Vientiane to Khon Kaen by train, bus, van, flight, taxi from LAK 137,001

Vientiane to Khon Kaen Destination Reviews

Amandine H

The driver was very kind. The bus was on time.

Vientiane to Khon Kaen, Bus Bus, Naluang (Naluang), May 16, 2026

Anna S

Good experience. Not a luxury train, but clean and comfy. Passport control on the Lao side can be a bit slow because they process you manually, but the train will wait if they see there are still people in line. Good strong AC, can be even a bit chilly, but after Thai border they give you a blanket (at least in 2d class AC carriages). Thai customs pretty fast, then you'll have about and hour until the train departs. Nong Khai station staff is used to dealing with foreigners who don't speak Thai and will direct you. Station bathroom is 3 baht, so better have some coins or take care of your business on the train 😊

Vientiane to Khon Kaen, Train #134 2nd Class AC seats only, Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย), May 3, 2026

David A

This bus service performed as expected.

Vientiane to Khon Kaen, Bus Bus, Naluang (Naluang), Nov 18, 2025

4.7

9 customer reviews

67%

33%

Vientiane to Khon Kaen Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+4h	$129.03
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	07:55	18:35	$113.05
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	11:35	08:10	$140.73
Flight	Thai Airways	Economy	13:30	08:00	$228.40
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	13:50	09:05	$111.89
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	14:45	09:10	$115.35
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Van + 3rd Class Fan seats	16:30	22:49	$20.13	5.0
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Van + 3rd Class Fan seats	17:00	22:49	$20.13
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	18:10	19:00	$114.20
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	18:35	08:10	$113.05
Flight	Thai Airways	Economy	20:30	19:30	$198.41

How to get from Vientiane to Khon Kaen

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

Flight
Bus
Train
Taxi

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Bus. 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 210.75. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 6.22.

How much does it cost to get from Vientiane to Khon Kaen?

The cost of the trip from Vientiane to Khon Kaen varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is Thai Railway (การรถไฟแห่งประเทศไทย): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 6.22 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 210.75.

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

Train tickets - USD 6.22 to USD 71.76;
Bus tickets - USD 10.60 to USD 10.60;
Bus+Train+Van price: USD 10.86. From Vientiane to Khon Kaen starting from 09:30 Udon Thani 1 until 13:30 Udon Thani 1
flight price: USD 172.41 - USD 210.75. From Vientiane to Khon Kaen starting from 07:20 Vientiane Airport until 18:20 Vientiane Airport

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 220.11 to USD 286.15.

How many trips per day are there between Vientiane and Khon Kaen?

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

Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 8 trains per day.
6 by flight from Vientiane to Khon Kaen starting from 07:20 Vientiane Airport until 18:20 Vientiane Airport
2 by Bus+Train+Van from Vientiane to Khon Kaen starting from 09:30 Udon Thani 1 until 13:30 Udon Thani 1

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Buses

Taking a bus from Vientiane to Khon Kaen 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 Vientiane to Khon Kaen. 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 220.11.

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..

The most popular transport from Vientiane to Khon Kaen

How to choose the most convenient way of travel from Vientiane to Khon Kaen? 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:

37% users enjoyed a train ride.
35% chosen Bus+Train+Van
22% decided to go for a bus.
5% chosen flight
1% Other

Transportation from Vientiane to Khon Kaen

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Khon Kaen

Cheapest Transport	$7
Fastest Transport	4h
Earliest Departure	7:20 早上
Latest Departure	6:25 晚上
Departures per day	14
Distance	200 kilometers
Transport Companies	Lao Airlines, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, Naluang, RG Adventure, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Thai Railway, Thai Vietjet

Popular Routes

Vientiane to Khon Kaen