Which place is cheaper, Ghent or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Ghent?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ghent? 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 Ghent?
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.
Ghent
Ghent is a large city in the northern part of Belgium (the Flanders region) with a population of about 250,000. This city was one of the most powerful cities in Europe during the Middle Ages, which is portrayed today, mostly through architecture. There is a large university in Ghent with over 60,000 students, and a large portion of the population are young students. However, among the natives and students, there are also many foreigners and artists that you will find walking the streets of the city. Ghent is also Belgium's second largest port city.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Cultural Tours in Belgium, and The Best Budget Tours to Belgium.
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Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesGhent Prices
Belgium Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $19Ghent $168
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $19, while the average daily cost in Ghent is $168. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Vang Vieng and Ghent in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.25Ghent $84
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.50Ghent $168
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Ghent
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Ghent? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Vang Vieng Hotel Prices and Ghent Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.11Ghent $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Ghent?
Prices for flights to both Ghent and Vang Vieng change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayVang Vieng $11Ghent $70
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ghent
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ghent.
- Walking Food Tour in Ghent: $93
- Walking food tour: Introduction to Ghent through food: $109
- Small-Group Food Tour in Ghent by Bike: $178
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.76Ghent $10
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Vangrong Full Day Tour: $45
- Vang Vieng Shared Tour with Kayaking in Nam Song River: $48
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $49
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Vangrong One Day Shared Tour: $52
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Vang Vieng Jungle Day Tour: $58
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Vang Vieng River Kayaking Rapid and Float Tour: $65
- Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike and Blue Lagoon Tour: $79
Tours and Activities in Ghent
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ghent are as follows:
- Explore History and Family Walking Tour in Mons: $245
- Bicycle tour in historic Ghent: $54
- Charlie's Private Beer Tour (Ghent) : $179
- Charlie's Private Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $198
- Charlie's Private Highlights Tour (Ghent): $149
- Charlie's Private Off The Beaten Path Tour (Ghent): $209
- Charlie's Private Tasting Tour (Ghent): $239
- Charlie's famous Chocolate Tour (Ghent): $56
- Charlie's famous Tasting Tour (Ghent): $70
- Discover Ghent with a self-guided Outside Escape city game tour!: $30
- Escape Tour Gent -selfguided citygame- and find the secret exit!: $24
- Evening Tour of the Dark Side of Gent: $3.57
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.11Ghent $21
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Ghent, we can see that Ghent is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vang Vieng is in Asia and Ghent is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Ghent would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ghent 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 Ghent Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Ghent?
Ghent has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Ghent, 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 Ghent?
Ghent 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 Ghent in the Summer?
Both Ghent 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Ghent because of the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Ghent. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Ghent averages at about 17°C (63°F).
In Ghent, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 202 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Ghent 17°C (63°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ghent in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Ghent. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Ghent this time of year.
In October, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Ghent. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Ghent fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).
In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 105 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Ghent 12°C (54°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ghent in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Ghent. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Ghent for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Ghent. Vang Vieng is much warmer than Ghent in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Ghent fluctuates around 3°C (38°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 Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Ghent receives 47 hours of full sun.
Vang Vieng usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Ghent 3°C (38°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Ghent in the Spring?
Both Ghent 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. Also, many visitors come to Ghent in the spring for the natural beauty.
In the spring, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Ghent. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Ghent averages at about 8°C (47°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Ghent during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Ghent receives 158 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Ghent. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Ghent receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Ghent 8°C (47°F)
Typical Weather for Ghent and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Ghent | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 3°C (38°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 55 mm (2.2 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 8°C (47°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 49 mm (1.9 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 75 mm (2.9 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.