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If you’re traveling to Vang Vieng in Laos then you can’t miss out on visiting one of the many caves in the area. The most important cave, which is very dear to the locals, is Tham Chang cave. With its easy accessibility, only one and a half kilometers from the center of Vang Vieng, it makes for a great half day trip.
Stairs to Tham Chang Cave
Tham Chang cave, also locally referred to as “Tham Jang” is a cave in Vang Vieng in Laos. It is of historic importance to the locals as it provided shelter from the Chinese invaders in the 19th century.
The cave is located in a rocky outcrop only accessible by a 200-step staircase. From the top, you have a magnificent view of Van Vieng town and the surrounding mountains.
While the cave offers some nice chambers with beautiful viewpoints, lovely stalactites and stalagmites and a small buddha shrine, the area around the cave is maybe even more fun to explore.
Next to the cave, you can find another small secret cave with a large Buddha statue, a spring with a small blue lagoon, and grassy meadows with bamboo shelters perfect for a picnic by the Nam Song river.
→ Also read: An Easy Guide to Vang Vieng’s Kaeng Nyui Waterfall
Vang Vieng, Laos
Tham Chang cave is located in Vang Vieng in Laos. Vang Vieng was long considered a party town with a lot of drugs, heavy drinking, and tubing. This resulted in a lot of deaths of young backpackers and was shut down by the government in 2012.
Today, you can still find a “party strip” in the center of Vang Vieng with a few bars selling things like shots and “happy cupcakes” but in general, it was quite peaceful, especially if you pick accommodation outside of the center.
The karst cliff mountains, Kaeng Nyui waterfall, caves, and lagoons are definitely worth a stop for a few days on the road from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.
→ Also read: 15 Best Things to Do in Nong Khiaw, Laos (2023)
You can easily walk from the center of Vang Vieng to Tham Chang cave. Depending on where you’re staying it should not be more than a two-kilometer walk. The location is clearly indicated on Google Maps and Maps.me.
Entrance to the bridge to Tham Chang Cave
As you walk towards Tham Chang cave, you will see an orange gate just before you reach a bridge to cross the Nam Song river. You will be charged 5000 LAK/per person here to go through the gate.
Apparently, this is the entrance of a resort called “Vang Vieng resort” but to be honest, it didn’t feel like a resort to us. It was rather a deserted parking space with a few cars and motorbikes.
The bridge to Tham Chang Cave
As you walk toward the water, you will see a wooden bridge. I was a bit surprised, as all the other articles online stated there should be a photogenic orange bridge here, but it wasn’t there.
After inquiring, it became clear that due to the flooding of the river a few months ago, the bridge collapsed. After walking the wooden bridge over the water, you can still see the remains lying around next to the mountains.
If you look well, you can see that the locals tried to paint the new wooden bridge orange but it has already faded. It was a popular photo spot among Instagrammers but alas, the bridge is not here anymore!
→ Also read: Muang Ngoi Neua, Laos: A Complete Travel Guide
The grassy area around the river with picpic platforms and the small lagoon and cave with the buddha statue can be visited free of charge.
Stairs to the cave
To enter the stairs to access the Tham Chang cave you will be charged 15 000 LAK. The opening times are from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M.
Tham Chang Cave
Inside the Tham Chang cave are a few chambers on different levels with some lovely stalactites and stalagmites. Walking the pathways you will pass by a small Buddha shrine and some nice viewpoints to soak in the surrounding countryside.
Tham Chang Cave
At the top of the 200-step stairs there are some benches offering a lovely view over Vang Vieng. The cave is well-lit and most of the lamps are in a soft white color. There are however a few colored lamps inside the cave which kind of nullifies the serene experience making a bit carnivalesque.
View from Tham Chang Cave
After walking down the 200-steps stairs, look for the orange walkways on your right hand to the smaller buddha cave and the secret blue pool!
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.
Secret pool at Tham Chang Cave
The secret blue pool next to the Tham Chang cave is a cute hidden gem. Upon our arrival, a bunch of young monks was playing in the water, so it was hard to miss it.
Turquoise water of the secret pool
We didn’t want to be disrespectful so refrained from getting undressed for a while but we actually don’t think they would’ve minded. Watching them play around, we discovered that there’s a stream inside the cave that you can swim through, which eventually ends at the blue swimming hole.
Clothing of the monks at Tham Chang secret pool
It can be accessed through the rocks from the table next to the pool. There is a soft current on the water which will make you float through the cave in a pleasant way, ending at the swimming pool.
Small free cave next to Tham Chang cave
Next to the swimming pool, you will see an orange stairway leading to a small cave. Inside, there’s a large lovely Buddha statue.
→ Also read: 3 Stunning Waterfalls in Luang Prabang
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. 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.
I wanted to avoid the party crowds, so 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!
For the best vegan and vegetarian fare in town, head to the following restaurants!
→ Also read: Vegan in Laos: Everything You Need to Know!
There you go! I hope you enjoyed this Tham Chang cave travel guide. If you have any questions please drop them in a comment below or leave a message through my contact page!
ENJOY!
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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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