A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Vang Vieng vs. Coffs Harbour for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour?

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Australia, and The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Vang Vieng is in Asia and Coffs Harbour is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour than you might in Vang Vieng.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Coffs Harbour Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng and Coffs Harbour, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour?

Coffs Harbour has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Vang Vieng experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Vang Vieng and Coffs Harbour. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round. Furthermore, most visitors come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In the summer, Vang Vieng is around the same temperature as Coffs Harbour. Typically, the summer temperatures in Vang Vieng in July average around 22°C (72°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 23°C (74°F)in January.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Coffs Harbour this time of the year. Vang Vieng usually receives less sunshine than Coffs Harbour during summer. Vang Vieng gets 141 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 237 hours of full sun in the summer.

Coffs Harbour receives a lot of rain in the summer. In July, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin January. Vang Vieng gets 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 187 mm (7.4 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Vang Vieng as well as Coffs Harbour. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, the autumn months attract visitors to Coffs Harbour because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Vang Vieng is generally a little warmer than Coffs Harbourin April. Daily temperatures in Vang Vieng average around 23°C (73°F), and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 20°C (67°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Coffs Harbour. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vang Vieng this time of the year. In the autumn, Vang Vieng often gets more sunshine than Coffs Harbourin April. Vang Vieng gets 222 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 203 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Coffs Harbour. Vang Vieng usually gets less rain in October than Coffs Harbourin April. Vang Vieng gets 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 215 mm (8.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour in the Winter?

Both Coffs Harbour and Vang Vieng are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Coffs Harbour this time of year.

Vang Vieng is much warmer than Coffs Harbour in the winter. The daily temperature in Vang Vieng averages around 24°C (75°F) in January, and Coffs Harbour fluctuates around 13°C (55°F)in July.

It's quite sunny in Coffs Harbour. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually receives more sunshine than Coffs Harbour during winter. Vang Vieng gets 254 hours of sunny skies, while Coffs Harbour receives 219 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Vang Vieng usually receives less rain than Coffs Harbourin July. Vang Vieng gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Vang Vieng or Coffs Harbour in the Spring?

Both Coffs Harbour and Vang Vieng during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many travelers come to Coffs Harbour for the beaches and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Vang Vieng is a little warmer than Coffs Harbour. Typically, the spring temperatures in Vang Vieng in April average around 23°C (73°F), and Coffs Harbour averages at about 19°C (66°F)in October.

In Coffs Harbour, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. In the spring, Vang Vieng often gets less sunshine than Coffs Harbourin October. Vang Vieng gets 230 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Coffs Harbour receives 257 hours of full sun.

Coffs Harbour gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. Vang Vieng usually gets more rain in April than Coffs Harbourin October. Vang Vieng gets 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain, while Coffs Harbour receives 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Coffs Harbour and Vang Vieng