Bovine Friends - STEVEN R. TABOR

Bovine Friends

Where do livestock go on holiday?

Vang Vieng, Laos, is a town that has gradually transformed into a hub for young adventure travelers. When we arrived in early 2026, we were determined to explore it differently—by hiking through the lush paddy fields and dramatic karst (limestone) mountains that frame the landscape. The only challenge was that hiking isn’t a common pursuit in Vang Vieng, so we had to forge our own paths.

One afternoon, we stopped at a small roadside barbecue restaurant run by an Australian–Thai couple. We asked the Australian owner if he could recommend any worthwhile walks, and he suggested exploring a valley near the TCK zipline center. Intrigued, we made plans to go there.

The next morning, we headed to the zipline center, hired a small ferry to cross the Mekong, and set off in search of the valley. After a brief scramble through brambles and brush, we realized the valley lay hidden behind a modest karst mountain. We climbed up and over its rocky slopes and were rewarded with the sight of a breathtaking, secluded valley. Though we passed several small villages along the way, we didn’t encounter a single person. Instead, we came upon a field where cows and bulls grazed lazily in the sun. An hour farther along the path, we discovered a tranquil lake where water buffalo were happily cooling off in the shallows.

This series shares a few images of our bovine companions in the quiet valley of Vang Vieng.

A photobook of this series is available here.