Facts about the train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane
| Cheapest Train | $28 |
| Fastest Train | 1h 45m |
| Earliest Train | 8:30 AM |
| Latest Train | 7:52 PM |
| Daily Train Routes | 19 |
| Distance | 500 kilometers |
| Train | Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure |
Trains from Luang Prabang to Vientiane
Best Options
$29
$39
Other Options
Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane
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Trains$ 27.53
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Buses$ 17.00
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Flights$ 47.45
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Taxis$ 23.62
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Vans$ 17.84
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Ferries are not available
Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews
AA
Angel ANo fue del todo satisfactoria; yo había reservado un tren en Noviembre 2023 con salida desde LP a Vientiane el 18;de Marzo. Recibí los billetes electrónicos pero con salida a las 19:10 hrs; ese tren no me dejaría coger el vuelo en Vientiane a las 23:20 hrs con destino Shanghái. La agencia 12gi.Asia no me avisó con antelación de ese cambio. Perdí esos billetes: Lao Railway decía que no se podían cancelar ni cambiar por otro tren en horas anteriores. Tuve que comprar por mi cuenta dos billetes con salida a las 14:00 hrs. Terminé bien el viaje: llegué a Shanghái a la hora prevista y tomé horas más tarde un vuelo Shanghái - Madrid, los dos reservados en Noviembre 2023.
Train #C83 First Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Mar 28, 2024
EA
Eab ACommunication with 12go was horrible - we received ticket confirmation less than 2 hours before departure, which is awful.
We barely received any responses from 12Go, and when we did, it was a robotic response. at one stage, we were told we had no tickets left, and then 20 minutes later we received an automated confirmation with tickets. How bizarre!
Furthermore, it needs to be clearer that the booking confirmation takes 2 days to process, it's not acceptable to make that clear once someone has handed over their hard earned money.
Train #D887 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Feb 11, 2024
OR
Olivier RThere were too many Chinese passengers, who were very unfriendly and constantly jostled when boarding.
This review was autotranslated
Train #C85 First Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Nov 13, 2023
LH
Liam HWould have preferred just to have train tickets organised and make own way to the station rather than take the transfer.
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Jan 11, 2023
SP
Selvaraju PGood service, very happy with the arrangement pick up from hotel semd to station. Train very smooth n fast...
All enquiries was responded fast kudos to the team...
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Dec 30, 2022
AH
Anja HCompany rejected giving any sort of children discount (for 3 kids) for train tickets, despite that kids under 120cm are free of charge and otherwise are 1/2 price, we were still charged full adult prices when going via the Agency.
Train Second Class, Naluang (Naluang), Dec 25, 2022
PB
Paul BBooked for the 15/1/22 received confirmation and e tickets then got email on the 14/10/22 saying it’s been cancelled as it’s full, but can travel on the 16/10/22 @ 11.30. Arrived only to be told it’s fully booked again but I can get the 18.20 train even tho I had the tickets for both trips that was so say fully booked. So had to pay for another nights hotel in Luang Prabang and also lost a night in Vientiane that I had already payed for.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 17, 2022
FL
Fenny LThis was a very bad experience. We had booked a 1st class seat on the bullet train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane departing 11.30. We we arrived for our transfer to the station it turned out our booking had been cancelled and we were now on the slow train in 2nd class departing 16.16. Vevy bad. We now had to kill time and hang around. 12Go tried to book the tickets too late and we missed out and got shuffed on later train. Not happy!
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 4, 2022
RC
Rattanaporn CWe were booked on a prepaid journey VIP to Vientiane and the day before we simply informed by the Hotel reception that our place wa cancelled (not the train, just our prepaid seats). We were transferred to a normal train more than 4 hours later. That is not the kind of service neither booked normal expected.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Oct 3, 2022
JN
Johnny NTaxi transfer never showed and train was late.
Train VIP AC, Naluang (Naluang), Sep 18, 2022
Popular Routes
From Luang Prabang
To Luang Prabang
From Vientiane
How to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train
Train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane is a decent alternative to bus or air travel. Travelling from Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train is easy, safe, and convenient. There is a direct railway link between the two destinations, which makes your trip smooth and hassle-free. Tickets are available for online booking and it is a good idea to buy them in advance to secure your seat. To get the most out of your train journey, check the schedule and choose the most convenient departure. As a rule, trains and ticket classes are available for every taste and budget.
How far is Luang Prabang from Vientiane?
The distance from Luang Prabang to Vientiane is 500 km. Railways link the two destinations so that you can travel direct without connections. If there are connections, they will be indicated in your ticket.
How long does it take to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train?
Depending on the type of train, the length of your railway journey from Luang Prabang to Vientiane may vary. The slowest train needs about 1h 53m to get to Vientiane, and the fastest one brings you there in about 1h 45m. We recommend opting for the fastest service to save you time, especially if you travel by day. With overnight service, the difference of a couple of hours seems not so crucial and may prove even convenient.
Note that trains normally depart on time from their station of origin but sometimes come later than scheduled to their terminus. It is better not to plan short connections if you are going to continue your journey immediately after arrival to Vientiane.
In many destinations, train stations are located very centrally and have good transport connections with the rest of the city, bus stations, and airports. It mostly concerns the older and well-established railway stations. The newer and bigger ones tend to appear in the outskirts of towns and cities, first of all, due to the reason of limited space in the central locations. Getting to and from there may be challenging even by taxi, as restrictions may apply on taxi operators allowed to serve the passengers. Hence, we highly recommend double-checking the location of the station you will depart from and arrive at as some destinations have several train stations.
How much does it cost to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane by train?
There may be carriages of a different class on one and the same train on one and the same route. The price of your ticket will vary accordingly – from a dirt-cheap tag for hard seats to high numbers for super comfy overnight sleeper berths on luxury trains. For the Luang Prabang – Vientiane route, the cheapest ticket costs while if you want to travel with more comfort, expect to pay for the most expensive option.
Travelling by train essentials
- Train tickets often sell out well before the date of departure. Book them in advance even if your travel does not fall onto high-season dates. Travelling during peak periods which also include public and national holidays, and long or bank weekends, advanced booking is a must if you do not want to remake your travel plans on the spot. It is unnecessary to go to the train station to book – buy your ticket online in a few clicks.
- Advanced booking ensures you get the seats and berths you want. For example, the lower berths are always the first to sell out, while upper berths may be available even on the departure date. Similarly, for longer distances, it is the night trips that enjoy the highest demand, while you may be able to grab a ticket for the same route an hour before departure if it is an inconvenient day ride that eats a huge part of your time.
- There may be different carriages within one and the same train: fan-only and air-conditioned; hard seats and soft seats; second class berths and private compartments. Before buying your ticket, make sure you understand what type of seat you are paying for. Prices may differ greatly, but sometimes it is a good idea to pay more not to spend 20 hours on a hard seat in a fan-only carriage. In general, second-class berths are a good choice for longer overnight trips, while for shorter 4-6-hour day journeys, a soft seat is a great option.
- Air-conditioning on trains can be excessive – as well as heating during the cold season. Make sure to pack layers not to get cold or hot during your trip. In hot countries, fan-only carriages are a cheaper and acceptable alternative to air-conditioned carriages.
- There are toilets on board a train. Depending on the type of train, some carriages can be equipped with simple squat-type toilets or normal Western toilets. Regardless of your ticket's price, the train toilets' cleanness is not often up to the standard, alas. It especially concerns cheaper classes, though even in first-class carriages, complaints are not unheard of.
- There is normally a dining carriage on long-distance trains, but on some routes, dining carriages have become extinct due to covid-19 restrictions. Check in advance if food is available on board or simply pack some snacks to be on the safe side. On many trains, you will also see hawkers patrolling the aisles during the journey and selling soft beverages and snacks. Alcohol drinks are prohibited on trains.
- Smoking is prohibited, too, if, of course, you are not travelling by a common class somewhere in China or Indonesia!
- Arrive at the train station at least half an hour before departure to allow enough time to find your platform and go through check-in formalities. A passport or other ID which you use for buying your train ticket is almost always needed, so keep it at hand to produce when asked at check-in or boarding.
- Trains may arrive at their destination later than scheduled. These delays are not uncommon, especially for long-haul routes. Be ready and plan accordingly. Yet compared to buses, trains are less weather and traffic dependent hence more reliable schedule-wise.