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

Should you visit Pai or Vang Vieng?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Pai and Vang Vieng. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Pai or Vang Vieng?

Pai

As the lush green mountains adorn the blue horizon amidst its creamy clouds, Pai, in northern Thailand, works as one of the many hubs for some of the world's most exciting cultural adventures and natural wonders. Within this small town just north of the Mae Hong Son Province, near the Myanmar border, Pai lays on the Pai River and holds a population of no more than 2,500. Despite its geographical insignificance, this town attracts a wide array of tourists. From breathtaking waterfalls to relaxing hot springs, you will find yourself astonished at how much this little city holds within its borders.

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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, 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 Pai and Vang Vieng, we can see that Pai 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 Pai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Pai 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 Pai Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Pai 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 Pai or Vang Vieng in the Summer?

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

Pai gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Pai usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Pai gets 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Pai usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng during summer. Pai gets 146 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Pai is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 29°C (85°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

Should I visit Pai or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?

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

Pai receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Pai usually gets more rain in October than Vang Vieng. Pai gets 115 mm (4.5 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. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Pai this time of the year. In the autumn, Pai often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Vang Vieng. Pai gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun.

Pai is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the autumn. The daily temperature in Pai averages around 29°C (84°F) in October, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Should I visit Pai or Vang Vieng in the Winter?

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

In January, Pai usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Pai 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 Pai. Pai usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during winter. Pai gets 283 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

In the winter, Pai is around the same temperature as Vang Vieng. Typically, the winter temperatures in Pai in January average around 24°C (74°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Pai or Vang Vieng in the Spring?

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

Vang Vieng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Pai usually gets less rain in April than Vang Vieng. Pai gets 48 mm (1.9 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 Pai. In the spring, Pai often gets more sunshine than Vang Vieng. Pai gets 275 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun.

Pai can become quite hot in the spring. In April, Pai is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Pai average around 32°C (89°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Pai