DN
David NTravelling 24 hours on a bus is a challange for most people. This sleeper bus was ok, and made regular food and bathroom stops of varying quality - expect about 75,000 for standard meal (you buy a ticket for food, and hand over the ticket at the serving counter) We stopped for about 25 mins each time. I travelled from Hanoi, and we got to the border sometime past midnight, and the bus waited for the border post (Cau Treo) to open at 7am, so we had some quiet sleep time before 6am walk to the border post, breakfast and some wait before 7am. Expect to pay 50 or 100 dong/kip "stamping fee" at the border, so bring some currency! On the negative side, there was no bathroom or WiFi on board, and also it was hard to fit in my hand luggage and also lie down, although i managed it (so best to travel light with a water bottle and some small snacks). Not having the Wifi was inconveinient, but I read an ebook instead. I got a Laos sim card at the bus station on the outskirts of Vientiane, but it took untill the following day to get it working (sold with enough data to work for about 5 minutes). Its an adventure and a test of stamina. We had some long waits in the mountains due to obstcles (maybe after the rain). I was on a bottom bunk and the window was about 4cm high by the "Ceiling". I am assuming the bus had been modified from a seated bus. also, I was tall enough that I kept banging my head on the ceiling light fitting. On the ticket itinery, it dint mention which border crossing would be used, but I guessed correct. this can be important due to border crossings handling visas differently. One of my fellow travellers was turned back due to visa problems - you have been warned! Other than that, its pretty bouncy (no fault of the driver or bus, its the roads), but I completed the journey without injury, and it was about 6 or 7 times cheaper than the plane, so fair enough.
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus Royal Cabin, HT Travel, 24. kol 2026.
NM
Naomi MLong journey but not as horrible as the other reviews make it sound.
The journey is long but the bus was comfortable, had good AC, and a bathroom (I went on Tues; they say the busses on Tue/Thu/Sat are better). One stop around 9-10pm for food/bathroom. Got to the border ~2am and cued up to be first for border crossing in the morning. The bus got quite hot when not on during the night (~2-6am) but was otherwise quite chilly while running (bring a sweater/pants). At the border you need to have your visa already, pay 50k dong to leave Vietnam and 30k kip to enter Laos (or $1-2/dong equivalent). Another stop around lunch time then arrived on time. The roads in Laos can be a bit bumpy. The staff are efficient; if you pay attention, follow their hand gestures and are polite, they are nice enough. They yelled at one guy who was being super rude and pushy but that's not their fault.
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), 16. srp 2026.
BC
Breonna COK! First of all, if taking the buses to save you $100, don't do it. You take the bus to have a unique experience. To slow travel. To push outside of what you know. But most of the reviews are from folks who were looking for a standard travel convenience while saving money. You will be disappointed. But we LOVED our journey. And if you're excited to take the bus. Here's your life hack toolkit!
First of all...review the reviews! Some brokers connect you to better buses than others. This one was great. But we met others who had less than stellar experiences. That said, if you get a bus you're uncomfortable with in ANY way, just call 12go and rebook. Safety is never worth compromising. And some folks we met that booked on other routes paid for multiple bunks but were squished into fewer beds. I HIGHLY recommend ensuring you book a VIP 20 or 21 (indicating the number of beds on the bus) vs. the VIP 40 (way too many people). Again, the increase of cost is small for the comfort. The best seats are in the middle of the bus on the uppers if you can get them (windows, less bumps, more comfortable). I prefer the lowers but I don't mind not having a window because I'm asleep most of the time. I highly recommend you take the 5:45pm/6pm bus out of Hanoi. It will have very few stops but you sleep. The bus arrives at the border of Laos at 1am and then there are restrooms (bring toilet paper!) and food options there. It will park at the border until they open at 7am and they let everyone through.
When you book, you will get a voucher but you need to exchange it for ACTUAL TICKETS at the bus station. Get there early. At least an hour. Exchange your tickets, you will have to ask around to find your bus stall. The folks at the desk might know but don't count on it. Give yourself time. Meet the drivers, get your bags on, grab a seat. The real cheat code to a good trip (by train or bus) is to pre game with good snacks. Make sure you get Bahn Mi that you love, have fresh fruit, water and your favorite sweet and salty snacks. A pre game the day before your travel makes all the difference. Options on the road can be great but don't count on them.
The border crossing is going to be hectic. Roll with it. You should ABSOLUTELY get your visa at the embassy BEFORE you board the bus. Visas on arrival are not typically issued at the border crossings for all buses and you have no way of knowing exactly where your bus will cross in advance. Don't chance it. The bus WILL LEAVE YOU. The visa process is simple, you go to the Lao Embassy in Hanoi and drop off your passport, two passport photos and complete their application (I recommend you go first thing in the morning) and they can usually have it back at the end of day or early the next morning. When you cross, you will have your visa inspected. Then you will need to have it processed (pay for a stamp 15K Dong each), then get a Lao stamp. It took us an hour to get through it all but it was a fun adventure with all the other foreigners. Then you walk through the border crossing all the way to meet your bus. You can leave your luggage on the bus and just cross on foot.
Then you're back on the bus and have another 2-3 hours until another long stop for lunch, bathrooms and hydration. We slept most of the journey. After that it's about another 4 hours to Vientiane Southern Bus Station. The bus station is outside of town and you will need to get a TukTuk. Many of the vendors/stalls along the journey will have both Vietnamese Dong and Laotian Kip. Ask for change in kip so you have some when you get to the bus station. Once you're in town there are tons of ATMs. But you will have to haggle for your TukTuk ride into town. It's about 100K-150K kip.
Life is about taking the road less traveled and a 24-hour bus ride across the Laotian border definitely qualifies. We enjoyed the journey so much and have taken trains and buses all across South East Asia. Enjoy! I'm on IG @liveBQD for more!
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP 20, Grouptour (Công ty du lịch quốc tế Grouptour), 26. lip 2026.
L
Lola We were asked to share a bed. The PDF did not say anything about fees. When there is a customs charge on both sides of the boarder. When we said we did not have money they threatened to take our bags and leave them on the bridge between Vietnam and laos. Luckily the police were kind to us and stamped us through anyway. The bus staff were a little rude at the boarder. However the bed was comfy and clean. They did make food and toilet stops. And the WhatsApp number for the company communication was good, always replied fast and helped with problems.
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus Royal Cabin, HT Travel, 14. lip 2026.
FM
Fatima MSmooth and comfortable ride, but I got to the border only to find out they don't do land visas here. If you need to get a land visa, be sure to go to the Lao Boa border. The ride back and to Hanoi or to the Lao Boa border can be anywhere from 3mil-4mil dong
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), 31. svi 2026.
AN
Alfie NThey should Defintely make people aware of needing to visit the embassy and getting a visa when advertising this certain bus
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP Luxury 24, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), 20. svi 2026.
CT
Cam TToo long and wayyy too tired
The trip starts 30 mins earlier than the time
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus Big Private CaBin, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), 28. tra 2026.
•M
•kimmy’s MStayed too much time in the border almost 9hours…after laos immigration stamped our passport around 8am we kept on waiting the bus till 10am with another bus….the bus has changed we dont know our luggages been transfered also…only the time when we reach vientiane
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), 4. tra 2026.
AM
Abigail MAnd
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus VIP Luxury 24, Son Hue Bus, 13. velj 2026.
JC
James CBest way to travel from Hanoi to Laos. Well coordinated between different modes
Hanoi — Vientiane, Autobus Royal Cabin + Van + Train, Asian Bus Travel, 22. sij 2026.
