Sadly, in 2011, 27 tourist deaths were reported due to drowning or jumping into too-shallow water. What tubing in Vang Vieng is . There are many blog posts about this! Since then, Vang Vieng has worked hard to re-establish its reputation as being about so much more than just tubing, with adventure seekers flocking for rock climbing and yoga. Another popular cave in Vang Vieng is the Tham Phu Kham Cave. it was banned for a while due to . But in the early 2000s, the construction of hotels, bars and clubs transformed the city.It brought a mass influx of backpackers in Vang Vieng, and it started to distort the beauty of the city. You don't get the deposit back if you bring it back late at night, which you will. It provided the town of Vang Vieng with a constant stream of tourists. It is rumored that the Lao government stepped in because of all the deaths and injuries happening on the river . Vang Vieng veterans will no doubt be aware that, as high season drew to a close this year (with an alleged count of 22 deaths serving as a sobering wake-up call from all the crazy, hazy memories), the gears were suddenly shifted amidst rumours of an official Government Crackdown Contents The Bar Closings of September 2012 Tubing down the river in Vang Vieng is what the little town in Northern Laos is famous for - and not for the right reasons. Tubing is still Vang Vieng's favourite past time. I witnessed one near-death during my time in Vang Vieng. While tubing in Vang Vieng is now more strictly . While in Vang Vieng, I heard an ominous (though unconfirmed) rumor that four people had died within the past two months. The town was first put on the map thanks to this activity, which was combined with pub crawling and quirky river bars to create one of the undisputed nightlife musts of Southeast Asia. The new Vang Vieng still retains some of the old ways. There aren't any rope swings or death slides. Going nowhere fast - Tubing in Vang Veing So if you're planning to go tubing in Vang Vieng as well, here's my experience and advice of it! Today, there is more safety, fewer slides and less alcohol and the visitors can enjoy Vang Vieng tubing in a bit different light As you reach the river and cross the rickety bridge to the . Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos (in 2021 and beyond) UPDATE 2021: South East Asia has always been a backpacking hub, no doubt about it. Obviously the lack of drugs makes it safer, but also the death-trap water slides and rope swings have all disappeared. A tubing bar just outside Vang Vieng - it's not like this anymore (at least not when I went) . The three most popular causes were drowning at the river, severe injuries related to jumping into shallow water and drug/alcohol overdose. . Vang Vieng has reinvented itself from a hedonistic town, into a place where adventure sports and the countryside are once again the key attractions. . Don't go in the river after dark even with a tube. This is the activity that had made Vang Vieng into a backpacker paradise and a notorious party destination. Across Southeast Asia, backpackers had told us about the tubing in Vang Vieng. However, with many accidents and even deaths reported deaths due to backpackers being out of control, the Laotian Government clamped down and put a stop . A senior doctor at the. Last summer things got so awful in Vang Vieng following a recorded 27 tubing-related deaths in 2011 and at least seven in 2012* that the Laos government stepped in to clean up the mess. Tubing and Vang Vieng have always gone hand in hand. Vang Vieng tubing is a very popular activity in town but we did not do it. After looking into it though, I realized that these were . These days, the tubing is a lot more relaxed but still tons of fun! Vang Vieng town. In 2011, Vang Vieng's hospital recorded 27 tourist deaths. Laos'climbing death rate proves party paradise is a . When the infamous river bars were shut down in 2012, everyone thought it might be the death knell for . Tuk Tuk Up-charge: The rental price includes the tuk tuk ride to the start of the tubing point if there are . Then . Over the past years, people would get uncontrollably drunk, hop on a tube, float down the river and stop every 100 meters or so at another bar to continue. Here we will be doing the infamous river tubing in Vang Vieng, known as Laos' most dangerous attraction! The first stop on the tubing adventure is to get your inner tube! Tube Rental: 60,000 kip per person ($7.20 USD) Tube Deposit: 60,000 kip per person ($7.20 USD) which will be refunded if you return the tube by 8 PM. Tubing in Vang Vieng AND safety; I heard all kinds of stories about all the accidents/deaths that happened every year. As soon as you leave the dusty town, you begin to see the beauty that first brought Westerners to this region. . On the journey, glide over many small rapids and enjoy the scenery of the incredible mountain karts along both sides of the river. . Consequently, many bars were closed, tubing was banned, security tightened, and Vang Vieng almost disappeared from travel itineraries. I still didn't want to go partying in Vang Vieng. Once you gather a large enough group for a day of debauchery, you can negotiate with a tuk tuk driver to bring you to the first bar along the Nam Song river. This is dangerous for both scraping yourself on the rocks and getting caught up in the current and potentially drowning. Tubing Vang Vieng has been marred with scenes of drunkenness and debauchery, but now its a great way to see Laos on the the Vang Vieng backpacker scene. 3. Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos. Tubing, according to local lore, took off when Thanongsi Sorangkoun, the founder of the riverside Organic Farm Vang Vieng north of town, gave a volunteer a tube to go down the river (Mr. T., as . Though, it is refundable on the condition you return the tube before 8pm. From Luang Prabang, the 185 kilometer trip by bus or . One has a slide named the death slide and its appropriately named considered it caused its fair share of injuries. Eventually the Laos government cracked down on the chaos of Vang Vieng tubing. Vang Vieng Deaths. And i have read about the fun at vang vieng tubing along the nam song river. Make sure to land somewhere that's free of rocks. In 2012 there were 27 backpacker deaths on the Nam Song in Vang Vieng. However, crackdowns have happened ever since 2011 when 27 tourists died on the river. . Tubing and Vang Vieng have always gone hand in hand. Tubing. and Vang Vieng tubing was synonymous with getting totally fucked up and diving head first into the river from the many jumping platforms and rope swings at the bars along the banks . The cave is open daily from 8am-11am and 1pm-4pm and has a 15,000 LAK (1.50) entry fee. Anyway, this cave is very dark, so it's possible to rent a lamp for 10000 kips (one euro). Essentially you rent an inflatable, circular tube and let the current of the Nam Song River carry you along while stopping at bars along the way. (tubing, kayaking, mountain biking) and the spectacular limestone karst landscape surrounding the town. Vang Vieng, Laos has one of the most spectacular settings in South East Asia. Daniel Eimutis died while tubing in Van Vieng in 2012. Nearly 120,000 partying youths used to descend on the provincial city every year. However, things have changed since the stories of drunken tubing . One death is a tragedy, 22 is a sure sign something is very very wrong. By 2012, the accident . Perhaps in response to the 27 travelers who died in 2011 while tubing and ziplining in Vang Vieng, the Vientiane Times reported in August 2012 that at least 24 bars along the river will be shut down following a crackdown on the drug scene. In early 2012, two Australian backpackers died within a month. Nobody will be around to help you if you need it. There are plenty of places you find completely by luck and tonight was one of them. To get there you will need to cross a toll bridge 2000 LAK (0.20) per person, 3000 LAK (0.30) per motorbike or 2000 (0.20) LAK per bicycle. The Blue Lagoon in Vang Vieng is one . As a result, the Lao government shut it down. . In Vang Vieng I booked an active tour for the next day. A notable one is Than Nam, a Water Cave made up of a network of rivers running through the mountainside which, incidentally, allows you to go tubing for up to 500m into the mouth. But the tubing culture has a dark side . Drugs are still readily available around town, however, if you are like me and came for the adventures, not the 'trips' then you will spend most of your time across the river. Thanks. There is also a 60,000 LAK / $7.20 refundable bond which you will need to pay. The town was first put on the map thanks to this activity, which was combined with pub crawling and quirky river bars to create one of the undisputed nightlife musts of Southeast Asia. . Answer 1 of 18: I am planning on a trip to vientiane-vang vieng-LP next weekend. And most of Vang Vieng's bars were shut down, with only a dozen allowed to reopen on the river's edge as before. Iceland isn't the only country with a legit Blue Lagoon - Vang Vieng . For some people, it can be long and not easy. Life after death in Vang Vieng published : 12 Feb 2017 at 03:35 writer: Bob James. You drift along at a lazy pace, past lush forests, herds of cattle and young boys spearfishing near the banks. Then 26-year-old Lee Hudswell, from Sydney, was killed after jumping into the river from a tower. Bliss out in the cold turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon. Tubing in the 'good old days'. To rent the tube you need to pay around $6 with another $6 deposit. Your kayaking guide will provide you with paddling instructions before you set off downstream on Nam Song River. A new safety plan was introduced and the tubing paradise quickly re-opened. Tubing in Vang Vieng is every bit as wonderful as it sounds. Back in the late 2000's, when river tubing in Vang Vieng was at its peak of popularity, there were HUNDREDS of deaths and THOUSANDS of accidents per year in Vang Vieng thanks to river tubing. . however, i am a non-swimmer, can anyone advise if tubing is safe for non-swimmers? Tubing was first banned, then gradually reintroduced. As a result, the Lao government shut it down. New government-enforced rules have cleaned up Vang Vieng, eliminating its more obvious death traps. The concept is simple: rent a tube, catch a free . Full story: http://www.aroundthisworld.com/drunk-and-dangerous-tubing-the-vang-vieng-laos/ . Riverside bars were dismantled and tubing once again became about floating lazily down the Nam Song River, taking in incredible views of the surrounding . From Vientiane, catch a bus or minivan from Khua Din bus station near the Talat Sao market. This all stopped in 2012 after a number of accidental deaths rumour has it that more than 20 young tourists died from drownings, heart attacks and broken necks from poorly erected . Watch out for others. In 2011, there were 27 recorded tourist deaths. Picture perfect: Vang Vieng's natural beauty will continue to attract visitors, despite the death of tubing. It is nearby Paradise Vang Vieng Hotel. This went on for years, deaths and injuries unreported and a growing number of angry parents around the world. The majority of Friend s and Family Guy bars have been replaced with organic health food cafes, volunteering opportunities and countryside farm stays. I didn't know about river tubing and wasn't interested - I wanted to go to Luang Prabang, the former capital, a beautiful city set around verdant green hills and filled with monks in Fanta-orange gowns accepting . However, this infamous pastime is still alive and well, though a bit more relaxed than it used to be. Vang Vieng Tubing. Tubing Vang Vieng Price The price for the tube is 55,000 LAK / $6.60. Most of the deaths that occur in Vang Vieng were due to drugs, alcohol, a combination of . The dangers of tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos, are well-documented. Tubing is now just a slow roll down the river, a perfect way to relax and take in the view. After all those incidents, the slide of death was removed and the tubing was closed in 2012. So if you're planning to go tubing in Vang Vieng as well, here's my experience and advice of it! In 2012, Melbourne teen Daniel Eimutis died while zip-lining along the river. Posted April 9, 2012. After a number of deaths the Laotian government put in place regulations for safety measures but tubing hasn't been totally banned. But by 2011, with the accidental deaths of 27 tourists that year alone, the Laos government was forced to intervene and put the brakes on the unregulated disorder. 3. Now, let's come and experience Tubing game in Vang Vieng with our guide Vang Vieng river tubing (Vang Vieng Tubing) The fullest guide for tubing on Nam Song river in Vang Vieng, Laos below. THE DEATH SLIDE. Don't swim in the river without a tube. The Laos Government was forced to implement stricter rules to keep tourists safe.. One death is a tragedy, 22 is a sure sign something is very very wrong. But not for too long. Once, and perhaps still is, the most famous activity in Vang Vieng, with hordes of party-goers drinking their way down the river from pre-prepared drinks or riverside bars. 7; 0; The Nam Song is the lifeblood of Vang Vieng and brings new hopes for ecotourism after years of shame from . In 2012 there were 27 backpacker deaths on the Nam Song in Vang Vieng. Saturday, April 14, 2012 | click to enlarge: I was a little nervous about tubing the Nam Song River with the kids while in Vang Vieng, Laos. Once, it had a notorious reputation as a place of drunkenness, debauchery, and the alarmingly frequent accidental deaths of tourists.Young people, particularly Australians, Europeans, and North Americans, flocked there in droves for cheap drinks, the easy accessibility of illicit drugs, and a nonstop party. Vang Vieng, Laos has a bad-boy reputation as being a drug-fuelled party destination, riddled by accidental river/tubing deaths. The new Vang Vieng still retains some of the old ways. Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos with kids. 20 PEOPLE DIED IN 12 MONTHS Initially we checked into a guesthouse for a night but didn't like it at all so moved into a hostel the following day. This is a video of all the madness that happens along the river. When the infamous river bars were shut down in 2012, everyone thought it might be the death knell for . People do still go tubing, and they do still visit bars and get drunk on the river. Here's what you need to know. Authorities found drinks given to tourists were laced with opium . Vang Vieng has cleared up its act in that regard. The town of Vang Vieng is located on Route 13, about halfway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng tubing deaths once earned this small town in Laos a notorious reputation. Headed to Laos? Is tubing in Laos dangerous after all? We arrived early morning from a short four hour bus ride from Luang Prabang and had our pick of guesthouses. Accidents still happen, especially when mixed with heavy drinking and water. Buy a wet bag in advance. I'd read that there had already been a dozen people killed on the river this year, and it was only January. The bars were forced to close, the rope swings and zip lines were removed and tubing in Vang Vieng ceased. I visited at the height of the tubing parties & again a few years later. About the drugs, the drinking, the deaths how wild it was, and how Laos stopped it by closing down most of the Bars. He went underwater and never resurfaced. DPA/Manuel Mayer Vang Vieng is located in the middle of the jungle landscape of northern Laos, about 180 kilometres north of the capital Vientiane. A decade ago Vang Vieng was infamous on the backpacker circuit as the home of hedonistic and alcohol-fuelled tubing daytrips along the Nam Song (Song River). The Cost of Tubes in Vang Vieng. May. Vang Vieng is gorgeous, even without the tubing madness Tips to Survive Tubing in Laos; Don't buy a wet bag there, they cost a couple of dollars but they don't work. . The 155 kilometer trip will take about 4 hours and cost between 50,000 and 60,000 Kip per person. Note: As of 2015, the tubing and party scene in Vang Vieng is absolutely nothing like it used to be a few years ago, when there were thousands of drunk/high youngsters at the dozens of bars tubing on the river every single day. Vang Vieng's hospital recorded . Tubing Down the Nam Song River. This cave is a bit further, and this time you have to climb rocks to get there. Arrival to the backpacker haven of southeast Asia and the start of tubing in Vang Vieng Laos. Tham Phu Kham Cave. There are still incidents, although nowhere near as many as there used to be. Most fatalities occur on the same bar-heavy stretch of river that's less than 1 km long. It's one of the hottest things to do in Laos. Rent a motorbike and just explore the area. 5. Rent a motorbike and just explore the area. But it is a much more relaxed affair now. I went tubing in Vang Vieng before it was banned in 2012 and given a safety makeover by the Laos government, when it was arguably at its most dangerous. Image credit: Madeleine Deaton. . But stimulants are always hidden in the accident, and it happens very often, year after year, in 2011 there were 27 deaths. Check us out at LBWtravel.com and start planning the trip of a lifetime! In a 2012 interview with The Guardian newspaper, a senior doctor at the Vang Vieng Hospital, Dr Chit, said the overall figure is higher because "many fatalities are taken straight to Vientiane". By Rory. You've probably heard about tubing in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng Laos - Best Tubing Video Ever! Booze flows from Khao San Road to the best clubs in Bali, the best full moon parties rave and sometimes, just sometimes, you get to float down the Mekong river in an inner tube, getting pulled into wooden shacks as you go down for free shots and plenty of buckets . The bars were forced to close, the rope swings and zip lines were removed and tubing in Vang Vieng ceased. There are no 'death slides' or precarious rope swings over shallow water, and only a . There are still bars, but the . This price also includes your tuk-tuk ride to the beginning of the river. Walking from town is simple and only takes 25 minutes. This once small town exploded with tourism in the early 2000's when river tubing became its main attraction. [The link to the article was blocked due to internet censorship of this site.] Across Southeast Asia, backpackers had told us about the tubing in Vang Vieng. It's been reported that there are over 20 deaths per year, but there seemed to always be an inconsistency with the numbers and a lack of press coverage . Tubing in Vang Vieng became very famous or even infamous a few years ago because it was connected to drinking, drugs which lead to a few deaths. As you would imagine, alcohol and water isn't a good combo Sadly, in 2011, 27 tourist deaths were reported due to drowning or jumping into too-shallow water. Tubing in Vang Vieng was brilliant fun but to go to Laos just for the tubing probably isn't worth it considering the effort . While tubing in Vang Vieng used to be synonymous with lots of drinking, crazy partying, and even death, it still is a big attraction in the small riverside town. The police cleaned out the drugs scene and alcohol sales were curbed. The town hugs the banks of the Nam Song, a river which cuts through the limestone landscape to form the iconic karsts. Start your full-day adventure with pickup from your hotel in Vang Vieng and join a 6-mile ride north to Ban Vieng Samai, the kayak starting point. The bars main focus is just to outdo one another with the music, games and swings. The rental prices are very clearly marked and posted. It's the perfect place to go for adrenaline activities most famously, tubing down the river. Tubing. It was around noon and I was at Q Bar, the . . Most of them because of the abuse of alcohol and drugsalong the riverside are accomidations to get booze.. Was I being nave to think floating down a shallow river at low speed was pretty harmless. The trip was provided by Audley Travel (01993 838 000, audleytravel.com), which offers tailor-made holidays to Laos; a 16-day itinerary with time in Vang Vieng, starts from 2,980pp . . Vang Vieng is known for its karst mountain ranges, limestone cliffs, scenic paddy fields, and the blue lagoon. They don't call it the "Death Slide" for nothing! In Vang Vieng I booked an active tour for the next day. . There were almost too many to choose from as well as dozens of restaurants and bars . Tubing in Vang Vieng has been one of the must things to do in Vang Vieng. Most guidebooks say that a few people die every year. LBW Travel runs epic backpacker style group trips in the most amazing destinations on earth for 18-30 year olds. What tubing in Vang Vieng is like now 4. 13. Tubing in Vang Vieng, Laos has a very bad reputation for being unbelievably dangerous. In the tubing in Vang Vieng Laos! The death toll was getting so bad, seven bars along the popular Xong River, which flows through Vang Vieng, were shut down in 2012. Laos'climbing death rate proves party paradise is a . Each year averaged around 20 deaths until the government decided to step in . While tubing in Vang Vieng was once a crazy binge drinking fest filled with lots of alcohol, drugs, and even death, it has since calmed down after a crack down from the Laos government. Vang Vieng's tiny hospital recorded 27 tourist deaths in 2011 due to drowning or diving head first into rocks, including that of a 23-year-old Dorset man, Benjamin Light. Good times! Vang Vieng is a small town in Laos, settled on the Nam Song River, about four hours by bus north of the capital, Vientiane. Vang Vieng tubing If you are unfamiliar with tubing, it's basically sitting in a donut-shaped floating device and floats down the river.