About the Pha Poak Viewpoint The Pha Poak Viewpoint is just outside the town centre so it’s easy to reach on foot. It’s a reasonably small tree-covered mound to climb but it is somewhat deceptive. For starters, it looks so small because it’s surrounded by much larger hills and mountains. Secondly, it’s not a simple climb to the top. The route involves sharp rocks, uneven ground and lots of ladders. Regardless of the difficulty, when you reach the top, the views are stunning. You’ll also be able to go inside the Lusi Cave should you so wish. The viewpoint is at the end of a huge open field with little shade on the walk to reach it. Be sure to cover up and take plenty of water on the day. You should also wear proper walking shoes and not anything flimsy otherwise you’ll struggle especially on the rocks. Getting to the Pha Poak Viewpoint To get to the Pha Poak Viewpoint, you need to leave Vang Vieng town over the small bamboo bridge next to the Phubarn Cafe. On the other side, head towards the Bananna Bungalows where you should see a sign pointing you in the direction of the viewpoint and cave. The path carries on between sets of bungalows before opening out into the field. Follow the arrows toward the viewpoint which has a large orange flag on top. The entrance from the field is also marked by an orange flag. It takes around 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint entrance from the bamboo bridge. Entrance Fee Once you reach the nice tree-covered area you’ll find a ticket shack. Either here, or somewhere wandering around, will be a man who’ll take your entrance fee. It costs 10,000 Kip per person to climb the Pha Poak Viewpoint. Cash only, of course. This is where the excitement builds after you read the sign that tells you about the beautiful views from the top and that promises “inside the cave, many things are interesting”. If it’s a quiet day, the man may need to unlock the entrance gate for you. Making The Climb You can expect it to take around 30 minutes to reach the top but it’s not something you want to rush. Although it’s only a short climb, it’s not exactly the safest at times. Ladders The first part of the climb is just ladders. Lots and lots of ladders. Some vertical, some horizontal. Some secure, some not so secure. The cave is also quite early on but we didn’t bother going in despite the tempting signage at the ticket shack. The ladders aren’t too challenging on the way up but are a little difficult on the way down. Be sure to test the handrails before relying on them, we found some to be quite loose. Hill Climb After the ladders comes the hill climb. The dusty path is full of fallen leaves and branches as well as the odd rope to help you out. It can be pretty steep at times so it can be easier to slide down it on the way back. There are a lot of trees to support you but do test their integrity first. Also, keep an eye out for the ‘Stop Danghere’ signs along the way which keep you away from the dodgy bits and on the right path. The Rocks Near the top, the rocks get bigger, sharper and more challenging. When you reach the bit you thought was the top, you’ll find that you need to climb up a very large rock to reach the flagpole. This can be challenging. Once you reach the flag, be careful where you stand. There’s no other support other than the flagpole and the drop is pretty steep on the far side. This is where you can stand and enjoy the view of Vang Vieng town and the beautiful mountains. I recommend taking a decent break in the clearing below the flagpole. There are, surprisingly, rubbish bins up there as well. The journey down is a little tougher so it’s worth taking your time at the top. pha poak peak After the Climb When you get back down, the man might chat to you a little bit although his English is borderline non-existent. When we were there, he was knocking down fruits from one of the tall trees with a bamboo stick. He gave us a couple of what looked a little like apricots to take away with us which was a nice gesture. Verdict on Pha Poak Viewpoint For sure, there are grander views around Vang Vieng such as Nam Xay and Pha Ngern but these aren’t walkable from the town centre. The Pha Poak Viewpoint is great for an early morning walk when you don’t want to stray too far away from the town. It’s also ideal if it’s overly hot and you don’t want to be out too long. As it happened, we didn’t have the best experience of Laos in general so the Pha Poak Viewpoint turned out to be one of the highlights of our stay. It’s a fun and challenging climb with a great payoff at the top, well worth the few hours it takes to complete.