Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng sits on the Nam Song River in central Laos, ringed by dramatic limestone karst that rises straight out of the surrounding rice paddies. Once known mainly for backpacker excess, the town has reinvented itself in recent years around its landscape: hot air balloon rides at dawn, cave systems threading through the karst, and kayaking down the river past water buffalo and fishing villages. It makes a natural stop between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, and a couple of days here is usually enough.