Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang by train, van, bus, taxi from LAK 325,297

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

Ulrich G

I didn't like the service of 12go so much. The train tickets arrived very late, and the need to pick up the tickets at a different place again, doesn't make it easier.

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 9, 2026

Alistair

It's a good trip but 2 things stop it being a 5 star score. One, the station is quite a bit out of town at both ends (over 10km at the Luang Prabang end) so be prepared to pay as much for the train ticket again for tuktuks into town at either end or be prepared for a hot and sweaty walk from Vang Vieng. Two, you need to be fully registered with the train in advance. Don't just book it on 12Go or other 3rd party app and turn up just before the train is ready to go. Think of it as though you were going to fly from an airport and you need to do the pre check in up front. It's easy enough but you need to go to a restaurant before you get to the station to register your details. I'd recommend you do this the day before if it's not too inconvenient, otherwise at least 90mins before the departure. Bring your passport (or at least a good picture of your passport details page on your phone) and a recent digital picture of yourself, and then they will register your details with the actual train company. Then you can come back to the restaurant on the day 30-45mins before the actual departure to pick up your scanned photo and passport registered train ticket. Then head to the station (5mins from the restaurant). It's nice and modern with aircon and facilities like food and drink and duty free etc. Wait around till you're called forward and then they'll scan your QR code and you can get on the train. It's not Bullet Train or Maglev fast but clean modern and fast enough 180kph. Only takes just over an hour to get between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang compared to the 7+hrs that a minibus would take! Definitely worth doing just do your homework with the checkin to avoid being caught out on the day. Also note that like with planes you can't take aerosol products on the train so no cans of deodorant etc. Your bags have to go through an airport style scanner before you board and they will confiscate if they find.

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 6, 2026

Holger

Too much pushing of the people

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C82 First Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Jan 5, 2026

Mathias H

Did not get picked up and driver didn’t call. I called and texted with only a reply when it would have been too late for making it. We ended up taking a taxi on our own expense (more then the compensation given).

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 4, 2026

Sweehong

this vendor is very good they find alternative seats for us when the original seats were not available v professional

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 25, 2025

Sweehong

very good service , offered to help upgrade our seats to first class as out seats are sold out !!! send us confirmation even late at night to ensure we are well informed

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 24, 2025

Sebastian C

transfer pick up didnt show up and no message. had to manage myself to get to the train station with time trouble. train ticket was good.

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Dec 16, 2025

Amber W

Our vang Veing transfer never showed up so had to pay to get a tuk tuk to the station hoping we would still make it in tie for our train. To top it off it didn’t even say what time the train was on our tickets (only the time of the transfer that never showed) so we were completely blindsided. We also didn’t get our confirmation till very shortly before the trip. Contacted 12Go and although they replied quickly said confirmation could take 24 hours but the trip was in 14 hours.

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Dec 14, 2025

Juliette G

I had the reservation confirmed quite early. But I know it’s not the case for one of my friend who had her reservation canceled. For my trip everything was easy

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 13, 2025

Quitterie B

Very nice, clear and confortable.

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #K12 Hard Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Dec 13, 2025

4.4

231 customer reviews

52%

23%

14%

11%

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+4h	$152.50
Van	Exploring Laos	Private Minivan 13pax	06:00	11:30	$173.00
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	08:00	09:45	$17.01	4.4
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	08:16	09:06	$14.50	2.0
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	08:55	09:46	$17.57	4.6
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	First Class Seat	09:30	12:19	$19.06
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Hard Seat	09:49	11:04	$12.15	4.7
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Hard Seat	10:06	11:22	$12.15	5.0
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	10:45	11:49	$15.15	4.6
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	12:20	13:11	$16.36	4.5
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	13:00	15:30	$14.30	4.8
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	13:30	16:00	$14.30	4.8
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	14:06	15:14	$15.15	4.6
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	14:27	15:38	$13.23	4.6
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	15:00	17:26	$14.30	4.4
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	16:00	18:06	$14.30	4.8
Train	Laos Fast Train	Second Class	16:25	17:25	$15.30	5.0
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	17:12	18:20	$15.15	4.6
Van	Exploring Laos	Private Minivan 13pax	19:00	00:30	$173.00

How to get from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

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

Bus
Train
Van
Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Train. 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 taxi ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 366.00. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 15.04.

How much does it cost to get from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang?

The cost of the trip from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Laos Railway by Naluang: travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 15.04 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 366.00.

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

Train tickets - USD 15.04 to USD 28.98;
Train+Van price: USD 17.27 - USD 23.02. From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 15:30 Vang Vieng Transfer
taxi+Train price: USD 19.15 - USD 34.48. From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 10:45 Vang Vieng Railway Station
Bus+Van price: USD 19.98. From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 09:30 Vang Vieng Trendy Hotel until 09:30 Vang Vieng Trendy Hotel
Van price : USD 21.23 - USD 23.60;
Bus tickets - USD 21.98 to USD 32.42;
taxi+Van price: USD 33.69. From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 09:00 Vang Vieng Transfer
Bus+taxi price: USD 198.64 - USD 209.38. From Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 00:00 Vang Vieng Transfer

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 198.70 to USD 366.00.

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

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

Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 26 trains per day.
16 by taxi+Train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 10:45 Vang Vieng Railway Station
Buses start plying the route from 08:55 - you can also take a bus as late as 12:20. There are 7 available bus trips every day.
3 by Train+Van from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Vang Vieng Transfer until 15:30 Vang Vieng Transfer
Vans from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 3 departures a day.
1 by Bus+Van from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang starting from 09:30 Vang Vieng Trendy Hotel until 09:30 Vang Vieng Trendy Hotel
Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang any time of the day.

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang 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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. 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 198.70.

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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang. 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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.

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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang? 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:

47% users enjoyed a train ride.
17% chosen taxi+Train
17% chosen taxi+Van
6% decided to catch a taxi.
5% chosen Bus+taxi
5% opted for a van.
1% Other

Transportation from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport	$16
Fastest Transport	50m
Earliest Departure	12:00 AM
Latest Departure	4:52 PM
Departures per day	62
Distance	42 kilometers
Transport Companies	Book Best Travel and Services, Laos Easy Go Travel, Laos Group Tour, Laos Luxury Travel, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, RG Adventure

Popular Routes

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang