Buses from Hanoi to Vientiane from VND 950k Jul 2026 ✅

Hanoi to Vientiane Destination Reviews

Breonna C

OK! First of all, if taking the buses to save you $100, don't do it. You take the bus to have a unique experience. To slow travel. To push outside of what you know. But most of the reviews are from folks who were looking for a standard travel convenience while saving money. You will be disappointed. But we LOVED our journey. And if you're excited to take the bus. Here's your life hack toolkit! First of all...review the reviews! Some brokers connect you to better buses than others. This one was great. But we met others who had less than stellar experiences. That said, if you get a bus you're uncomfortable with in ANY way, just call 12go and rebook. Safety is never worth compromising. And some folks we met that booked on other routes paid for multiple bunks but were squished into fewer beds. I HIGHLY recommend ensuring you book a VIP 20 or 21 (indicating the number of beds on the bus) vs. the VIP 40 (way too many people). Again, the increase of cost is small for the comfort. The best seats are in the middle of the bus on the uppers if you can get them (windows, less bumps, more comfortable). I prefer the lowers but I don't mind not having a window because I'm asleep most of the time. I highly recommend you take the 5:45pm/6pm bus out of Hanoi. It will have very few stops but you sleep. The bus arrives at the border of Laos at 1am and then there are restrooms (bring toilet paper!) and food options there. It will park at the border until they open at 7am and they let everyone through. When you book, you will get a voucher but you need to exchange it for ACTUAL TICKETS at the bus station. Get there early. At least an hour. Exchange your tickets, you will have to ask around to find your bus stall. The folks at the desk might know but don't count on it. Give yourself time. Meet the drivers, get your bags on, grab a seat. The real cheat code to a good trip (by train or bus) is to pre game with good snacks. Make sure you get Bahn Mi that you love, have fresh fruit, water and your favorite sweet and salty snacks. A pre game the day before your travel makes all the difference. Options on the road can be great but don't count on them. The border crossing is going to be hectic. Roll with it. You should ABSOLUTELY get your visa at the embassy BEFORE you board the bus. Visas on arrival are not typically issued at the border crossings for all buses and you have no way of knowing exactly where your bus will cross in advance. Don't chance it. The bus WILL LEAVE YOU. The visa process is simple, you go to the Lao Embassy in Hanoi and drop off your passport, two passport photos and complete their application (I recommend you go first thing in the morning) and they can usually have it back at the end of day or early the next morning. When you cross, you will have your visa inspected. Then you will need to have it processed (pay for a stamp 15K Dong each), then get a Lao stamp. It took us an hour to get through it all but it was a fun adventure with all the other foreigners. Then you walk through the border crossing all the way to meet your bus. You can leave your luggage on the bus and just cross on foot. Then you're back on the bus and have another 2-3 hours until another long stop for lunch, bathrooms and hydration. We slept most of the journey. After that it's about another 4 hours to Vientiane Southern Bus Station. The bus station is outside of town and you will need to get a TukTuk. Many of the vendors/stalls along the journey will have both Vietnamese Dong and Laotian Kip. Ask for change in kip so you have some when you get to the bus station. Once you're in town there are tons of ATMs. But you will have to haggle for your TukTuk ride into town. It's about 100K-150K kip. Life is about taking the road less traveled and a 24-hour bus ride across the Laotian border definitely qualifies. We enjoyed the journey so much and have taken trains and buses all across South East Asia. Enjoy! I'm on IG @liveBQD for more!

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP 20, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), Jun 26, 2026

Lola

We were asked to share a bed. The PDF did not say anything about fees. When there is a customs charge on both sides of the boarder. When we said we did not have money they threatened to take our bags and leave them on the bridge between Vietnam and laos. Luckily the police were kind to us and stamped us through anyway. The bus staff were a little rude at the boarder. However the bed was comfy and clean. They did make food and toilet stops. And the WhatsApp number for the company communication was good, always replied fast and helped with problems.

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus Royal Cabin, HT Travel, Jun 14, 2026

Fatima M

Smooth and comfortable ride, but I got to the border only to find out they don't do land visas here. If you need to get a land visa, be sure to go to the Lao Boa border. The ride back and to Hanoi or to the Lao Boa border can be anywhere from 3mil-4mil dong

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), May 31, 2026

Alfie N

They should Defintely make people aware of needing to visit the embassy and getting a visa when advertising this certain bus

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP Luxury 24, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), May 20, 2026

Cam T

Too long and wayyy too tired The trip starts 30 mins earlier than the time

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus Big Private CaBin, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Apr 28, 2026

•M

•kimmy’s M

Stayed too much time in the border almost 9hours…after laos immigration stamped our passport around 8am we kept on waiting the bus till 10am with another bus….the bus has changed we dont know our luggages been transfered also…only the time when we reach vientiane

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Apr 4, 2026

Abigail M

And

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP Luxury 24, Son Hue Bus, Feb 13, 2026

James C

Best way to travel from Hanoi to Laos. Well coordinated between different modes

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus Royal Cabin + Van + Train, Asian Bus Travel, Jan 22, 2026

Dakota

After reading lots of mixed reviews and feeling worried/daunted by this trip, I was very happy with my experience. I slept comfortably with no bumps or motion sickness thanks to a careful bus driver (and dramamine, just in case). My driver was also very helpful and reached out regarding how to retrieve my ticket from the station using the voucher.

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP Luxury 24, Son Hue Bus, Jan 9, 2026

Donatien A

The conductor was really helpfull ! They can help you if you have some trouble to cross the gate to come back to the city

Hanoi to Vientiane, Bus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Dec 1, 2025

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Hanoi to Vientiane Bus Schedule

Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Techbus VN JSC	VIP 24	15:10	17:30	$45.68
To Vietnam Travel	Sleeper 41	15:30	16:30	$32.36
Techbus VN JSC	Van + Sleeper Bus	15:50	17:10	$32.36
Grouptour	Sleeper 41	16:10	15:30	$30.46
Grouptour	VIP 33 Sleeper	16:30	16:50	$35.40	3.0
Sapa Discovery Travel	Budget Sleeper	17:00	15:00	$34.26
VietNam Travel Bus	Sleeper 44	17:20	13:20	$35.89
Techbus VN JSC	VIP 24	17:40	17:30	$43.78
HTX Van Tai 277	Sleeper	18:00	17:00	$24.75	3.8
HTX Van Tai 277	Sleeper	18:30	17:30	$24.75	3.8
Asian Bus Travel	Royal Cabin + Van	20:15	18:15	$59.01	2.0

How to get from Hanoi to Vientiane by Bus

Taking a bus to get from Hanoi to Vientiane 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 Vientiane 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 Vientiane?

Traveling by bus, the distance from Hanoi to Vientiane 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 Vientiane by Bus?

The estimate travel time from Hanoi to Vientiane is about 20h 45m. 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 Vientiane 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 Vientiane by Bus?

The ticket price from Hanoi to Vientiane 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.

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.

Transportation from Hanoi to Vientiane

Facts about the bus from Hanoi to Vientiane

Cheapest Bus	$37
Fastest Bus	20h 45m
Earliest Bus	3:10 下午
Latest Bus	8:15 晚上
Daily Bus Routes	17
Distance	6 kilometers
Bus Companies	Asian Bus Travel, Grouptour, HT Travel, HTX Van Tai 277, Huyen Chau, Laos Easy Go Travel, Sarah Transport Laos

Popular Routes

Buses from Hanoi to Vientiane