Vientiane to Chiang Mai

Vientiane to Chiang Mai

Vientiane
Chiang Mai
Fri, Dec 5
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Vientiane to Chiang Mai Destination Reviews

CB
Fully understanding this company is local, I get why they only speak their language. However, when you have a large percentage of travelers who are tourists, and a vast majority of them speak English, it might be a good idea to have a local who is multi-lingual to assist travelers at the bus station AND on the bus. The stops that offer toilet breaks is confusing when people are constantly loading and unloading throughout the trip. At the very least, the rest stops should be listed on 12Go's site when purchasing the ticket, or on the app, or via text (LINE, Whatsapp) before arriving at the stop so passengers can prepare. The transfer was horrendous! Was told IN WRITING via email, "Vientiane Transfer" meant I'd be picked up at my hotel, only to find out, it was too far out, which caused me to miss the bus AND had to pay another night at the hotel. Next day took a taxi to one of the pickup places (One Vientiane Hotel) only to be told to walk (with all my luggage) to what appeared to be a laundry location, to wait for transportation to the bus station. I could've just gone to the bus station, it was closer to my hotel than the pickup spot and less LAK! Then, while waiting, the laundry person's cat, which I'm not a fan of (not a cat person) kept bothering me. It was annoying and uncomfortable, she kept calling it away. After waiting for 40 minutes she hurries me into a car with 2 other people and drives like a lunatic while arguing with someone on her cell. Get to the bus station (where I could've gone in the first place) load the bus after 30+ minutes of waiting, get to the LAO border and immigration to check out, back to the van, to Thailand immigration/boarder, then to the final bus to get back to CM. The experience was INSANE, with no one explaining anything. We all were just following each other. The best thing was the lady who waited for all passengers to get through Immigration before we boarded the van, to get to our respective buses at different locations. She spoke enough English to communicate with us effectively. I hope she gets paid very well, cause that seems like a harrowing job. But I was very thankful for her and her assistance during the entire debacle. Finally, the bus to CM arrived, but it was shaky, meaning it rocked side-to-side, and the suspension had us bouncing like balls. We were ROCKING AND ROLLING, literally! Not fun, through winding roads in the mountains! I've taken several bus lines before, but will never use this one again. Unfortunately it was the only one available for the time I wanted to get back to CM. Next time I'll fly.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus VIP, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Nov 15, 2025
B
The steps for purchasing the tickets were unclear and when the driver dropped us off at the first bus station they didn’t tell us anything but the rest they were good about making sure we knew where to go. And then they said we were going VIP and when we got there it was a total different bus and we were told we were to Nong Khai but they dropped us at Udon where nothing was opened and we were not able to get anything to eat and they didn’t stop. The transportation to and from the border was great but after that we didn’t have great service
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), Oct 7, 2025
HW
Excellent service, small problems rectified with a smile.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), Jul 5, 2025
HW
3 hours waiting at the station. .
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Express, Tara Tour and Travel (ธาราทัวร์แอนด์ทราเวล), Jun 12, 2025
C
The trip that should take approximately 10-11 hrs and 1-2 buses, instead became a 19 & 1/2 hr trip and consisted of a taxi ride from Vientiane to the laos border @ 3pm, then a bus to the Thai border, 45 minute wait, then a taxi to Nong khai bus station, a hour wait, then a 1 hr bus trip to Udon Thani bus station, then another 2 hr wait, then a 11 & 1/2 hr bus ride to Chiang Mai, arriving at 9.30 am. Considering a bus ride from Vientiane to Bangkok is only around 11-12hrs . The tour company should maybe a little more transparent about the 6 transfers and the 20 hr journey, instead of the 14 hr , seemingly hassle free service they claim to provide.
Vientiane to Chiang Mai, Bus Standard, Family Service (Family Service), May 19, 2025
4.4
8 customer reviews
5
37%
4
25%
3
13%
2
25%
1
0%

Vientiane to Chiang Mai Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Flight
Jeju Air
Economy
00:01
21:35
$298.74
Flight
Jeju Air
Economy
00:55
21:35
$429.09
Flight
Jeju Air
Economy
01:25
23:45
$452.84
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
07:25
17:50
$1,427.70
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
07:55
19:00
$356.54
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
08:30
14:20
$177.46
Flight
AirAsia
Economy
09:20
11:25
$212.68
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
10:00
14:20
$162.86
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
10:30
14:20
$400.04
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
11:05
14:20
$178.68
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
11:25
14:20
$388.34
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
11:45
14:15
$233.60
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
12:05
19:10
$356.54
Flight
Scoot
Economy
12:30
16:40
$272.63
Bus
Tara Tour and Travel
Express
13:30
05:00
$54.69
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
13:50
23:00
$135.19
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
14:30
13:45
$468.91
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
14:50
23:00
$194.80
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
15:20
09:25
$604.82
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
15:50
09:05
$367.25

Transportation from Vientiane to Chiang Mai

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Chiang Mai

Cheapest Transport$36
Fastest Transport4h 20m
Earliest Departure8:05 AM
Latest Departure3:00 PM
Departures per day48
Distance3684 kilometers
Transport CompaniesFamily Service, RG Adventure, Scoot, Soutchai Travel, Tara Tour and Travel, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air

How to get from Vientiane to Chiang Mai

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

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • 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 flight ticket is the most expensive option - it will cost you about USD 576.17. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus+van as a bus+van ticket costs as low as USD 35.02.

How far is Vientiane from Chiang Mai?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Vientiane to Chiang Mai. Your trip will be a total of 2290 miles (3684 km). The flying distance is 2290 miles (3684 km).

How long does it take to get from Vientiane to Chiang Mai?

The travel time from Vientiane to Chiang Mai can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 5 to 29 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Vientiane to Chiang Mai?

The cost of the trip from Vientiane to Chiang Mai varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ): travelling by bus+van expect to pay as low as USD 35.02 for your ticket.

However, if you’re after more upscale travel . The most expensive variant is to opt for a flight - a one-way flight ticket can cost as much as USD 576.17.

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

  • Bus+Van price: USD 35.02 - USD 50.52. From Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 15:00 Vientiane Transfer until 15:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • Bus tickets - USD 57.84 to USD 57.84;
  • Bus+taxi price: USD 82.14. From Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 14:30 Vientiane Transfer until 14:30 Vientiane Transfer
  • flight price: USD 233.18 - USD 576.17. From Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 08:05 Vientiane Airport until 14:45 Vientiane Airport

How many trips per day are there between Vientiane and Chiang Mai?

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

  • 45 by flight from Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 08:05 Vientiane Airport until 14:45 Vientiane Airport
  • 2 by Bus+Van from Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 15:00 Vientiane Transfer until 15:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • 1 by Bus+taxi from Vientiane to Chiang Mai starting from 14:30 Vientiane Transfer until 14:30 Vientiane Transfer

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Vientiane to Chiang Mai 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.
    .

The most popular transport from Vientiane to Chiang Mai

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Vientiane to Chiang Mai? 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:

  • 88% chosen Bus+Van
  • 11% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other