Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train, van, bus, flight, taxi from LAK 392,178

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

Keiron F

Crazy service and chaos trying to get on train with much pushing and shoving make sure you get there early as it is more like an airport with security and luggage scanners and the station is a long way from Luang Prabang city. Allow 30 mins by taxi to get there . But a clean quick service

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 10, 2026

Bryan K

Booked 1845 express train. Ticket issued for 1912 slow train

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train First Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 10, 2026

Luca M

Support was not responding in the right amount of time

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 9, 2026

Johann W

My tickets arrived very late. approximately 20 hours before departure Out of fear and not wanting to travel, I have already bought other tickets. So, I now have to buy two tickets and let one go to waste. Their actions have resulted in financial losses for me.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 9, 2026

Ann S

I paid for my ticket on 31 January but did not get my ticket immediately. When I enquired about my ticket I was told that 12Go could not enquire about the status of my ticket until 48 hours before the departure time which I accepted. I then enquired again (within the 48 hour period) but got no response. Due to this lack of response and the uncertainty as to whether I would get a ticket I felt forced to make alternative arrangements. I asked that my ticket request be cancelled and a refund issued - no response. I then received the ticket at approx 9pm the night before I was due to travel (it looked like the ticket had only been purchased at approx 8pm). This was too late as, as already stated, I had already made alternative arrangements. As stated I paid for my ticket on 31 January but was not provided with a ticket until 5 January and did not receive adequate communication/responses from 12Go in the intervening time. I want the refund I have requested.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Feb 8, 2026

Sean G

There was no trip because I didn’t get my ticket. I bought another ticket and waited 5 hours in the train station

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train #C91 First Class, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Feb 7, 2026

Grete T

Impossible to get tickets through official app. 12go.asia fixed it in a few hours!

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 31, 2026

Maryam

I booked a train ticket from Luang Prabang to Vientiane with 12go. But I received the QR code from the “family service” company very late that made me feel stressed and anxious. But the train was on time and comfortable.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 30, 2026

Jan B

It's just a train ride. Took first class...the main difference to second class was the seat color, a table in the armrest and a lady with a service cart where you can buy stuff. Don't waste your money on first class. It was clean and the seats are ok for a few hours.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train First Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 28, 2026

Wayne F

Customer service was not up to standard

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train #C91 First Class, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 21, 2026

4.4

336 customer reviews

47%

17%

18%

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+7h 30m	$273.07
Van	Laos Luxury Travel	Minivan	06:30	14:30	$17.00	5.0
Van	Luang Prabang Holiday Travel	Minivan	07:00	15:00	$17.72
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	07:30	15:30	$15.00	2.9
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	08:00	16:00	$15.00	2.9
Van	Naluang	Regional 14pax	08:30	16:30	$19.28	3.3
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	09:30	12:30	$25.00
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	09:50	10:30	$45.86	5.0
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	10:30	12:30	$22.00	4.7
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	11:00	19:00	$15.00	2.9
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	11:20	12:00	$72.88	5.0
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	11:50	14:50	$25.00
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	12:15	10:45	$233.34
Flight	Bangkok Airways	Economy	12:45	15:05	$386.70
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	13:25	14:05	$55.56
Flight	China Eastern Airlines	Economy	13:45	11:30	$247.49
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	14:35	07:35	$192.16
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	14:58	16:44	$26.92	4.3
Flight	Vietnam Airlines	Economy	15:20	10:45	$259.39
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	16:05	14:15	$186.21

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 Flight ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 542.85. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 18.26.

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 Laos China Railways (Guangdong Piaoduoduo): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 18.26 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a taxi - a one-way taxi ticket can cost as much as USD 542.85.

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

Train tickets - USD 18.26 to USD 51.26;
Van price : USD 25.07 - USD 25.18;
taxi+Train price: USD 26.25 - USD 47.50. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 11:00 Luang Prabang Transfer until 18:08 Luang Prabang Transfer
Bus tickets - USD 37.25 to USD 37.25;
taxi+Van price: USD 48.73. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal until 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal
Plane tickets - USD 61.69 to USD 425.35;
Bus+taxi price: USD 71.07. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 09:00 Luang Prabang Transfer until 09:00 Luang Prabang Transfer

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 27.72 to USD 542.85.

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

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

Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 31 trains per day.
14 by taxi+Train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 11:00 Luang Prabang Transfer until 18:08 Luang Prabang Transfer
Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Luang Prabang to Vientiane any time of the 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 61.69.

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 Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines

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.

Taxi

Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. It allows you to tailor-make your trip, plan all the detours and see all the places you want. You can choose the type and the size of your car as well to be as comfortable as you'd like to.

Depending on the route, it might cost as much as USD 27.72.

Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.

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:

27% chosen taxi+Train
26% users enjoyed a train ride.
17% chosen Bus+taxi
17% chosen taxi+Van
10% opted for a van.
1% Other

Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Facts about the transport from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Cheapest Transport	$19
Fastest Transport	45m
Earliest Departure	7:00 AM
Latest Departure	7:22 PM
Departures per day	48
Distance	638 kilometers
Transport Companies	Book Best Travel and Services, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Laos China Railways, Laos Group Tour, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, RG Adventure

Popular Routes

Luang Prabang to Vientiane