Vang Vieng is a typical young and hip hangout in most respects. What's different here is that the mountains surrounding the riverside resort are soaring ramparts that can only be accessed by a few trails hacked with much toil among the razor sharp and near vertical crags. Today I clawed my way up the newest and highest trail (admission one Euro) and my reward was views of a hidden valley that I think only a handful of people have yet seen. Lucky, lucky me. The peaks in the distance top 5000 ft.