We investigate the generation of higher-order optical vector solitons in two transverse dimensions in anisotropic nonlinear media consisting of an incoherent superposition of a Gaussian beam and a higher-order laser mode with a complex internal modal structure. We demonstrate both, numerically and experimentally various examples of these stable self-trapped light structures and show that vortex modes carrying topological charge always decay into multiple-humped structures which remain self-trapped during propagation. Furthermore we combine two dipole mode beams in the absence of a fundamental Gaussian component and demonstrate their mutual attraction that displays an unstable propagation behaviour and leads to a splitting of one constituent beam.
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