A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Koh Chang vs. Vang Vieng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Koh Chang or Vang Vieng, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Where Should I go: Koh Chang or Vang Vieng?

Koh Chang

Most people pick Thailand for their destination because they're anxious to collapse on a breathtaking beach. If that is you, Ko Chang does not disappoint. As one the country's most beautiful islands, Ko Chang is full of white beaches and incredible wildlife. Beware, though, you're not the only one with Ko Chang in mind. During the high season, the island can become quite crowded with tourists.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Thailand, The Best Eco Tours in Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Koh Chang and Vang Vieng, we can see that Koh Chang is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Koh Chang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Chang than you might in Vang Vieng.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Koh Chang Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Koh Chang and Vang Vieng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Chang year-round. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Koh Chang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Koh Chang usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 440 mm (17.3 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Koh Chang usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng during summer. Koh Chang gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Koh Chang is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 28°C (82°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Should I visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Koh Chang as well as Vang Vieng. Koh Chang attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.

Also, November to February in Koh Chang is the dry season. June to October in Koh Chang is the rainy season. Koh Chang receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Koh Chang usually gets more rain in October than Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. In the autumn, Koh Chang often gets less sunshine than Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 193 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun.

Koh Chang is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the autumn. The daily temperature in Koh Chang averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Should I visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng in the Winter?

Both Vang Vieng and Koh Chang are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Chang throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Koh Chang is November to February. In January, Koh Chang usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Chang. Koh Chang usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during winter. Koh Chang gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Koh Chang is around the same temperature as Vang Vieng. Typically, the winter temperatures in Koh Chang in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Koh Chang or Vang Vieng in the Spring?

Both Vang Vieng and Koh Chang during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Chang because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.

June to October is the rainy season in Koh Chang. Vang Vieng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Chang. Koh Chang usually gets less rain in April than Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Koh Chang. In the spring, Koh Chang often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng. Koh Chang gets 247 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun.

In April, Koh Chang is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Koh Chang average around 29°C (84°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Koh Chang