of 30 with extremely long dreadlocks, no shoes, and holes in the butts of their pants. And a large proportion of these people have just had a Happy Shake.
Example 3) Intertubing. Intertubing is one of the main attractions of Vang Vieng. I went intertubing 2 times which was quite fun, but was not a Laos cultural experience in any way. You rent an intertube in the morning and jump in the back of a pick up truck with all your friends and are dropped off at a set in point. Everyone then jumps in their intertubs and floats down the Nam Sang river. Yes the sights are beautiful: huge jutting mountains all around, gentle waters, wildlife, etc... But the main lure of the tubing are the bars that dot the banks of the river. People stop off at bars on their way down the river and drink copious amounts of Beerlao (the #1 beer in Laos.)
Example 4) Friends bars. Not a place that you go with your friends (although feel free too), it is a bar/restaurant complete with many pillows and beds, where you can go can watch episode after episode of the TV sitcom Friends. Seems silly, but people actually do go. I tested out a couple Friends Bars, and they really suck you in. Very un-Laos.
Anyway, Vang Vieng was alot of fun, but to be honest I am glad to be gone. It is a fun experience, but doesn't enrich your knowledge about the Lao culture of people in any sort of way. Good new years fun though.
I recommend it to travellers looking for a fun time, but if you don't like bars and meeting other young backpackers, probably not the place for you.