Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang

NaN Passengers

Best Options

$14
$47

Other Options

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
Soutchai Travel Business Seat 06:30 - 08:25LAK 1,055,182
Chit Prasong Minivan 08:00 - 14:00LAK 280,000
Lao Airlines Economy #QV10111:00 - 11:45LAK 2,907,653
Lao Airlines Economy 12:05 - 12:20LAK 4,589,836
Soutchai Travel First Class Seat 14:05 - 17:10$ 36
Lao Skyway Economy #LK26417:30 - 18:10LAK 498,038
Thai Smile Economy 20:30 - 11:35LAK 5,029,886

Transportation from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport$12
Fastest Transport45m
Earliest Departure6:30 AM
Latest Departure6:00 PM
Departures per day9
Distance650 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChit Prasong, Lao Airlines, Laos Railway by Soutchai, Soutchai Travel

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

TY
Bought a train ticket from Vientiane to Luang Prabang a day before the trip and less than 20 mins later I had the confirmation with QR code in my (e)mailbox. Smooth and fast!
Train #C82 First Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Nov 4, 2023
AP
Plug under the seat , comfy , on time , "modern" , fast , nice view, nice staff , nice stations, sell food and drinks in
Train #C84 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Sep 13, 2023
SH
Pickup was exactly on time, all went very smoothly and it was an excellent journey
Train First Class Seat, Laos Railway by Soutchai (Soutchai Travel), Jul 5, 2023
LR
The flight with Lao Skyways was - as I found out at the airport - cancelled. But in no time the airline got me a seat on a Lao Airlines plane that departed an hour earlier. Good service! On top I got a seat in the first row with extra leg room.
flight Economy, Lao Skyway, Mar 19, 2023
NA
Too many stops, too many people crammed into the bus.
Van Minivan, Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ), Jan 26, 2023
KA
Bus was meant to go at 11…we left at 1245. I would have got the train if I knew we would sit around until the bus filled up. You should have warned me!!
Van Minivan, Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ), Dec 12, 2022
AK
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
Van Van or Bus, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Mar 4, 2020
LL
There's no point in buying it on this site, it's a waste of time and money, better to go directly to the Vientiane bus station. Otherwise, the trip was pretty ok.
This review was autotranslated
Bus Express Sleeper, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Dec 26, 2019
4.4
67 customer reviews
5
24%
4
21%
3
33%
2
22%
1
0%

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:

  • Flight
  • Bus
  • Train
  • 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 Bus 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 46.15. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a van as a van ticket costs as low as USD 13.55.

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 404 miles (650 km). The flying distance is 397 miles (638 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 1 to 13 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 Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ): travelling by van expect to pay as low as USD 13.55 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 46.15.

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

  • Bus+Van price: USD 11.73. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 18:00 Vientiane Transfer until 18:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • Van price : USD 13.55;
  • Bus tickets - USD 20.96 to USD 23.47;
  • Train tickets - USD 20.96 to USD 48.62;
  • taxi+Train price: USD 25.47 - USD 32.50. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 06:30 Vientiane Transfer until 13:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • Plane tickets - USD 46.15 to USD 46.15;

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

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

  • 4 by taxi+Train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 06:30 Vientiane Transfer until 13:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • Vans from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 4 departures a day.
  • Flights from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart during the day - there are approximately 1 departures a day.

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 USD 46.15.

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 Airlines

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.

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 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:

  • 26% chosen Bus+Van
  • 26% opted for a van.
  • 25% chosen taxi+Train
  • 16% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 6% decided to go for a bus.
  • 1% Other