Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
RG Adventure Van 9pax Any timeLAK 8,875,332
Laos Railway by Soutchai Second Class Seat 06:30 - 09:30LAK 481,635
Laos Railway by RG Adventure First Class Seat 09:30 - 12:58LAK 884,998
Lao Skyway Economy #LK26411:15 - 11:55LAK 1,013,249
Laos Railway by RG Adventure First Class Seat 13:05 - 15:04LAK 829,901
Laos Railway by RG Adventure First Class Seat 15:30 - 18:40LAK 955,797
Lao Skyway Economy #LK26417:30 - 18:10LAK 667,891
Thai Smile Economy 20:30 - 12:05LAK 4,799,636

Transportation from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport$17
Fastest Transport40m
Earliest Departure6:30 AM
Latest Departure6:00 PM
Departures per day34
Distance650 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChit Prasong, Family Service, Hahn Air Systems, Lao Airlines, Lao Skyway, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, Laos Railway by Soutchai, Naluang, RG Adventure

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

DG
Excellent for expérience but not 2 !!!
Van Minivan, Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ), Dec 18, 2023
JC
I give the trip a 5, for the following, we left late and arrived late, but in between there was a horrible road, a 10 for the driver, who was 8 hours Hyper focused on the road, the worst I have ever driven on , more than 200 km, potholes, dirt, tarmac, herds of cows, more potholes, more dirt, crazy, not the best way to go to Luang Prabang, but the driver was a professional
Van Minivan, Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ), Dec 18, 2023
JT
My ticket arrived via email a few days before my travel date. Everything was very smooth and easy.
Train #C82 First Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Dec 7, 2023
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
H
 The Chinese version of the bullet train that China built in Laos. It was a very good experience. Thank you very much.  I think the experience on the bullet train is not relevant to 12GO, so I would like to comment next on the transportation to the station.  The pick-up is too early.  The pick up at the hotel was supposed to be at 13:00, but they came before 12:00, I was not there, and they were able to pick me up again around 12:20. Isn't it strange that they come more than an hour before as expected? Also, it seemed that not everyone on that bus was going to the Shinkansen station, so when I got off the bus, they handed me a Shinkansen ticket with a "Hi! and that was it! It was right in front of the station, so we didn't get lost, but I think it would be better if they would check with us to make sure the tickets were correct or something.
This review was autotranslated
Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Soutchai (Soutchai Travel), May 7, 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
4.4
75 customer reviews
5
29%
4
20%
3
31%
2
20%
1
0%

How to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Travelling between Vientiane and Luang Prabang is possible by Flight, bus, train, van and taxi. Flight guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Bus is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 416.23 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a taxi+van which will set you back mere USD 18.45.

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

It can take you anywhere between 1 and 13 hours to travel between Vientiane and Luang Prabang depending on the means of transport you choose.

Flight is the fastest way to travel between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Flight will bring you to your destination in 40m. Bus does a much slower job and take about 13h to reach Luang Prabang.

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

Travelling between Vientiane and Luang Prabang can be as cheap as USD 18.45 if you opt for a Family Service taxi+van and as expensive as USD 416.23 if you buy a RG Adventure taxi ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

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

  • 16 by taxi+Train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 06:30 Vientiane Transfer until 15:55 Vientiane Railway Station
  • 12 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 06:30 Vientiane Transfer until 15:55 Vientiane Railway Station
  • 3 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 11:15 Vientiane Airport until 15:20 Vientiane Airport
  • 1 by Bus+Van from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 08:30 Vientiane Northern Bus Station until 08:30 Vientiane Northern Bus Station
  • 1 by taxi+Van from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:00 Vientiane Hotel Transfer until 07:00 Vientiane Hotel Transfer
  • 1 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Thanaleng Border Laos side until 00:00 Thanaleng Border Laos side

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Vientiane to Luang Prabang.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Flights

Flying is the fastest and often the most expensive way to travel from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as USD 47.52.

Things to remember: Note that some of the airlines may have restrictions on checked luggage weight or require paying extra for check-in, choosing seats or transportation of oversized luggage.

If opting for a flight, calculate the time you will spend getting to and from the airports as well as the waiting time before your flight, getting through immigration in case of an international flight and recovering your checked luggage.

In certain cases all these procedures can add no less than 5 hours to your total travel time.

Airlines flying between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Hahn Air Systems, Lao Airlines, Lao Skyway

Bus

Travelling from Vientiane to Luang Prabang overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Naga Travel (นากา ทราเวล)

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

RG Adventure

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

Van

Vans are a great alternative - or, in many cases - your only option - if you need to travel overland within one and the same province or neighbouring provinces or states. Vans ply the roads between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, too.

Things to remember: When travelling by van with huge luggage buying a separate seat for your suitcase or backpack is a good idea. Do not expect there is a roomy luggage compartment in a van - there is actually none and your fellow passengers are unlikely to appreciate your luggage stuck under their feet, alas.

Companies operating vans between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ)

What is the most popular transport to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with taxi+Train remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

  • 46% chosen taxi+Train
  • 36% took a train
  • 15% took a van
  • 1% Other