Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train, van, bus, flight, taxi from LAK 441,951

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

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

Vongmalay

Has everything needed.

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, flight Economy, Lao Airlines, Mar 2, 2026

Pierre T

You never sent me the ticket

Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 24, 2026

David

Even if there is no available seats on this train 12go permit us to go.

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

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

4.4

367 customer reviews

49%

18%

16%

17%

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+7h 30m	$258.30
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	$18.23	3.3
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	09:30	12:30	$25.00
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	09:50	10:30	$44.77	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	$71.14	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	$376.72
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	13:25	14:05	$55.56
Flight	China Eastern Airlines	Economy	13:45	11:30	$241.10
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	14:35	07:35	$187.20
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	14:58	16:44	$25.47	4.3
Flight	Vietnam Airlines	Economy	15:20	10:45	$252.69
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	16:05	14:15	$181.41

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 Train ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 58.28. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 20.62.

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 USD 20.62 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 USD 58.28.

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

Van price : USD 20.04 - USD 37.37;
Train tickets - USD 20.62 to USD 58.28;
Bus tickets - USD 37.32 to USD 37.32;
taxi+Train price: USD 41.45. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 11:30 Luang Prabang Transfer until 11:30 Luang Prabang Transfer
taxi+Van price: USD 48.82. From Luang Prabang to Vientiane starting from 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal until 10:30 Nong Khiaw Bus Terminal
Plane tickets - USD 61.17 to USD 321.58;
Bus+taxi price: USD 71.21. 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 26.86 to USD 526.17.

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 61.17.

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 26.86.

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:

39% opted for a van.
23% chosen taxi+Train
21% users enjoyed a train ride.
5% users took a plane.
4% chosen Bus+taxi
4% chosen taxi+Van
2% decided to go for a bus.
2% decided to catch a taxi.

Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Facts about the transport from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Cheapest Transport	$21
Fastest Transport	45m
Earliest Departure	7:00 ص
Latest Departure	7:22 م
Departures per day	19
Distance	638 kilometers
Transport Companies	Aqua De Bamboo, 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

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

Luang Prabang to Vientiane Schedule

How to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

How far is Luang Prabang from Vientiane?

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