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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach? 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 Railay Beach?

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.

Railay Beach

If you're looking to scale great heights and add more achievements to your list during your vacation, consider a trip to the peninsula of Rai Leh, or more commonly Railay Bay or Railay Beach, in the Krabi region of Thailand. This swimming and rock climbing hotspot is known for its towering limestone peaks and gorgeous surrounding scenery.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

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

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach in the Summer?

Both Railay Beach 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. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Railay Beach year-round.

August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach. Railay Beach gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Railay Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 206 hours of full sun.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Railay Beach. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Railay Beach attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. Also, August to October is the rainy season in Railay Beach. Railay Beach receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Railay Beach during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Railay Beach. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Railay Beach fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach in the Winter?

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

Also, December to March in Railay Beach is the dry season. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the winter, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Railay Beach receives 287 hours of full sun.

Vang Vieng is cooler than Railay Beach in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Railay Beach fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Railay Beach in the Spring?

Both Railay Beach 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. Plenty of visitors come to Railay Beach because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Railay Beach. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Railay Beach. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Railay Beach receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Railay Beach. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Railay Beach during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Railay Beach receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is cooler than Railay Beach. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Railay Beach averages at about 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Railay Beach and Vang Vieng