A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vang Vieng vs. Khao Yai National Park for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park? 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 Khao Yai National Park?

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.

Khao Yai National Park

Adventurous travelers are always in search of new terrain to conquer. At over 2,000 square kilometers, Khao Yai National Park is Thailand's second largest national park, and just full of jungles to trek through. In the southwest of Thailand is a sanctuary of mountains and waterfalls.

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 Adventure Tours to Thailand, and The Best Eco Tours in Thailand.

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

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park?

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 Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park in the Summer?

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

Khao Yai National Park receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 315 mm (12.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during summer. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 176 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is cooler than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 28°C (83°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park in the Autumn?

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

It's quite rainy in Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in October than Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Khao Yai National Park. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the autumn, Vang Vieng often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 206 hours of full sun.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Khao Yai National Park. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park in the Winter?

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

In January, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 9 mm (0.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Khao Yai National Park. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park during winter. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Khao Yai National Park receives 276 hours of full sun in the winter.

Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Khao Yai National Park in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Khao Yai National Park fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Khao Yai National Park in the Spring?

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

Khao Yai National Park gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Khao Yai National Park receives 128 mm (5.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Khao Yai National Park, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Khao Yai National Park. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Khao Yai National Park receives 262 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is cooler than Khao Yai National Park. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Khao Yai National Park averages at about 30°C (87°F).

Typical Weather for Khao Yai National Park and Vang Vieng