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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Pyeongchang?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Pyeongchang? 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 Pyeongchang?

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.

Pyeongchang

Pyeongchang is a county of South Korea situated in the Taebaek Mountains in Gangwon Province. A popular location for winter sports, it was chosen as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics. Other attractions include Buddhist temples, parks, villages, and natural scenery.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Seoul, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Seoul.

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

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

Pyeongchang 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 Pyeongchang in the Summer?

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

In the summer, Vang Vieng is cooler than Pyeongchang. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 24°C (76°F).

Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pyeongchang during summer. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 144 hours of full sun in the summer.

Pyeongchang receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 217 mm (8.5 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Pyeongchang in the Autumn?

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

In October, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Pyeongchang. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 15°C (60°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the autumn, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 185 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in October than Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 112 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Pyeongchang in the Winter?

Both Pyeongchang 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.

The weather in Pyeongchang can be very cold. Vang Vieng is much warmer than Pyeongchang in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Pyeongchang fluctuates around 0°C (33°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Pyeongchang during winter. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Pyeongchang receives 190 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Vang Vieng usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Pyeongchang in the Spring?

Both Pyeongchang 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.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Pyeongchang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Pyeongchang averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In Pyeongchang, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pyeongchang receives 204 hours of full sun.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Pyeongchang. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Pyeongchang receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Pyeongchang and Vang Vieng