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

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Yichang?

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

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yichang? 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 Yichang?

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.

Yichang

Yichang, China is an ancient city situated on the northern bank of the Yangtze River in central China. The city is located just below the famed Three Gorges Dam and is a popular ending point for many Yangtze River cruises. Yichang offers beautiful natural scenery and ancient relics from the Three Kingdom Period.

Yichang experiences cool, rainy, winters and hot, humid, summers. Temperatures tend to stay in the 40's Fahrenheit during winter and the 80's in the summer. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are fantastic times to visit, although if you prefer to beat the heat, stay away during late summer!

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.

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

Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Yichang?

Yichang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Yichang, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

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

Yichang 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 Yichang in the Summer?

Both Yichang 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.

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

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

Yichang gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in July than Yichang. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 229 mm (9 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yichang in the Autumn?

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

In October, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Yichang. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Yichang fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during autumn. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 134 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Yichang. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yichang in the Winter?

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

Vang Vieng is much warmer than Yichang in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Yichang fluctuates around 6°C (43°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 Yichang. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Yichang receives 92 hours of full sun.

Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in January than Yichang. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 20 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Yichang in the Spring?

Both Yichang 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 a little warmer than Yichang. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Yichang averages at about 18°C (65°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Yichang during spring. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies, while Yichang receives 129 hours of full sun in the spring.

It's quite rainy in Vang Vieng. In April, Vang Vieng usually receives more rain than Yichang. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Yichang receives 95 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Yichang and Vang Vieng