Visitors enjoy a refreshing dip in the main channel of the waterfall.

Tad Nokkok waterfall in Vientiane gaining in popularity

The rainy season brings waterfalls alive in normally dry areas, especially in Vientiane, where local residents flocks to places that are now producing gushing cascades of water after weeks of rain.
With temperatures high and people keen to enjoy the refreshing coolness offered by fast-flowing water, crowds head to the outskirts of the city to enjoy picnics and swimming as water pours down over rocky escarpments.
Enjoyment is enhanced by the wooded environment offered by such locations, bringing everyone a welcome breath of fresh air and some cooling shade.

Families enjoy a picnic at the huts provided at Tad Nokkok waterfall.

The rainy season typically begins in May and already this year seems to have brought more rainfall than last year.
As waterfalls come to life, they reopen to visitors, who flock to them in droves at weekends.
Xoknapha garden, which houses the Tad Nokkok waterfall in Nangommai village, Xaythany district, drew more than 3,000 visitors on Boun Khao Phansa, the first day of Buddhist Lent.
Mr Sonnapha Xayyavong, who owns the Tad Nokkok waterfall site, told the Vientiane Times “We reopened for service in June after the water flow increased significantly. We had so many visitors at Boun Khao Phansa that the carpark couldn’t handle the number of vehicles.”
“We get hundreds of visitors every weekend, who come here to have a picnic and wallow in the fast-moving water as it flows over the rocks.”
Tad Nokkok waterfall is situated about 40 kilometres from the Donnoon roundabout in Xaythany district. It takes about an hour to get there, with the route following Road No 10.
There are currently 23 huts and mats that people can use to sit on in the shade of trees and a wide area of flat rocky ground where people can enjoy a picnic.
Entry to the site costs 10,000 kip per person, with children under the age of 10 admitted free of charge.
There is no charge to bring in your own food and camping gear. Beer is charged at 50,000 kip per case or you can buy beer at the restaurant for the same price as it costs in any shop.
Mr Sonnapha said “The food we serve is Lao style and the ingredients are sourced from nature. Our most popular dishes are bamboo soup, grilled chicken, chicken soup, grilled fish and papaya salad.”
“But of course the big attraction is the rapidly flowing water, which cascades down the hillside and runs over rocks and then collects in pools. The water is clear and cool and people love it.”

A Vientiane resident grills beef for his family during a visit to the waterfall.

Two kayaks are available for use on a 200-metre section downstream of the waterfall and Mr Sonnapha plans to buy four more.
To meet the high visitor demand, he is buying another 1.5 hectares of land to add to the existing 6 hectares he owns. He will use this to improve and extend the car park, build 20 more huts and generally enhance the site, with this work now 60 percent complete.
He also plans to create a trail through the wooded area that surrounds the waterfall so that visitors can add to their enjoyment by admiring the trees and caves.
In an attempt to attract visitors year-round, not only in the rainy season, he plans to plant flowering shrubs and set up a camping area for use in the dry season.
Mrs Soulinthone Sengsay, a resident of Chomphet village in Sisattanak district, Vientiane, said “My family and I are making our first visit here after I read about in on TikTok. We brought our own food with us and have lit a fire near our hut to cook it on. I also bought some food here to add to the rations we brought.”
“I’ve been to several other waterfalls, both in Vientiane and elsewhere. Tad Nokkok is very comfortable and the entry fee is low, so that’s why it’s attracting so many people. It’s a great place for a day out and a picnic.”
Mr Tou Kettavong, another Vientiane resident, said “This is my first visit here. I read about it on social media and am very impressed. We’re having a great time and my family is really enjoying swimming in the cool, clear water and having an al fresco lunch, all in the lap of nature. I and my family will definitely come here again.”     

by Times Reporters
 (Latest Update July 22, 2025)