Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane
Luang Prabang
Fri, Feb 27
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Vientiane to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

TK
Takahiro K
This is a rubbish company. They charged me for the tickets even though I didn't get them. And they never contacted me. I should never use them again.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #K12 Hard Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Feb 23, 2026
TH
Trung H
To swindle.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 19, 2026
PP
Phouthavong P
Easy and sure, thank you
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 13, 2026
BM
Brent M
There was a problem my ticket which required that I purchase another ticket at the train station. I have contacted 12GO support for a refund on the initial ticket. If this is proceeds smoothly, then please change my rating to five stars and count me in as another happy customer. Thanks very much!
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 Second Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Feb 1, 2026
AT
Anna T
the ticket arrived only at 3 am of the same day of departure at 9.50 am.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Feb 1, 2026
SM
Syed M
Despite my repeated messages I wasn’t contacted & there was no follow-up. I had to make my own arrangement to travel.to Luang Prabang.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 27, 2026
M
Mads
Great train. Remember.... There is airport security. So like a plane, only carry-on luggage.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 21, 2026
B
Bertrand
Sécurité check keep my small knife .
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 First Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Jan 21, 2026
DM
Dominic M
Train was great. Booking it, however, is complicated through 12go. Glitchy website and app
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 6, 2026
MB
Mariano B
The costumer support was actually really bad. I was stressed out for a day because I had no tickets and the response I got from the costumer support team was terrible and inaccurate.
Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Dec 27, 2025
4.4
331 customer reviews
5
50%
4
22%
3
16%
2
11%
1
1%

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Taxi
RG Adventure
SUV 4pax
Any time
+7h 30m
$274.48
  5.0
Van
Luang Prabang Travel
Van
05:30
13:30
$19.00
Train
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
06:00
09:16
$24.22
  3.8
Train
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
06:30
09:46
$24.22
  3.4
Train
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
07:00
11:04
$20.34
  3.4
Train
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
07:20
09:06
$22.00
  4.1
Train
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
07:40
11:24
$22.67
Train
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
08:00
09:46
$28.97
  4.3
Train
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
08:25
11:04
$18.12
  4.0
Train
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
08:42
11:24
$18.12
  4.0
Train
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
09:45
11:49
$25.25
  4.3
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
10:30
16:25
$174.65
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
10:50
11:35
$71.13
  4.0
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
11:20
12:05
$48.45
  4.0
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
11:45
12:30
$59.32
  4.0
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
12:05
12:05
$277.31
Train
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:30
15:40
$25.80
Train
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
13:00
15:54
$25.25
  4.3
Train
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
13:30
15:30
$25.25
  4.3
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
13:50
14:05
$188.22

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 Flight 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 USD 545.67. If you want to save on transportation, it’s better to take a train as a train ticket costs as low as USD 18.26.

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 397 miles (638 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 16 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 Laos China Railways (Guangdong Piaoduoduo): travelling by train expect to pay as low as USD 18.26 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 USD 545.67.

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

  • Train tickets - USD 18.26 to USD 68.23;
  • Van price : USD 19.27 - USD 23.75;
  • Bus tickets - USD 23.29 to USD 50.94;
  • Bus+Train price: USD 24.15 - USD 40.90. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 06:30 Vientiane Transfer until 13:30 Vientiane Transfer
  • Bus+Van price: USD 25.12. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 09:00 Vientiane Garden Boutique Hotel until 09:00 Vientiane Garden Boutique Hotel
  • taxi+Train price: USD 32.19 - USD 54.41. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:08 Vientiane Transfer until 09:45 Vientiane Railway Station
  • Train+Van price: USD 39.80 - USD 60.14. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Vientiane Railway Station until 08:00 Vientiane Railway Station
  • taxi+Van price: USD 48.93. From Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:00 Vientiane Transfer until 07:00 Vientiane Transfer
  • Plane tickets - USD 50.51 to USD 334.73;

You can order a taxi, too - an estimated cost of the ride is from USD 389.76 to USD 545.67.

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

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

  • Trains always run on a set schedule - there are 37 trains per day.
  • 8 by taxi+Train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:08 Vientiane Transfer until 09:45 Vientiane Railway Station
  • 2 by Train+Van from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 08:00 Vientiane Railway Station until 08:00 Vientiane Railway Station
  • 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?

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 50.51.

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, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Thai Airways

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 USD 389.76.

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.

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:

  • 34% users enjoyed a train ride.
  • 18% chosen taxi+Train
  • 18% chosen taxi+Van
  • 13% chosen Train+Van
  • 7% chosen Bus+Train
  • 6% opted for a van.
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport$19
Fastest Transport45m
Earliest Departure6:30 AM
Latest Departure8:30 PM
Departures per day49
Distance638 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChit Prasong, Family Service, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Laos China Railways, Laos Easy Go Travel, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, RG Adventure, Thai Airways