Which place is cheaper, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Vang Vieng?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)? 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
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.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.
Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.
The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Laos, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Laos, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $14Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $14, while the average daily cost in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $57. 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.34Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.68Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $50
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.18Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $9.99
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):
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Shuttle Bus to Tangkou for Two$3.59
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
Prices for flights to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 $6.31Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.87Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $27
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Half-Day Nam Song River Kayak Tour with Zipline or Tham None: $27
- Vang Vieng Kayaking Fun Rapid and Float Tour: $35
- Vang Vieng Bike Tour: $39
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng : $50
- Train ticket Vang vieng to Luang prabang: $50
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $50
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
- Discover Vang Vieng Private Tour- Trekking, Kayaking and Caving: $102
- Vang Vieng Tour A - Blue lagoon 3 with Caves and Zipline: $110
- Jungle & Caves Full-Day Private Trekking Tour: $120
- Full Day Private Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave Tour: $156
Typical Entertainment Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:
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Two Entrance Tickets$63
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Two Cable Car Passes$22
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.14Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), we can see that Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Summer?
Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.
Vang Vieng is cooler than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the summer. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 22°C (72°F) in July, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 29°C (85°F).
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyVang Vieng 22°C (72°F)Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 29°C (85°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.
In the autumn, Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Typically, the autumn temperatures in Vang Vieng in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages at about 19°C (65°F).
In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 19°C (65°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Be prepared for some very cold days in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In January, Vang Vieng is generally much warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 24°C (75°F), and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryVang Vieng 24°C (75°F)Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the Spring?
Both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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.
Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in the spring. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 23°C (73°F) in April, and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) fluctuates around 17°C (62°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilVang Vieng 23°C (73°F)Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 17°C (62°F)
Typical Weather for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Vang Vieng
| Vang Vieng | Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 24°C (75°F) | 57 mm (2.2 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Feb | 24°C (75°F) | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Mar | 24°C (75°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 117 mm (4.6 in) |
| Apr | 23°C (73°F) | 188 mm (7.4 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 170 mm (6.7 in) |
| May | 23°C (73°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Jun | 22°C (72°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 235 mm (9.2 in) |
| Jul | 22°C (72°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 29°C (84°F) | 121 mm (4.7 in) |
| Sep | 23°C (73°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Oct | 23°C (73°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 19°C (65°F) | 74 mm (2.9 in) |
| Nov | 23°C (73°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 23°C (73°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 36 mm (1.4 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.