Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train, van, bus, flight, taxi from LAK 524,704

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

Karsten

It was nice. Train is a bit slow

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train First Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 4, 2026

Oyku G

The vehicle itself was fine. It’s a very clean, comfy and fast train and would give 5 stars. But our tickets were not confirmed for days after purchase. I emailed about it and was told I’ld get the ticket 24 hours prior. Still, I didn’t get it and emailed again. They said the train was full, I could take the other one. I said okay but “my friend is also waiting on her ticket for the same train can you change hers to and emailed her booking number” (The person on the phone told me, we just started calling people, we will call your friend too). W are three people traveling but since we decided to come along at different times, we had different bookings, our initial train was 12 pm, one friend booked through company website and already had her ticket, mine was delayed to 2 pm. The morning of the train, other friend still had no ticket, no email about refund, or sold out train. By the time we got to the train station (10 am because we had a whole day planned) every train was sold out except for 6 pm so she bought another ticket. One hour before the 12 pm train she received an email informing about the refund. In short, our whole travel day was ruined merely because 12go didn’t inform us the train was sold out. That can be done days before and we could book the next train right away altogether. My friend had to wait at the station for more than 8 hours.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 3, 2026

Max W

It was a £7 ticket so I wasn’t expecting luxury. But half way through the journey the fans turned off so whenever the train was stationary I had to stand by the window. Between 2-6am this is not ideal when I’ve been awake the whole time beforehand. If you want a sleeper cabin then book ahead in advance.

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

Jennifer

Luang Prabang Station is vastly imposing architecturally and evidently built with a long term view on rail traffic through Laos. There's coffee shops, a cafe and a 7/11, and signage is multilingual.

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

Marco K

Guys, you must tell us that you screen the whole lugage! In Europe noone does. So i had a handmade knife with me and you Took it away. There ist no Way to Check the knife in. There ist no Way to send it by Post. Nothing. You just Took it away!

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

Lars

High price and tickets have been sent quite late. Half a day before departure.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 22, 2026

Wenjia W

Ticket issuing was quite late and made me worried and wrote a few emails to you. There are also too many emails asking for feedback. However, the response to my inquiry is almost instant, that's a good point.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 21, 2026

Stephanie R

This was my first booking through 12Go. I received my confirmation about six hours before departure, which made me feel a bit nervous. However, the problem was that I was sent a QR code that didn't actually work. At the train platform, I was directed to the ticket counter, where the staff told me they couldn't locate my booking because it hadn't been booked directly through their company. I felt a bit overwhelmed by the situation and wished I had been better informed about the process beforehand. Then, a woman approached me who was holding my ticket. I have no idea where she came from or why she had the ticket, but I was simply grateful that everything worked out and that I managed to catch my train.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 20, 2026

Vinod

Full peace of mind

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 17, 2026

Maria S

Efficient, on time. Enormous station outside Luang Prabang but no disabled facilities at all that I could see - no lifts or easy access, unless you arrive by car to the front (we were dropped off a few hundred meters away). No pen knives allowed!!! Which is a real problem for most backpackers who rely on self catering.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 14, 2026

4.4

395 customer reviews

50%

18%

16%

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+7h 30m	¥41,370
Van	Laos Luxury Travel	Minivan	06:30	14:30	¥2,700	5.0
Van	Luang Prabang Holiday Travel	Minivan	07:00	15:00	¥2,815
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	07:30	15:30	¥2,383	2.9
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	08:00	16:00	¥2,383	2.9
Van	Naluang	Regional 14pax	08:30	16:30	¥2,920	3.3
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	09:30	12:30	¥3,971
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	09:50	10:30	¥7,142	5.0
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	10:30	12:30	¥3,494	4.7
Van	Vieng Chaleune	Regional 14pax	11:00	19:00	¥2,383	2.9
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	11:20	12:00	¥11,349	5.0
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	11:50	14:50	¥3,971
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	12:15	10:45	¥37,062
Flight	Bangkok Airways	Economy	12:45	15:05	¥59,913
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	13:25	14:05	¥8,825
Flight	China Eastern Airlines	Economy	13:45	11:30	¥38,344
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	14:35	07:35	¥29,772
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	14:58	16:44	¥4,079	4.3
Flight	Vietnam Airlines	Economy	15:20	10:45	¥40,188
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	16:05	14:15	¥28,851

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 Taxi+van ticket.

The cost of travel will depend on the means of transport you choose for your trip. A Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about JPY 11,225. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as JPY 3,801.

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 Railway by Family Service: travelling by train expect to pay as low as JPY 3,801 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a Train - a one-way Train ticket can cost as much as JPY 11,225.

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

Van price : JPY 3,182 - JPY 4,774;
Train tickets - JPY 3,801 to JPY 11,225;
taxi+Train price: JPY 4,094 - JPY 7,346. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 10:30 Luang Prabang Transfer until 17:00 Luang Prabang Transfer
Bus tickets - JPY 5,796 to JPY 5,796;
taxi+Van price: JPY 7,583. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal until 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal
Plane tickets - JPY 10,199 to JPY 13,115;
Bus+taxi price: JPY 11,058. 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 JPY 6,345 to JPY 8,224.

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 28 trains per day.
9 by taxi+Train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 10:30 Luang Prabang Transfer until 17:00 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 JPY 10,199.

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 JPY 6,345.

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:

31% users enjoyed a train ride.
21% chosen Bus+taxi
21% decided to catch a taxi.
20% chosen taxi+Van
3% opted for a van.
2% chosen taxi+Train
1% Other

Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Facts about the transport from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Cheapest Transport	¥3,183
Fastest Transport	45m
Earliest Departure	7:00 AM
Latest Departure	7:22 PM
Departures per day	40
Distance	525 kilometers
Transport Companies	Book Best Travel and Services, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Laos China Railways, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, Luang Prabang Holiday Travel, RG Adventure, Vieng Chaleune

Popular Routes

Luang Prabang to Vientiane