Ripping through the rugged trails of Vang Vieng in a buggy was shaping up to be an epic adventure travel adventure. The ride was pure adrenaline—dust flying behind us as we sped along winding dirt roads, splashing through shallow rivers, and climbing rocky paths. We passed stunning viewpoints that overlooked endless green valleys, visited cool blue lagoons perfect for a swim, and even explored a mysterious cave hidden in the hills where I swam inside of the cave. An adventurous experience. It was everything I’d hoped for and more—a perfect mix of off-road thrills and beautiful scenery. It was a fitting day-activity especially for the 21st birthday of my friend.
At the furthers part of our route, at Lagoon 5, it started to get really dark and we decided to get back. I told my friend I would go fast crossing over the dirt road for 2 minutes and would drive normally at the paved road through the villages. I also asked her to film me driving, and just when she started recording, something snapped. The buggy swayed from side to side over the road, I tried to steer but it didn’t react. I hit the brakes gently as to not make us slip and go barrel rolling. We were stranded in a ditch, missing the farmers fence by an inch. I didn’t panic during the crash for the road was empty. I couldn’t have hit innocent bystanders. And the buddy with its hard steel outer frame made me feel safe. Even if we tipped over we would be fine. Strapped to our chairs we wouldn’t even fly out. This is why I am so happy with the buggy of Kham Tours.
I had the feeling that things were about to get complicated. Would I lose my deposit? My passport? I probably needed to pay a money to get it back. It would probably take a lot of hours waiting. Our evening plans of partying in honor of my friend achieving of legal drinking age would probably be cancelled. That is how it would go in The Netherlands. I called the rental company, fully prepared for a drawn-out argument who’s fault it was, how much I needed to pay for it and how long we needed to wait. They had my passport, so they could exploit me. But what happened next completely surprised me.
The owner answered the phone calmly, asked for my location, and said he’d be there soon. True to his word, he arrived within half an hour with a replacement buggy, no questions asked. He knew these machines go through rough conditions, and breakdowns will eventually happen without anyone’s fault. He handed back my deposit being my passport, and even brought us to our hostel. Thanks to his quick response this whole fiasco only costed us 30 mins spend chilling in the buggy. I was genuinely shocked—not just by the fast response but by the owner’s fairness. He could have easily tried to exploit the situation, but instead, he proved that honesty and great service still exist.
If you’re ever in Vang Vieng, Dreamstarter Adventure Travels highly recommend renting a buggy from Kham Tours. The ride itself is incredible—the lagoons, the viewpoints, and the hidden caves make it an unforgettable adventure. And if you rent from this company, you’ll know that even if things go wrong, you’ll be in good hands.
