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Visiting Vang Vieng in the near future? Aside from the many blue lagoons, caves, and viewpoints in town, don’t forget to also pay a visit to the Kaeng Nyui waterfall. While this site is called the Kaeng Nyui waterfall, it actually consists of three waterfalls with swimming holes for you to discover!
The Kaeng Nyui waterfall is a 34-meter-high waterfall that you can find in the middle of gorgeous lush jungle terrain. It actually consists of three waterfalls, The Kaeng Nyui waterfall, a small nameless waterfall that has a small pool, and the beautiful Kenlon falls which has a wonderful aquamarine-colored swimming pool.
Kaeng Nyui waterfall Vang Vieng
The waterfalls are very powerful and at their best in the rainy season and are said to dry out completely in the dry season when most travelers visit Laos.
I have to argue that this is not completely true. Upon the time of our visit, which was in the middle of January, the water still trickled down from the Kaeng Nyui waterfall and Kenlon falls still provided us with a very decent swimming hole with enough water.
→ Also read: 3 Stunning Waterfalls in Luang Prabang
Kenlon Falls
The only downside about visiting Kaeng Nyui waterfall is that there is a lot of construction going on just before entering the path to the waterfall as well as on the road from Vang Vieng to the nearby town of Ban Na Duang.
Up until recently, the falls and the surrounding area were managed by the villagers of Ban Na Duang. It looks that this will change in the future as the construction that is going on seems to indicate that a resort-like building will be planted in front of the path to the waterfall.
Kaeng Nyui Vang Vieng waterfall
From the signs next to the construction site, it seems that this resort will be privately owned. As a conscious traveler, I hope it will benefit the local villagers in a certain way, instead of taking away the benefit of the income they make from the entrance fee to the falls which is only LAK 15.000 per person.
At the time of our visit, there was no one around in the entrance booth to ask for the entrance fee so we went in for free.
→ Also read: Kuang Si Waterfalls: Heaven on Earth in Laos
Vang Vieng, Laos
The Kaeng Nyui waterfall is located near the town of Ban Na Duang in Laos. The best place to base yourself to visit this waterfall is Vang Vieng, which is seven and a half kilometers away.
Vang Vieng used to have a reputation for being a hedonistic party town but this has changed in recent years. Only a few party bars in town still remain and at present, it is possible to enjoy all the natural attractions in and around Vang Vieng without the nuisance of drunk and wasted backpackers.
→ Also read: Tham Chang Cave: Everything You Need to Know
Road to Kaeng Nyui waterfall
Getting to Kaeng Nyui waterfall is relatively easy, whether you are visiting by car, motorbike, bicycle, or on a hike. Do note that there is a lot of construction going on on this route. A new road from Vang Vieng all the way to Kaeng Nyui is in the making.
Entrance to Kaeng Nyui waterfall
The best GPS app to use to get to Kaeng Nyui is Maps.me. The correct travel route all the way to the waterfall is in there. Don’t bother to use Google Maps, since it is outdated.
In Google Maps, it is not indicated that the road splits in two just before you get to the waterfall. Since the waterfall is located on the right side of the road, it seems logical to take it right here.
You need to keep left at this point
This is however not correct. This road will take you across a stream to dirt roads that lead to a few rice paddies. We made this mistake, together with a few other travelers also going in the direction of the waterfall.
You have to take a left where the road splits and after a few hundred meters you will arrive at the construction site of the new resort. Just follow Maps.me and you will get there.
There’s construction of a resort at the entrance to the waterfall
When you arrive at the construction site, just walk past it and you will see trees that are marked with orange cloth (it looks like the same fabric as a monk’s robe). Here, a beautiful pathway starts to the waterfalls.
At the pathway, it is possible that you will bump into friendly workers that are constructing new bridges and paved pathways. They will let you pass by without any problem. After a few minutes walk, you will reach the waterfalls.
Here are the websites I personally use whenever I travel to Laos:
Booking.com: For the best cheap guesthouses, homestays or small hotels
Hostelworld: To find the best hostels located in the cities
Homestay: For a unique immersive homestay experience in Luang Prabang
12GO and Bookaway: The best transport websites for long-distance buses and train travel in Laos
Loca: Uber and Grab don’t operate in Laos but Vientiane has its own ride-hailing app called Loca!
Skyscanner: For affordable flights to Vientiane or Luang Prabang
Viator and Get Your Guide: book all kinds of activities from a Kuang Si waterfall cruise to a private cave and jungle trekking in Vang Vieng!
Get your Visa for Laos online through the Evisa website. Do note that you cannot enter just any border with the Evisa. You can fly with an Evisa into Vientiane, Luang Prabang, and Pakse and cross three borders with Thailand. They don’t accept the Evisa when you want to cross a land border coming from Vietnam, Cambodia, or China. It’s best to contact the Laotian embassies in these countries to obtain a visa.
If you’re looking for travel insurance, the one with the best benefits online is without a doubt Heymondo! It’s very easy to ask for a quote on the website and if you book with this link you’ll get 5% off!
Get access to mobile data straight away when entering the country with a Laos E-sim or an Asialink E-sim when traveling through multiple countries.
As said before, the best time to visit Kaeng Nyui waterfall is just after the rainy season when the water of the falls will be wild and abundant. Do note that, due to the intensity of the falls this might not be a perfect time to swim in the pools.
Nature at its best: Kaeng Nyui waterfall & Kenlon falls
The dry season is still a pleasant time to visit the falls. The water won’t be gushing down as in the rainy season but you will be rewarded with a nice swimming hole at Kelon falls and the surrounding lush jungle is stunningly beautiful.
If you plan to visit Vang Vieng, it’s important to know what your goal is for coming to this location. If you fancy a party, you are better off staying in the upper part of the town near the few party bars that are still left.
However, if you’re here to enjoy the natural beauty of Vang Vieng and prefer to stay in a quiet location then you better stay in the Southern part of Vang Vieng. Here are some suggestions in the southern part of town and some alternatives further away along the Nam Song River.
→ PRO TIP: Read my complete packing list for Laos for conscious travelers!
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this guide about the Kaeng Nyui and Kenlon falls. While they are not as impressive as for instance the Kuang si falls near Luang Prabang or Tad Fane near Pakse they are however well worth the visit!
Drop a comment below if you have any questions or contact me through my contact page!
ENJOY!
Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate links. If you click on them, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi! I am Annelies and this is Travelers & Dreamers, a blog about conscious travel which means traveling in a more mindful way, with a positive impact on the world and yourself!
On this website, I cover different topics like slow travel, plant-based food guides, responsible travel, sustainable packing, eco-travel, and more!
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