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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Benxi?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Benxi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Vang Vieng or Benxi?

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.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Benxi, we can see that Benxi 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Benxi, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Benxi?

Benxi has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Benxi in the Summer?

Both Benxi and Vang Vieng during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In July, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 22°C (72°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 25°C (78°F).

In Benxi, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 214 hours of full sun.

Benxi gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 211 mm (8.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Benxi in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Benxi. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.

Vang Vieng is much warmer than Benxi in the autumn. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in October, and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Benxi this time of the year. In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 216 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 51 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Benxi in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Benxi. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

It's quite cold in Benxi in the winter. In the winter, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Benxi. Typically, the winter temperatures in Vang Vieng in January average around 24°C (75°F), and Benxi averages at about -10°C (14°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Benxi receives 167 hours of full sun.

Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Benxi in the Spring?

Both Benxi and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.

In April, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Benxi. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Benxi fluctuates around 11°C (51°F).

It's quite sunny in Benxi. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Benxi during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Benxi receives 241 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Benxi. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Benxi receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Benxi and Vang Vieng