Drive north to visit the archaeological site of Vangxang. The name means Elephant Palace, a reference to an elephant graveyard found in the vicinity. The site, which consists of a cluster of 10 high relief Buddha sculptures on cliffs, is usually assigned to 11 century Mon provenance. Continue to the Nam Ngum Lake and take boat ride (approx 2 hours) to explore the lush vegetation along the backwaters. After lunch at a local restaurant, drive to Ban Kheun and visit the zoo. Also make a stop on the return to Vientiane to observe the salt extraction process.