Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Best Options

$17
$39

Other Options

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
Lao Airlines Economy 07:40 - 15:05LAK 5,394,079
Naluang Regional 14pax 08:30 - 14:30LAK 363,851
Thai Smile Economy 11:20 - 12:35LAK 3,971,687
Bangkok Air Economy 12:45 - 19:40LAK 7,241,262
Thai Smile Economy 14:15 - 19:45LAK 4,538,859
Soutchai Travel Business Seat 17:20 - 20:13$ 61
Soutchai Travel Business Seat 18:20 - 20:13$ 58
Vieng Chaleune AC Sleeper 20:00 - 06:00$ 21

Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Facts about the transport from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Cheapest Transport$17
Fastest Transport40m
Earliest Departure7:30 AM
Latest Departure8:00 PM
Departures per day11
Distance500 kilometers
Transport CompaniesLao Skyway, Naluang, Soutchai Travel, Vieng Chaleune

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

GH
Booked a 14 seater minivan to leave at 7:30 am, was told there was no bus at 7:30 but was leaving at 8:30. Had a flight to catch leaving us worried we would miss it. There was 20 people on a 14 seater minivan so be prepared for cramped conditions in hot weather so wasn’t pleasant. On the positive side it only took 7 hours not the 10 specified so caught the flight on time. Great service from 12go though. Easy service booking the tickets and great communication. Got us from A to B
Van Regional 14pax, Vieng Chaleune (เวียงเจริญ), Feb 9, 2023
LH
Would have preferred just to have train tickets organised and make own way to the station rather than take the transfer.
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Jan 11, 2023
SP
Good service, very happy with the arrangement pick up from hotel semd to station. Train very smooth n fast... All enquiries was responded fast kudos to the team...
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Dec 30, 2022
AH
Company rejected giving any sort of children discount (for 3 kids) for train tickets, despite that kids under 120cm are free of charge and otherwise are 1/2 price, we were still charged full adult prices when going via the Agency.
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Dec 25, 2022
DM
The bus left more than an hour late. It arrived late at its destination. The bus was packed, there were more people than seats
This review was autotranslated
Van Regional 14pax, Naluang (Naluang), Nov 19, 2022
PB
Booked for the 15/1/22 received confirmation and e tickets then got email on the 14/10/22 saying it’s been cancelled as it’s full, but can travel on the 16/10/22 @ 11.30. Arrived only to be told it’s fully booked again but I can get the 18.20 train even tho I had the tickets for both trips that was so say fully booked. So had to pay for another nights hotel in Luang Prabang and also lost a night in Vientiane that I had already payed for.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 17, 2022
FL
This was a very bad experience. We had booked a 1st class seat on the bullet train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane departing 11.30. We we arrived for our transfer to the station it turned out our booking had been cancelled and we were now on the slow train in 2nd class departing 16.16. Vevy bad. We now had to kill time and hang around. 12Go tried to book the tickets too late and we missed out and got shuffed on later train. Not happy!
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 4, 2022
RC
We were booked on a prepaid journey VIP to Vientiane and the day before we simply informed by the Hotel reception that our place wa cancelled (not the train, just our prepaid seats). We were transferred to a normal train more than 4 hours later. That is not the kind of service neither booked normal expected.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 3, 2022
JN
Taxi transfer never showed and train was late.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Sep 18, 2022
CF
There is not a lot of leg room on the minibus but the journey was comfortable and the driver was safe. The rest stops were also regular enough and the included lunch was a nice bonus. Many thanks to the driver for keeping us safe on the mountain roads!!
Van Regional 14pax, Naluang (Naluang), Feb 25, 2020
4.4
94 customer reviews
5
21%
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23%
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23%
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33%
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How to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

When you want to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, you have a few options to consider. Traveling between these destinations is possible by different means of transport:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train
  • Van
  • Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Flight. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Bus ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi+Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 38.68. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a van as a van ticket costs as low as USD 16.21.

How far is Luang Prabang from Vientiane?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. Your trip will be a total of 311 miles (500 km). The flying distance is 353 miles (567 km).

How long does it take to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane?

The travel time from Luang Prabang to Vientiane can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 1 to 10 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane?

The cost of the trip from Luang Prabang to Vientiane varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Vieng Chaleune (เวียงเจริญ): travelling by van expect to pay as low as USD 16.21 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi+Train - a one-way taxi+Train ticket can cost as much as USD 38.68.

Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Luang Prabang to Vientiane:

  • Van price : USD 16.21 - USD 18.76;
  • Plane tickets - USD 16.60 to USD 16.60;
  • Bus+Van price: USD 17.30. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 08:40 Vientiane Soutchai Travel until 08:40 Vientiane Soutchai Travel
  • Bus tickets - USD 18.10 to USD 18.10;
  • taxi+Van price: USD 19.03 - USD 19.89. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 08:30 Luang Prabang Transfer until 16:00 Luang Prabang Transfer
  • Train tickets - USD 20.68 to USD 49.98;
  • taxi+Train price: USD 28.07 - USD 38.68. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 17:00 Luang Prabang Transfer until 17:00 Luang Prabang Transfer

How many trips per day are there between Luang Prabang and Vientiane?

Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.

  • Vans from Luang Prabang to Vientiane depart during the day - there are approximately 8 departures a day.
  • 2 by taxi+Train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 17:00 Luang Prabang Transfer until 17:00 Luang Prabang Transfer
  • Flights from Luang Prabang to Vientiane depart during the day - there are approximately 1 departures a day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. While it’s often the most expensive option, tool, occasionally you can grab promotional tickets for more or less the price of a train or a ferry ticket. Normally, the minimum you need to pay for a Plane ticket is USD 16.60.

Things to remember before boarding a plane:

  • It’s recommended to book a ticket in advance and check-in online. This way, you can save over 2 hours at the airport, and if your seat selection is on a first come first served basis you will have more options to choose from.
  • Getting through security checks may take some time - it’s recommended to get to the airport at least 1.5 hours in advance.

Airlines flying from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Lao Skyway

Buses

Taking a bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane is cheaper than flying. Quite often, a long-distance bus is the cheapest transportation option. Buses normally make bathroom and/or lunch stops along the way.

Things to remember before opting for a bus ride:

  • If possible, make sure to choose higher-class buses for a more comfortable travel experience. Such buses often have an air conditioning system, soft reclining seats, Wi-Fi, bathrooms, etc.
  • As with plane tickets, buses are better booked in advance so that you can secure a good seat.
  • While booking a bus, keep in mind that delays are possible. Yet it still pays to get to the bus station at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure.

Trains

Things to remember while choosing a train ticket:
Consider everything carefully while choosing the class of your train travel. In most cases, the second class is comfortable enough – it features 2 or 4 berths in each compartment and is often air-conditioned.

If you’re in for a premium experience, consider getting a first class ticket. The price of first class tickets may include Wifi, and a choice of snacks and drinks.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. As far as travel time is concerned, it’s basically equal to a taxi ride, while price-wise it’s way more affordable. The majority of tourists book a van online in advance.

Sometimes, when trains or buses aren’t available, a van is your only way to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane.

Things to remember: while traveling by van, you might not have as much space for luggage as you would on a train or a plane. It’s a good idea to pack only the most useful things for a van trip and put them in a backpack that will be easy to carry around..

The most popular transport from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Luang Prabang to Vientiane? In order to make your choice of transportation easier, we asked 1000 users to range their preferences for this route. Here are the results of the poll:

  • 38% opted for a van.
  • 20% chosen taxi+Train
  • 20% chosen taxi+Van
  • 18% decided to go for a bus.
  • 2% users took a plane.
  • 1% Other