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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands? 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 Yaeyama Islands?

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.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

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 Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

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

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands?

Yaeyama Islands 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 Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Yaeyama Islands because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 29°C (85°F).

In Yaeyama Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the summer, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 279 hours of full sun.

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Yaeyama Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Also, the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the museums and the cuisine.

Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Yaeyama Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°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 Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yaeyama Islands receives 97 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in January than Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

Both Yaeyama Islands 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. Also, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the spring for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Yaeyama Islands during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Yaeyama Islands receives 154 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Yaeyama Islands. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain each month for the spring. The rainy season in Yaeyama Islands is May to June.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Vang Vieng