When planning our third trip to Laos (two adults and one 5 year old) we wanted some thing off the tourist path (last time we went to Vang Vieng???) and not far from the capital where we would be visiting my brother and his family.
Rivertime sits on the bank of the Nam Ngum river and it's setting is sectacular!
You can get a tuk-tuk from the morning market but we were driven out and it took a bit over an hour (it might be worth a cab fare as the road is very rutted but the tuk-tuk- would be an adventure)
We stayed in a cabin but semi detached and dorm cabins are avaliable. At the time we stayed the resort was brand new and we were the second guests to stay. The cabins all have views down to the river and paths to the floating resturant. Before booking we inquired if there were bikes (we just wanted to know if they had one small enough for our son) , fishing eqipment and life jackets. When we arrived ALL of these things were waiting for us.
From the time we entered the resort the staff went out of their way to make us welcome and to make sure we were happy. When using the bikes a staff member showed us around the nearby Lao Loum village and its temple (the village kids played with my son for hours) and on another occasion another person showed us the traditional lao doctor practicing across the river in Ban Na Taer (even wearing a life jacket so my son would which i'm sure is very uncool for a young Lao man). These things weren't added extras on our bill but part of the service. I cannot reccomend Rivertime enough.
After four great days we were taken by raft boat down river (a two hour trip and a highlight) to Ban Pako Eco Lodge. This lodge has been operating for some time and is starting to need an update.
It also has a spectacular setting but up high off the river. Our visit is tainted by my son receiving food poisioning the first night but before hand we went on a tour across the river (no life jackets this time). The village and whats left of the forest (ie:very very little) is worth a visit and we were accoppanied by a part owner of the lodge which was great and very informative.
This time however we were charged $20 a head for the tour. Ban Pako does charge extra for all activities but still worth the visit just make sure the large part of your stay is up river at Rivertime!

Great resort with loads of possibilities to explore the real rural Laos. I had a big bungalow with a porsche overlooking the river. The resort has been built without cutting one single tree, the director told me.

There are a few villages close to the resort that can be exlored. I took a excursion with one of the guides from Rivertime resort and we visited the villages around including a Hmong market in the afternoon. I even could attend a baci ceremony in one of the villages!!.

I organized a book party for the school village accross the river and the staff from the resort helped me organizing everything. Even if this was the first time that they organized such an event, they were so helpful and went beyond their duties to help with everything. I would not have been able to organize that event without their help!.
They do have a floating restaurant that moves up with the river growth. In there, they have their own fish that can be cooked freshly in a traditional way. However, the Western food is not one of the strong points of the resort, or not yet...they are training their staff to provide a better quality of food.

In the evenings, the staff from the resort and kids from the village come to swim in the river. It is wonderful to watch the life passing slowly...

The resort also has a boat that you can take to do some excursions. I went down the river for half a day and you can see the different villages, or the people crossing the river with their crops, etc. I also went to Vientiane and around for day excursions from here, since the location is approximately an hour away.

Rivertime Resort makes a great choice if you are looking to experience rural life in Laos but still where you can be active and do some activities during the day. Not being far away from Vientiane, you can make this a place to go for a day excursion.