Facts about the bus from Vientiane to Chiang Mai
| Cheapest Bus | $36 |
| Fastest Bus | 15h |
| Earliest Bus | 1:30 PM |
| Latest Bus | 3:00 PM |
| Daily Bus Routes | 3 |
| Distance | 3684 kilometers |
| Bus Companies | Family Service, RG Adventure, Soutchai Travel, Tara Tour and Travel |
Buses from Vientiane to Chiang Mai
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Vientiane to Chiang Mai Destination Reviews
CB
Charlotte BFully understanding this company is local, I get why they only speak their language. However, when you have a large percentage of travelers who are tourists, and a vast majority of them speak English, it might be a good idea to have a local who is multi-lingual to assist travelers at the bus station AND on the bus. The stops that offer toilet breaks is confusing when people are constantly loading and unloading throughout the trip. At the very least, the rest stops should be listed on 12Go's site when purchasing the ticket, or on the app, or via text (LINE, Whatsapp) before arriving at the stop so passengers can prepare. The transfer was horrendous! Was told IN WRITING via email, "Vientiane Transfer" meant I'd be picked up at my hotel, only to find out, it was too far out, which caused me to miss the bus AND had to pay another night at the hotel. Next day took a taxi to one of the pickup places (One Vientiane Hotel) only to be told to walk (with all my luggage) to what appeared to be a laundry location, to wait for transportation to the bus station. I could've just gone to the bus station, it was closer to my hotel than the pickup spot and less LAK! Then, while waiting, the laundry person's cat, which I'm not a fan of (not a cat person) kept bothering me. It was annoying and uncomfortable, she kept calling it away. After waiting for 40 minutes she hurries me into a car with 2 other people and drives like a lunatic while arguing with someone on her cell. Get to the bus station (where I could've gone in the first place) load the bus after 30+ minutes of waiting, get to the LAO border and immigration to check out, back to the van, to Thailand immigration/boarder, then to the final bus to get back to CM. The experience was INSANE, with no one explaining anything. We all were just following each other. The best thing was the lady who waited for all passengers to get through Immigration before we boarded the van, to get to our respective buses at different locations. She spoke enough English to communicate with us effectively. I hope she gets paid very well, cause that seems like a harrowing job. But I was very thankful for her and her assistance during the entire debacle. Finally, the bus to CM arrived, but it was shaky, meaning it rocked side-to-side, and the suspension had us bouncing like balls. We were ROCKING AND ROLLING, literally! Not fun, through winding roads in the mountains! I've taken several bus lines before, but will never use this one again. Unfortunately it was the only one available for the time I wanted to get back to CM. Next time I'll fly.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Nov 15, 2025
B
Baylee The steps for purchasing the tickets were unclear and when the driver dropped us off at the first bus station they didn’t tell us anything but the rest they were good about making sure we knew where to go. And then they said we were going VIP and when we got there it was a total different bus and we were told we were to Nong Khai but they dropped us at Udon where nothing was opened and we were not able to get anything to eat and they didn’t stop. The transportation to and from the border was great but after that we didn’t have great service
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), Oct 7, 2025
HW
Hal WExcellent service, small problems rectified with a smile.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), Jul 5, 2025
HW
Heinrich W3 hours waiting at the station. .
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, Tara Tour and Travel (ธาราทัวร์แอนด์ทราเวล), Jun 12, 2025
C
Camilo The trip that should take approximately 10-11 hrs and 1-2 buses, instead became a 19 & 1/2 hr trip and consisted of a taxi ride from Vientiane to the laos border @ 3pm, then a bus to the Thai border, 45 minute wait, then a taxi to Nong khai bus station, a hour wait, then a 1 hr bus trip to Udon Thani bus station, then another 2 hr wait, then a 11 & 1/2 hr bus ride to Chiang Mai, arriving at 9.30 am. Considering a bus ride from Vientiane to Bangkok is only around 11-12hrs . The tour company should maybe a little more transparent about the 6 transfers and the 20 hr journey, instead of the 14 hr , seemingly hassle free service they claim to provide.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), May 19, 2025
Vientiane to Chiang Mai Bus Schedule
| Operator | Class | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tara Tour and Travel | Express | 13:30 | 05:00 | $54.90 | |
Tara Tour and Travel | Express Bus 38pax | 13:30 | 07:30 | $54.90 | |
Tara Tour and Travel | Express | 13:30 | 07:30 | $54.90 | |
Soutchai Travel | VIP-Class | 14:00 | 03:00 | $45.00 | |
Family Service | Taxi + Sitting Bus | 15:00 | 06:00 | $43.92 | |
Family Service | Standard | 15:00 | 06:00 | $43.92 | |
Soutchai Travel | VIP | 15:00 | 08:00 | $28.05 | |
RG Adventure | Taxi + Song Taew + Van + Bus | 15:00 | 04:30 | $78.43 |
Transportation from Vientiane to Chiang Mai
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Buses$ 35.02
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Flights$ 233.21
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Taxis$ 82.15
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Vans$ 35.02
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Trains are not available
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Ferries are not available
Popular Routes
From Vientiane
To Vientiane
Popular Routes in Laos
How to get from Vientiane to Chiang Mai by Bus
Taking a bus to get from Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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 Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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 Vientiane to Chiang Mai?
Traveling by bus, the distance from Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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 Vientiane to Chiang Mai by Bus?
The estimate travel time from Vientiane to Chiang Mai is about 18h. Note that traveling by bus is slower compared to driving your own car or getting a taxi. Depending on the departure time congestion between Vientiane and Chiang Mai 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 Vientiane to Chiang Mai by Bus?
The ticket price from Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai timetable
To help you plan your trip, here is the Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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.