Recommended
From Vientiane any hotel to Luang Prabang by van
From Vientiane Haysoke Guest House to Luang Prabang by bus
From Vientiane Soutchai Travel to Luang Prabang by bus
From Vientiane Airport to Luang Prabang by taxi
Passenger reviews out of total 351 passengers who traveled with us on this route.
At 12Go our operators offer three types of service:
Cheap, Fast, Good - but you can usually pick only two of them!
Cheap & Fast won’t be Good. (e.g. buses from/to Khao San Road, local buses or 3rd class trains)
Cheap & Good won’t be Fast. (e.g. VIP trains in Thailand)
Fast & Good won’t be Cheap. (e.g. private limousine services, or VIP24 buses vs Express buses)
Make your choice! Please remember that while we are closely monitoring the services, we are still an agency marketplace. That means we focus on ticketing services and route availability & coverage rather than on the factual seat reclining angle you will get on the bus today.
Popular Routes
From Vientiane
To Vientiane
From 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
- Taxi
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 Taxi 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 LAK 3,169,711. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a bus as a bus ticket costs as low as LAK 231,931.
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 467 miles (750 km). The flying distance is 147 miles (235 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 15 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 Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ): travelling by bus expect to pay as low as LAK 231,931 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 LAK 3,169,711.
Here is a chart of the average ticket prices and transportation options available from Vientiane to Luang Prabang:
- Bus tickets - LAK 231,931 to LAK 268,521;
- Van price : LAK 254,959 - LAK 270,962;
You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from LAK 2,267,762 to LAK 3,169,711.
How many trips per day are there between Vientiane and Luang Prabang?
Depending on your choice of transportation, the number of daily trips varies.
- Buses start plying the route from 07:00 - you can also take a bus as late as 18:00. There are 3 available bus trips every day.
- Vans from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 2 departures a day.
Taxis are a good option to consider for this route, too. Book a cab to take you from Vientiane to Luang Prabang any time of the day.
Which means of transport is the best for the route?
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.
Taxi
Catching a cab is the easiest way to get from Vientiane 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 LAK 2,267,762.
Things to remember: It's a good idea to follow the route on Google Maps or any other GPS navigator.
Vans
A shared van is another means of transport for travelling 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 travelling 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:
- 878 decided to go for a bus.
- 122 opted for a van.