Buses from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

Buses from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

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Hanoi to Luang Prabang Bus Schedule

Hanoi to Luang Prabang Bus Schedule
Transport NameRoute TimePrice
Vietnam Airlines Economy 09:25 - 18:10VND 6,062k
Vietravel Airlines Economy 11:50 - 12:20VND 5,309k
Vietnam Airlines Economy 12:40 - 11:35VND 13,473k
Techbus VN JSC Sleeper 40 15:00 - 14:20VND 1,495k
Lao Airlines Economy 16:40 - 12:15VND 5,032k
Lao Airlines Economy #QV31418:50 - 20:00VND 4,481k
Thai Smile Economy 20:25 - 11:35€ 308.89

Transportation from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

Facts about the bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Bus$53
Fastest Bus17h 30m
Earliest Bus3:00 PM
Latest Bus6:00 PM
Daily Bus Routes6
Distance1275 kilometers
Bus CompaniesDuc Duong Bus, Grouptour, HTX Van Tai 277, HTX Van Tai 277, To Vietnam Travel

Hanoi to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

JT
This is NOT a safe way to travel. Starting with the worst, here is a list of what happened on our bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang: 1. A young girl was sexually assaulted by a drunk man on the bus touching her legs and offering her money during the night, the drivers did nothing, 2. The bus broke down in the middle of nowhere in Laos, we were stranded for 10 hours with no updates on what was going on, nor would the drivers let us access our belongings or even board the bus, we have no food or water, imagine what that was like as it started to go darn 3. The drivers drank beer and smoked on the bus, 4. The drivers hit people on the legs for not taking off their shoes to board their filthy bus, 5. People’s bags were damaged during the ride due to being put on the roof in favour of cargo in the storage compartments - they laughed at the damage as they were taken off… need I say more? Don’t put yourself in danger to save a little bit of money, just book the flight instead. I never usually do reviews but this was the worst experience of my life, it took us 3 days to get to Luang Prabang under the dominion of a group of thugs who had total power over us whilst we had nothing to eat, drink nor even safety over our person nor possessions. Don’t incentivise this company so that they can do this to other people again please.
Bus VIP Sleeper 41, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Apr 25, 2024
EH
6 hours late... Arrived at 1h in luang prabang
Bus VIP Sleeper 41, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Mar 10, 2024
JF
Good
Bus VIP Sleeper 41, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Jan 30, 2024
CC
The bus left 2h late, this is acceptable in East Asia so no problem. We Were supposed to do the trip with a techbus, it was certainly not one. This could be acceptable as well. But the worst part was that the bus arrived not 1,2, 5 hours left but 16HOURS LATE ( took us 39h instead of 23h to arrive) we basically spent 2nights in a bus that was basically Doing deliveries, taking merchandise (we were sleeping between a TV and a some rice bags at some points) every 20min while taking people on its way to laos. Added to that one of the tire punctured on our way, making us loose several hours (as if it was not already enough) to get it repaired while the driver just let us at a random street restaurant during this time and leaving us without telling us. If you are searching for thrill and you are not in a hurry then no pb otherwise find another alternative
Bus Sleeper 40, Techbus VN JSC (Techbus Vietnam Joint stock company), Jun 19, 2023
EB
It was better then we expected. The driver was really nice and helpful. The only thing that was not great was that we arrived 2 hours later then expected
Bus VIP Sleeper 41, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), May 22, 2023
C
This was the second time we took this route since the first time we arrived to the border and had to go back to Hanoi since we didn't know that it wasn't possible to get on-arrival visas to Laos anymore. We left on time from Hanoi and arrive almost at 9 pm to Luang Prabang. More than a formal transport for people, the bus was a goods delivery service.The bus stopped more than a dozen times to collect and deliver multiple items on the way, including more people with no tickets. All felt more like of it was a side business from corrupted drivers than something organized from the company. There were few stops to go to proper toilets (specially for women) and to eat. The drivers smoked constantly inside the bus and the air conditioning damaged a couple of times.
Bus VIP Sleeper 41, HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7), Mar 15, 2023
4.4
25 customer reviews
5
20%
4
12%
3
20%
2
44%
1
4%

How to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by bus may not be the fastest way of travel, yet many travellers prefer to rely on the bus on this route; with easy online booking and tickets of different classes for all tastes and budgets available, the bus from Hanoi to Luang Prabang a conscious and budget-friendly option.

Check the timetable before you book your ticket and read other travellers’ reviews to choose the trip that suits you best. Note that there may be several bus terminals at your departure or arrival point – always double-check where you are leaving from and arriving to. It may prove crucial if you have connecting trips.

Here is the list of operators serving the route: .

How far is Hanoi from Luang Prabang?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 1275 km between Hanoi and Luang Prabang.

How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by bus?

Buses normally need between 1d and 1d 1h 30m hours to get to Luang Prabang from Hanoi. Note that the travel time is for your reference only and can depend on different factors such as traffic and weather conditions. Heavy rainfalls almost inevitably make the trip longer due to poor visibility or floods. Road and surface repairs which happen quite often, result in detours and longer travel times. Major national holidays, long weekends, or peak season periods may cause delays both in departures and arrivals – plan accordingly to avoid disappointment, especially if you have further connections and a tight schedule.

On this route, To Vietnam Travel offers the fastest service. HTX Van Tai 277 buses usually take the longest time to complete the journey.

Remember, though, that tickets offering the shortest travel time are normally the most expensive ones. Yet it pays to spend a bit more to ensure your bus goes direct without additional stops and uses highways instead of local roads.

How much does it cost to get from Hanoi to Luang Prabang by bus?

The price of your bus ticket will depend not only on the distance you need to cover but on the class of your coach. E.g. expect to shell out more for VIP or sleeper buses while ordinary buses though being the cheapest option, often are a compromise on comfort and travel time. Of course, they do their job, too, and can be the only option if you hop on/off in the middle of the route.

Anyway, travelling by bus between Hanoi and Luang Prabang remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by HTX Van Tai 277 (HTX Vận Tải 27-7) and costs USD 52.18. A To Vietnam Travel's ticket will set you back USD 52.18 on average.

Travelling by bus essentials

  • If you are planning to travel during the high season, weekends, or national holidays, booking your bus tickets in advance is highly recommended. The demand is at its highest, yet very often, the number of coaches serving the route remains the same. The earlier you reserve your seat, the better. On some routes, you need to secure your ticket more than a month in advance; on others, a couple-of-days advanced booking is enough. During such periods, try to book online beforehand whenever possible, as showing up at the bus station without a ticket may result in many-hours of waiting in the queue or leave you downright stranded.
  • VIP, 1st, Gold, and similar bus tickets are the most expensive option, but they provide a higher level of comfort. Normally the price of such tickets will include wide soft reclining seats, blankets, water and snacks or lunch, and sometimes some toiletries. Upper-class buses travel faster, make fewer stops during the route, and normally provide more spacious seating to their passengers and a better travel experience.
  • Not all buses have an on-board toilet, but generally, for all trips longer than three hours, all operators schedule a bathroom and/or a lunch stop. While operators definitely do their best to keep on-board toilets clean, the smell may be an issue sometimes. For longer trips, booking a seat a bit farther from the toilet may be a good idea. Also, using bathroom stops for your toilet needs is always better than trying to find your balance in an on-board toilet on the run.
  • If you travel by an air-con bus, make sure to pack layers. A hoodie, a warm scarf, or a beanie hat may prove a good idea. Air-conditioning on buses tends to be excessive, and running nose and sore throats abound after even not the longest bus rides.
  • Always use the security belts even if your bus ride attendant or driver does not insist on it. Your safety comes first – for you, for sure. All buses normally are equipped with security belts, but they may be fixed behind your seat. Take time to find the belt and fix it appropriately.
  • To avoid being disturbed by overhead lights, switched on during stops even at night, and too loud music or sound from the on-board entertainment system, have earplugs and a sleeping mask at hand.
  • As a courtesy to other passengers, avoid using strong perfumes or smelly foods. Some foods like cheeses or durians are forbidden to take on-board – check in advance. Alcohol is also prohibited on the majority of buses.
  • Note that if the bus requires refuelling en-route, passengers will be asked to get off the bus. Operators are not allowed to refuel with passengers on board due to safety reasons. Usually, it takes from 5 to 10 minutes and is often combined with a toilet/lunch stop.
  • If not stated otherwise in your tickets, arrive at the bus station 20-30 minutes before departure. It will give you enough time to find the departure platform and check-in. For international trips, you may need more time for check-in and border formalities.