Post Party Vang Vieng

If you ask anyone who has backpacked around Southeast Asia they will most certainly tell you that second to full moon parties in Thailand, Vang Vieng is the party Mecca. When talked about, hazy memories of wild times are vaguely remembered with no shame. Tubing down the river was the must do event where half naked sun bathers floating from bar to bar to fill up on drug tainted drinks and where guys show off their drunken courage by jumping off of rope swings, trees and platforms along the way.

To many backpackers and more important the locals reliant on their squandering of money it came as quite a disappointment when the government came in and shut down all of the bars lining the river. As the rumors circulate the backpacker trail, it was an estimated 23 drinking related deaths that occurred on the river this year, not including 7 people who were transported to Vientiane for treatment and died there, that was the cause of the closure.

Even with the massive influx of party goers vastly reduced Vang Vieng still retains its natural beauty and endless outdoor activities that reels in many adventure seeking tourists. The small but vibrant town sits along the Nam Song River with lush karsts protruding from its banks making for an extremely scenic atmosphere. Floating down the calm dark river on tubes proved to be even better without the chaos of the bars, beats, and bodies.  With the sun shining, harmonic sound of the flowing water, towering hills, and good company it creates the perfect way to soberly unwind.

Meanwhile back in town the most peculiar thing happens all day every day. All of the bars and restaurants along the river play nonstop reruns of the sitcom Friends or Family Guy. Tourists and locals alike lie on cushions in front of large TV’s drinking the day away and watching. At first you laugh and ask why? But then after spending a day in the sun you find yourself unable to get off the cushion and sucked in as well. With a beer Lao in hand, watching the sun set over the hills and a rerun of Friends simultaneously proved to be oddly relaxing and addicting.