Facts about the bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang
| Cheapest Bus | $51 |
| Fastest Bus | 17h 50m |
| Earliest Bus | 3:00 PM |
| Latest Bus | 9:00 PM |
| Daily Bus Routes | 1 |
| Distance | 1325 kilometers |
| Bus Companies | Grouptour, HTX Van Tai 277, Sapa Discovery Travel |
Buses from Hanoi to Luang Prabang
Hanoi to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews
LM
Lucy MArrived at 12:30am - over 9 hours later than originally stated.
Very few bathroom breaks or opportunities to eat - I was incredibly ill from dehydration and having had little to eat by the end of the 18 hours on two different vans
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus VIP 20 + Van + Train, Sapa Discovery Travel, Aug 11, 2025
MP
Maureen PHeard lots of bad reviews about Sapa and we were really scared about our first sleeper bus. One thing to admit, the operator really tries to go beyond to ensure we reach our destination. They were very caring and helpful. Our trip was from Hanoi to Luang Prabang and trains were out of service in Laos. But the operator made sure we reached safely.
Only note to add: the sleeper bus itself was very dirty and smelly and hygiene is definitely an issue. We couldn't sleep at night because of the urine smell and stickyness on the mattress.
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus VIP 20 + Van + Train, Sapa Discovery Travel, Jul 28, 2025
韦
韦斯利 Well, the glossy brochures often paint a picture of seamless, comfortable travel across Southeast Asia. And while I'm all for embracing the journey, sometimes the "luxury" label gets stretched thinner than a well-worn travel budget.
My recent overnight jaunt from Dien Bien Phu to Luang Prabang was aboard one of these so-called "luxury" sleeper buses. Now, let's be clear, the concept is appealing – a horizontal slumber while the miles melt away. And in fairness, the bus did have beds, or rather, narrow, slightly inclined platforms that vaguely resembled beds. Personal space, as is often the case on these long-haul adventures, was at a premium. Think Tetris, but with bodies and a distinct lack of smooth, sliding movements.
The air conditioning, bless its heart, seemed to operate on an "arctic blast or nothing" principle, so layers became your best friend – fluctuating wildly between feeling like you were in a meat locker and then briefly thawing out in a pocket of slightly less frigid air.
The journey itself, well, it was certainly an *experience*. The roads in this part of the world have a character all their own, and our driver seemed determined to introduce us to every single bump and curve. Sleep came in fits and starts, punctuated by the occasional enthusiastic honking, the glow of oncoming headlights through the thin curtains, and the general symphony of a bus full of fellow adventurers trying to find a comfortable position.
But here's the thing – amidst the minor discomforts and the slightly exaggerated claims of luxury, there's a certain charm to this mode of travel. You're sharing an experience with locals and other travelers, all on the same mission to reach their destination. You see snippets of life unfolding outside the window, even in the darkness. And there's a real sense of accomplishment when you finally arrive, perhaps a little rumpled, but having covered a significant distance.
So, was it a five-star luxury suite on wheels? Not exactly. Was it a memorable and ultimately effective way to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang? Absolutely. You just need to pack your sense of humor, a good travel pillow, and maybe an extra blanket. Because sometimes, the best travel stories come from those journeys that are just a little rough around the edges. It certainly makes for a more interesting anecdote than "the flight was on time and the seats reclined nicely," doesn't it?
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus VIP 20 + Van + Train, Sapa Discovery Travel, Jul 19, 2025
KR
Kai RYou get dropped off in the most random places but it works out at the end. Works better if you have wifi. We didn't have wifi and had to buy train tickets ourselves. But overall it was a good experience.
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus VIP 20 + Van + Train, Sapa Discovery Travel, Jun 27, 2025
FM
Fabian MWe took the Nightbus in Hanoi (which was good) and Luckily took some food with us!! We didn’t stop at a single place to have dinner and after crossing the border we Stoppt at only one place which had food but no atm (no chance to get some money to pay it). In total it was like 20hours without food. The bus we took after the Night-Bus had more people in it then seats and wasn’t comfortable at all. Furthermore We arrived at our destination much later then the ticket proclaimed even tho we only stopped 2 times for like 10min each during the whole trip (Hanoi -> LuangPrabang). Therefore the arrival time on the ticket just seems like an made up time. Also we needed an extra ticket for the train which they send us a screenshot which technically is ok but we got Lucky to connect to a Wifi on our second stop else we wouldn’t have received it.
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus VIP 20 + Van + Train, Sapa Discovery Travel, Jun 1, 2025
JL
Johanna LBus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang:
Pro:
- cheap
- an experience you won‘t forget
- you can sleep for 30+ hours
Con:
- 31 hours instead of 24 hours (to be expected in Asia)
- roads on Laos side are miserable. We were driving 20 km/h there
- frequent stops to load parcels or people (to be expected in Asia)
- bus overbooked so Vietnamese guests that joined at later bus stops had to sleep on the floor (to be expected in Asia)
- no sockets/plugs, toilet, wifi, … -> very old bus
Tbh, I enjoyed the drive, but many people hated their ride
Recommendations:
Bring WARM clothes and all that you have to keep yourself warm in your carry-on backpack
Bring loads of snacks/dry food that won‘t expire
Change some money to USD so you can pay in restaurants on the Laos side.
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus Semi Sleeper, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Dec 1, 2024
EH
Erik H6 hours late... Arrived at 1h in luang prabang
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus Semi Sleeper, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Mar 10, 2024
JF
Julia FGood
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus Semi Sleeper, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Jan 30, 2024
CC
Camille CThe bus left 2h late, this is acceptable in East Asia so no problem. We Were supposed to do the trip with a techbus, it was certainly not one. This could be acceptable as well. But the worst part was that the bus arrived not 1,2, 5 hours left but 16HOURS LATE ( took us 39h instead of 23h to arrive) we basically spent 2nights in a bus that was basically Doing deliveries, taking merchandise (we were sleeping between a TV and a some rice bags at some points) every 20min while taking people on its way to laos. Added to that one of the tire punctured on our way, making us loose several hours (as if it was not already enough) to get it repaired while the driver just let us at a random street restaurant during this time and leaving us without telling us. If you are searching for thrill and you are not in a hurry then no pb otherwise find another alternative
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Jun 19, 2023
EB
Emma BIt was better then we expected. The driver was really nice and helpful. The only thing that was not great was that we arrived 2 hours later then expected
Hanoi to Luang Prabang, Bus Semi Sleeper, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), May 22, 2023
Hanoi to Luang Prabang Bus Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Techbus VN JSC | Sleeper 40 | 14:55 | 17:55 | $44.97 | |
To Vietnam Travel | Sleeper 41 | 15:30 | 18:30 | $55.03 | |
Techbus VN JSC | Van + Sleeper Bus | 15:30 | 18:00 | $55.22 | |
Grouptour | Semi Sleeper | 16:45 | 19:25 | $48.58 | |
Techbus VN JSC | Sleeper 40 | 16:50 | 17:50 | $44.97 | |
Techbus VN JSC | Sleeper 40 | 17:00 | 18:00 | $44.97 | |
Techbus VN JSC | Sleeper 40 | 17:30 | 17:30 | $45.01 | |
Grouptour | Sleeper 41 | 17:30 | 19:50 | $42.88 | |
HTX Van Tai 277 | Sleeper Bus | 18:00 | 19:00 | $40.99 | |
Techbus VN JSC | Sleeper 40 | 18:00 | 18:00 | $45.01 | |
HTX Van Tai 277 | VIP Sleeper 41 | 18:00 | 19:00 | $43.64 | |
HTX Van Tai 277 | Semi Sleeper | 18:00 | 19:00 | $40.99 | |
Sapa Discovery Travel | VIP 20 + Van + Train | 20:00 | 15:00 | $45.54 | |
Sapa Discovery Travel | VIP 20 + Van + Train | 20:00 | 13:00 | $43.64 | |
Sapa Discovery Travel | VIP 20 + Van + Train | 20:00 | 15:00 | $53.13 | |
Asian Bus Travel | Royal Cabin + Van + Train | 20:15 | 15:15 | $50.09 | |
Sapa Discovery Travel | VIP 20 + Van + Train | 21:00 | 14:50 | $48.58 | |
Laos Luxury Travel | Standard | 21:00 | 14:00 | $48.00 | |
Laos Luxury Travel | Vip 22 + Van + Train | 21:00 | 14:00 | $48.00 |
Transportation from Hanoi to Luang Prabang
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Trains$ 53.24
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Buses$ 50.19
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Flights$ 153.66
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Vans$ 51.94
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Ferries are not available
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Taxis are not available
Popular Routes
Popular Routes in Vietnam
How to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by Bus
Taking a bus to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang is a safe, comfortable and less expensive alternative for traveling this route. To popular destinations, bus companies operate multiple trips per day, often round the clock at 30-60 minute intervals. To less traveled destinations, there may be only 1 scheduled trip a day. The most common bus types are non-air-conditioned, air-conditioned, and premium buses.
It is best to reserve your tickets at least a few days ahead of your travel date. Check our list of bus companies available for online booking offering Hanoi to Luang Prabang tickets. When traveling on weekends and holidays it is recommended to reserve tickets much earlier due to higher numbers of travelers, both vacation-makers and urban workers returning home to their provincial home.
How far is it from Hanoi to Luang Prabang?
Traveling by bus, the distance from Hanoi to Luang Prabang depends on the route taken. Most bus companies travel via expressways or tollways. This may not necessarily be the shortest route but it is the fastest one as normally there is less traffic and no traffic lights.
To get to certain island destinations which are not connected to the mainland by a bridge, buses board large car ferries. Passengers are usually asked to get off the bus, but there is no need to take your luggage from the bus. The travel distance from port to port is added to the total distance.
How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by Bus?
The estimate travel time from Hanoi to Luang Prabang is about 1d 1h. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Hanoi and Luang Prabang may differ greatly There is usually more traffic between morning until afternoon during weekdays than during weekends.
Another important factor that may affect travel time is the type of bus. Premium or VIP buses are usually faster as they use motorways and call to fewer bus stations (if any) en route. Buses normally make short 10-30-minute breaks after a few hours of continuous travel to allow passengers use bathrooms, stock up on munchies and let bus attendants and the driver have rest.
Some premium buses have onboard toilets and the second driver. Nevertheless, usually they still make en route stops for a quick lunch or fuel refill.
How much does it cost to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by Bus?
The ticket price from Hanoi to Luang Prabang can vary depending on the type of buses you choose. For a less expensive ticket consider non-air-conditioned or ordinary buses. Premium or luxury buses are more expensive but you can expect more comfort and some additional services like phone charging ports, personal entertainment system screens and toilets.
Hanoi to Luang Prabang timetable
To help you plan your trip, here is the Hanoi to Luang Prabang timetable of bus departure and arrival times.
Best Rated Companies for this Route
Bus companies differ a lot in quality and service they provide. When choosing a bus company for you travels, do some basic research before you buy your tickets.
Safety is one of the most important aspects to consider. We also recommend you checking reviews on overall service quality of the bus companies serving this route.
Our service only partners with reliable and trustworthy bus companies. We do our best to provide your a choice of the best operators available on each route.