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Where to Eat in Vang Vieng

In the past, many tourists have complained that the food options in Vang Vieng are somewhat lacking. Many restaurants used the same menu as their neighbours and competitors, and the quality wasn’t always great. When you think of Souteast Asia culinary destinations, Vang Vieng might not come to mind at first.

However, things have changed in VV. There are options for Thai, Lao, French, Western, Italian, vegan, Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and Indian. And even an international fast food chain. While restaurants come and go, the information here is accurate at the time of writing to help you discover vang vieng and its food.

Indian Food in Vang Vieng

Indian food

Vang Vieng has struggled to maintain a good Indian restaurant, and the pandemic saw the closing of Dhaka.

But, A Taste of India has sprung up next to Gary’s Irish Bar and provides very tasty Indian food with vegetarian and meat options.

Italian and Pizza in Vang Vieng

There are two very good pizza places in Vang Vieng, and depending on where you are staying, one or the other may suit you best. Over the old toll bridge near Kiwi Kitchen is Pizza Luka. Set in a lovely garden, fresh wood-fired pizzas and salads are served from Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm onwards.

At the other end of town opposite Full Moon Bar is Il Tavolo. Pasta, salads, and pizza are on the menu. Like Pizza Luka, Il Tavolo has a wood fired oven to deliver those beautifully blistered pizzas hot and ready to be devoured.

Western Food in Vang Vieng

Gary’s Irish Bar has already been covered in this blog article here, as has Kiwi Kitchen, so we’ll move on to a few other options. Not far from Kiwi Kitchen is Hom Coffee, which as the name suggests serves hot and iced java to those needing a caffeine kick. They also have fresh home-made vegetarian food options along with a full English breakfast complete with imported sausages, back bacon, and even black pudding.

Lime Lounge is an option for the evenings for those looking for good food and a chilled vibe. More about Lime Lounge can be found in our Where to Drink in Vang Vieng article.

Other options for western food include Faraway Suites, Kop Chai Deu at Inthira, and fine dining at Restaurant du Crabe d'Or.

French Food in Vang Vieng

Both La Cigale and Bon Appetit offer French food along with some other western options. Bon Appetit is a small, cosy and friendly bar with a dartboard plus tables outside, while La Cigale is bigger and has a free pool table and dartboard in the back room. Both serve good food and cold drinks. If you are looking for cold cuts, pate, and moule frites then have a look at these two spots.

Vietnamese Food in Vang Vieng

The Goat has a range of pho and banh mi options suitable for meat eaters and vegetarians. Although the pho is more expensive than the typical noodle soup shop, people keep returning so they are doing something right. You can find The Goat on the same street as Sakura and Gary’s Irish Bar.

The bread is made on site and the banh mi is the best in town with taditional and non-traditional fillings. Recommended.

Lao Food in Vang Vieng

As you would expect, it isn’t difficult to find Lao food. And the options are huge. Therefore, we are limiting this list to those that attract Lao people rather than more touristy spots that offer mixed menus including some Lao dishes alongside burgers and pizza.

One exception is Kiwi Kitchen which has some very good Asian dishes including Laap and an excellent curry.

On the same street as Gary’s Irish Bar toward Amari is a favourite noodle soup shop. While some lucky tourists find themselves in Green Gudo, the restaurant is generally full of locals and visiting Lao customers. Indeed, to find authentic Lao cuisine in Vang Vieng usually means following the locals. Across the old airstrip on Route 13 there are a couple of grill stands on one side, and restaurants on the other. Here you can get som pak, papaya salad, grilled fish and meat, and duck noodle soup (next to the Mini Big C).

Another excellent noodle soup shop is across the street from Central Backpackers. This is a great spot if you find yourself hungry at midnight after drinking in Sakura or Gary’s Irish Bar.

If you visit the morning market, or are just strolling through town at the start of the day you will find places selling rice soup and flat noodle soup. These dishes are generally a cheap and filling way to start the day, and are very popular with local people.

Other options include the main market where there are a few spots inside the market itself and on the streets close by. For those wanting to try some different dishes and not break the budget, go to the food stands opposite Rock Backpacker Hostel around 5pm to 6.30pm.

Here, a number of tables will be set up daily with trays of fish, meat, rice, and vegetable dishes to choose from. Just point and say how much you want. Price is dependent on how big a portion you want, so you can get a few different things for takeaway without breaking your budget. Don’t forget to ask for sticky rice (khao neow).

Thai Food in Vang Vieng

Happy Mango's food

At the northern end of the main town close to Mad Monkey is the Golden Bamboo Thai restaurant. A small and pretty restaurant serving all you would expect from a Thai Restaurant. Beware, the prices may be higher than you'd expect for some dishes.

For those staying closer to the centre is Cook Savang which is located on the same street as BCEL bank. Or try Happy Mango which is popular and well regarded. Happy Mango is opposite Gary’s Irish Bar here.

Vegan Food in Vang Vieng

More vegetarian and vegan options are popping up in Vang Vieng. One that has been recommended by repeat customers is Diamond restaurant which is a couple of doors up from La Cigale and almost opposite Full Moon Bar.

Japanese Food in Vang Vieng

If katsu curry and sushi are your thing, then head to Yama Japanese Restaurant (Naoki to Go was previously on this site). This Japanese restaurant is open daily from 10am and its menu features tonkatsu, sushi, sashimi, steaks, and plenty more in a clean and air conditioned restaurant. The restaurant is on the main street across the road and slightly south of Nana Backpackers.

Fast Food in Vang Vieng

The Korean burger chain, Lotteria, has one branch in Vang Vieng. They serve beef burgers, shrimp burgers, fried chicken, french fries and a few desserts and soft drinks. It’s not the cheapest place compared to some other restaurants and bars that sell burgers and fries. But, if you feel you need a McDonald’s or KFC type fix, this is the nearest you’ll get.

There are now also a plethora of fried chicken restaurants in Vang Vieng. These include the recently opened, Nice, Jazz, and Five Star. Don't expect gourmet offerings, but fried chicken and french fries might fit the bill at closing time for many tipsy carnivores.

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