Vieng Tara Villa – Vang Vieng, Laos

Waking up earlier than usual, I rose and slowly walked toward the glass doors and silently went out of our villa. I was stunned on the colorful hot air balloons that dominated the Vang Vieng skyline. I went back inside, made some coffee and enjoyed the morning break on our private veranda at Vieng Tara Villa. The rice fields where our house stood glowed as the soft light from the morning sun surfaced.

Arriving at Vang Vieng, our mini van from Luang Prabang dropped us off on a deserted bus station near a market. I asked our friendly driver to contact our resort for the complimentary pick-up. Few minutes later the shuttle arrived and brought us to our home in this seemingly quiet town (check here for discounted tours, transportation and activities in Luang Prabang).

Vieng Tara Villa is located on the other side of the Nam Song River, away from the touristy side of the city. A private steel bridge collected a toll fee (20,000 Kip | US$ 2.48) that allowed us to pass through it. The fee was for a two-way cross (arrival and departure on the resort).

Open-air lobby

It was late afternoon and the summer heat was beating us. We entered the resort’s premises and were greeted by the manager of the resort. It was nice of him to personally welcome us.

After filling out the needed papers and presenting our passports, we were led to our home for two nights, the Villa Paddy View.

Vieng Tara Villa is a relatively new resort in town. For over two years now, they’ve been providing their guests the absolute relaxation and comfortable stay on their different accommodation types; Villa Paddy View, Superior Garden View and Bungalow River View (check rates).

Super Garden View

We opted to stay at the Villa Paddy the moment I saw it. A walkway on stilts right across the verdant rice fields directed us to our stand-alone home. The villa itself was supported by columns making it look like floating above the greeneries.

Breathtaking view from our villa

It was scorching hot and the walk through the path was made easy by the umbrellas provided by the resort.

I climbed up the stairs leading to our private veranda and felt immediately that this would be the place to chill during sunset and sunrise. I opened up the glass doors to our room and was amazed on our beautifully-furnished villa.

Villa Paddy View

The full glass windows against the wooden walls gave an awesome view of the mountains and rice fields. It felt like we’re actually one with nature in the comforts of our comfy space.

Moving on, our home had a flatscreen TV mounted on a wall (which we didn’t get to use during our stay), a queen-sized bed rested on a wooden bedstead, old school gas lamps on the bedside and an individually-controlled air conditioning.

Villa Paddy View

The closet was filled with mini fridge, bath robes, in-room safe, coffee and tea-making facilities and bedroom slippers.

The en suite toilet and bath was tastefully furnished with a separate hot and cold shower booth and bathroom facilities that made us feel that we’re inside a posh hotel of some sort.

Even the bathroom has a view!

We rested for a while and enjoyed the rural scene. I was telling my buddy that I could stay here the whole day and just do nothing but be hypnotized on this dreamlike setting. My contemplations brought me to a deep slumber, that type where a nap can lead to a 12-hour sleep.

My buddy quietly woke me up just in time for sunset. We walked toward the wooden pathway and went to a native cabana on the far end. With coffee on hand, we sat on the relaxing sofa and enjoyed the view.

Hello there, neighbors!

I shrieked when I saw some hot air balloons that dotted the almost purpleish skies. And then a pink one headed our way that we could almost see its passengers. Our eyes shifted in the direction of the karsts on the west side. We grabbed our cameras and snapped a few as dusk covered the whole of Vang Vieng.

Villa Paddy View

Vang Vieng Sunset

We stayed where we were as the resort lighted up at nightfall. We headed back to our villa and prepped up for a first stroll around town. From our resort, we walked on the same path of the river reaching the wooden bridge on stilts that led us to the touristy side of the city center.

It was six in the morning as my eyes effortlessly opened. I dunno if I was sleepwalking but my feet brought me to our balcony where I noticed the onset of daybreak. And then the colorful hot air balloons once again floated above. It was serene and relaxing.

Dusk from our private veranda

Breakfast was served on the resort’s restaurant. There’s a menu where you could choose any of the offered meals. What’s nice about it was that you could choose more than once. Me and my buddy were laughing as we almost tried every meal listed on the menu as we wanted to try out the local and international brekkie fares they offered.