Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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Transportation from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

AK
van Van or Bus, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Mar 4, 2020
Were not informed coach terminates at Veng Viang and change to minibus.. 5 others in same position. Language problem but okay in end. Glad I went by road - great experience
DB
Bus Express Sleeper 41, Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล), Dec 13, 2019
The bus was on-time (actually got to Luang Prabang early), but the conditions were pretty bad. The shuttle that takes you to the bus station at 18:00 didn't mention that you have to wait 2.5 hours at the station (food stalls close by the time you arrive). Also, the bus operators have no idea what assigned seats mean. It's mostly first-come first-serve and everyone ignores their ticket's seat number. It was a hassle finding a bed and the sheets smelled terrible.
AD
Bus Express Sleeper 41, Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล), Sep 27, 2019
Stuck three of us in tiny compartment over engine at back of bus. Not impressed. These spaces not designed for three large western guys.
AB
Bus Express Sleeper 41, Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล), Jul 22, 2019
Communication on what bus to get was poor, we got told to stay on transport which was going to Paksa when we were going to Luang Prabang. The driving was crazy and my partner was unable to sleep more than 2hrs. Air conditioning was good and bed wasn’t too bad.
AD
Bus Express Sleeper, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Jul 11, 2019
We travelled with overnight bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. On the plus side - we arrived early (just in time for the sunrise alms-giving ceremony) and managed to get some sleep on the way. There was AC and we got blankets. On the minus side - we had to arrive at 18:00 in the Soutchai office, while the bus leaves at 20:30 from the Northern bus station. We first waited for the transfer from the office to the bus terminal. Our vouchers were changed into tickets there and we had to wait nearly 2 hours at the dirty station. The bus was there, but they would not let us in before the 20:15. The price of the ticket at the station was 150.000 kip, we paid twice the price (over 30$) per person through 12GoAsia. The reclining seats allows you to sleep if you are less than 170 cm. There is no toilet and no toilet stops on the way. Instead of 8:00am stated on the tickets we arrived at 5:20am. Also we arrived to Southern station in Luang Prabang, while our tickets stated that we will arrive at the Northern one. Still this trip was more restful than the other way round.
HE
Bus Standard AC, Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล), Apr 29, 2019
I bought the ticket via 12go and I am aware that they are only selling the ticket and are not operating the buses. The bus had 12-15 passengers, give or take, during the tour. The trip between Vientiane and Luang Prabang was interesting and I can summarize it as: Pro: - We made it all the way without any incidents . That said there was several near-misses and some serious incidents observed on the way (see below) - The driver of the bus was politely and friendly - The air-con was not to cold (which is often a problem on this buses) - Plenty of stops en-route (might be annoying for some) ensured that the engine - and most importantly - the brakes could cool down before continue the ride. Con: - We observed a truck involved in a "front to front" collision with another heavy vehicle. This caused some delays both southbound and northbound. - We observed an incident involving two motorcycles with at least two fatalities. Shocking! - I showed up the 1 hour before pick up (as instructed on the ticket) just to experience that I had to wait for 1 hour and 20 minutes for the pick-up. - At the bus station there was some confusion about which bus to take, wen it was leaving etc, but it was sorted out in the end. - The bus was old, noisy and had seen better days. But remember- this is Laos - The roads was bumpy, and to some extent, unpaved. But remember- this is Laos
BH
van Regional 14pax, PTS Transit Service (คุณเป๋อ บริการ ขนส่ง), Apr 10, 2019
Overall we managed to reach the destination safely and on time. However, we booked a sleeper van but we got a sleeper bus where the aircon broke down.
FS
van Regional 14pax, PTS Transit Service (คุณเป๋อ บริการ ขนส่ง), Apr 4, 2019
The driver who picked me up was very helpful and kind. The bus left 45 minutes late, and we got to Luang Prabang 3 hours late. The bus smelled very moldy and made me cough. The bathroom was closed, which was very inconvenient for me because I was sick. Thankfully the driver stopped many times so we could use the bathroom. The bus service was kind about letting me have my own bed since I am bigger than most Asian people.
KS
van Regional 14pax, PTS Transit Service (คุณเป๋อ บริการ ขนส่ง), Feb 20, 2019
Long and hard on the butt. All okay. Thanks!
CL
Bus Express Sleeper 41, Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล), Feb 16, 2019
Bring some earplugs and you are fine.
2.2
79 customer reviews
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Popular Routes

From Vientiane

To Vientiane

From Luang Prabang

To Luang Prabang

Popular Routes in Laos

How to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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

  • Bus
  • Van

If you’re looking for a quick trip, it’s recommended that you use Van. However, if you’d rather take your time with a slower, more affordable travel option, you can book a Van 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 CNY 288. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a van as a van ticket costs as low as CNY 115.

How far is Vientiane from Luang Prabang?

If you’re traveling by land, it’s important to know the distance from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Your trip will be a total of 176 miles (282 km). The flying distance is 135 miles (217 km).

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

The travel time from Vientiane to Luang Prabang can vary depending on the mode of transportation you choose. All things considered, the whole journey should take from 11 to 14 hours.

How much does it cost to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

The cost of the trip from Vientiane to Luang Prabang varies according to what means of transport you choose for your journey. The most affordable operator is PTS Transit Service (คุณเป๋อ บริการ ขนส่ง), Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ): travelling by van expect to pay as low as CNY 115 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 CNY 288.

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

  • Van price : CNY 115 - CNY 166;
  • Bus+van price: CNY 118 - CNY 118. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 18:00 Vientiane any hotel until 18:00 Vientiane any hotel
  • Bus tickets - CNY 171 to CNY 188;
  • Plane tickets - CNY 288 to CNY 288;

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

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

  • Vans from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 3 departures a day.
  • Buses start plying the route from 07:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 18:00. There are 2 available bus trips every day.
  • Flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 1 departures a day.
  • 1 by Bus+van from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 18:00 Vientiane any hotel until 18:00 Vientiane any hotel

Which means of transport is the best for the route?

Flights

Traveling by plane is the fastest way to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. 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 CNY 288.

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 Vientiane to Luang Prabang
Lao Skyway

Buses

Taking a bus from Vientiane 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.

Vans

A shared van is another means of transport for traveling from Vientiane 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 Vientiane 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 Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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

  • 50% opted for a van.
  • 49% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% chosen Bus+van