Riverside Boutique Resort, Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng was formerly known for its legions of backpackers — partly a result of just how arduous the journey was, over hours and hours of barely functional roads. The transportation situation, happily, has been sorted out, thanks to a new high-speed rail line as well as a modern highway. And the town’s atmosphere has changed accordingly, the late-night revelry replaced by something more sedate, more comfortable, and altogether more grown up. It’s to this modern vision of Vang Vieng that the Riverside Boutique Resort belongs.

Providing dramatic, sweeping views of the nearby limestone mountains, this 34-room hotel presents itself, quite successfully, as a luxe retreat. The French colonial design, while not exactly unusual in this part of the world, is impeccably done. Guest rooms are generously parceled out among two-story structures, where floor-to-ceiling sliding doors unite balconies with suites defined by king beds and wicker furniture. Each room’s atmosphere is inspired by one of eight different regional ethnic groups, which works as both an admirable design principle and a nod to chic art hotels.

How to get there:
Riverside Boutique Resort is approximately 2.5 hours (160 km by bus or car) from the Wattay International Airport (VTE) in Vientiane. However, the best way to reach Vang Vieng is now the high-speed train that connects Laos to China with stop-overs in Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.