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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Sado?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Sado? 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

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 Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

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

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

Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado 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. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Sado. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Sado averages at about 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Sado. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Sado. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sado for the hiking trails and the shopping scene.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Sado during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Sado. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Sado in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Sado. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Sado in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Sado can get quite cold in the winter. Vang Vieng is much warmer than Sado in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Sado fluctuates around 3°C (37°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 Sado. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado 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.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Sado averages at about 10°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Sado during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Sado. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sado and Vang Vieng