Sakura Bar

If you’re bummed that this party mecca has lost its magic, don’t worry. Not only can you still party, and party hard, you can do it without spending a cent. While there are a ton of bars in Vang Vieng, the two big party bars are Sakura and Viva. Every night, each bar hosts happy hours with free drinks. Head to Sakura first for as many free whiskey shots as your poor liver can handle, and then mosey on over to Viva for an hour of free beer. You can get plenty buzzed, or trashed — no one’s watching how many freebies you chug — without spending a single kip. If you’re looking to get even more debauched, and if you’ve heard of Vang Vieng before, a lot of the bars have some more illicit substances to offer. The most popular bar for getting into an altered headspace is Space Bar, where the menu boasts joints, shrooms, and even opium. Pro tip: While you’re fine doing drugs inside the establishments that sell them, never take anything outside of them or back to your hostel since you could be in for some big trouble with the local cops.