Buses from Vientiane to Thakhek

Buses from Vientiane to Thakhek

Vientiane
Thakhek
Wed, Mar 18
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Vientiane to Thakhek Destination Reviews

TC
Thierry C
VIP ? .3854407104472E+24; This bus is good to be crushed 14 € for that !!!
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, Mar 7, 2026
ST
Stefan T
6 Hours of overtaking like hell, in a big Bus, some Close to death moments on a damaged seat, while stopping every 30 minutes to pick somebody up or drop off.
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Taxi + Bus, Sarah Transport Laos (Sarah Transport Sole Co., Ltd), Feb 27, 2026
GJ
Gerardus J
I booked a daytime bus with regular seats. But as the bus was overbooked they put me in a Sleeper bus with uncomfortable berths which are way too small for me.
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, Feb 12, 2026
L
Linda
Bus was alright. Quite full - people wereseated down in the middle of the isle with camping stools as all the seats were taken. The booth were to redeem the ticket was also not open. Another booth/operator was friendly enough to exchange our 12Go Ticket into a physical ticket, which is necessary Other than that, it was good.
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, Jan 28, 2026
HJ
Hendrik J
A very old bus … No Seats but beds … dirty … two hours delay when we arrived… poor airco ..
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, Jan 22, 2026
KR
Katrin R
The bus and the sleeping situation where perfect, the bad thing was that the bus arrives in thakhek at 2 a.m. and not as written in the booking confirmation at 5 am. We where lucky to find a hostel with late night check in otherwise we would have had to spend the night at the busstation
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Sleeper Bus, KP 79 Transportation (KP 79 Transportation), Jan 20, 2026
PG
Pascal G
Very easy
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, Jan 7, 2026
DW
David W
Time of departure Sunday 03 Aug for 1300 hrs Vientiane ~> Thakhek Received an email update at 9am the same morning of the departure to be in the hotel reception by 1100am. Collected at 11:15 for a car transfer. on board the bus 1200 hrs. The two of us were first on board. Bus eventually 95% full. Seats comfortable, partial inclining seats like a plane. Tiny overhead storage. Standard under seat storage. Main hold storage was dry and reasonably clean. You may get the odd inconsiderate passenger who has their phone volume up load whilst flipping though annoying reels and clips ! Take ear plugs or covers. Arrived an hour early, probably due to it being Sunday low traffic density. Overall very pleased with the 12Go purchased $18 seat tickets. trip
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Van + Bus, Soutchai Travel (ບໍລິສັດ ສຸດໃຈທ່ອງທ່ຽວ ຈໍາກັດຜູ້ດຽວ), Aug 5, 2025
MV
Marie V
It was just as the site. It is confortable and efficient.
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Standard, Chanthachone Transportation, May 21, 2025
EL
Emma L
Set off on time. It arrived at Thakek at 1.30am though. It seems this happens often so slightly annoying they don't advertise that better as you then have to find somewhere to sleep in the middle of the night (I'd recommend Lao home hostel)
Vientiane to Thakhek, Bus Sleeper, Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ), Feb 12, 2025
4.4
60 customer reviews
5
13%
4
35%
3
25%
2
27%
1
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Vientiane to Thakhek Bus Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Family Service
Taxi + VIP Bus
12:00
19:00
$14.23
  2.5
Chanthachone Transportation
Standard
12:00
19:00
$17.01
Chit Prasong
VIP
13:00
21:00
$10.73
  3.1
Chanthachone Transportation
Standard
13:00
19:00
$12.37
  3.5
Soutchai Travel
Standard AC
13:00
21:00
$10.20
Soutchai Travel
Van + Bus
13:00
21:00
$10.20
Soutchai Travel
Sleeper
18:00
03:00
$13.01
Family Service
Taxi + Sleeping Bus
18:00
03:00
$18.56
Soutchai Travel
Minivan + Sleeper Bus
18:00
03:00
$13.01
Chanthachone Transportation
Sleeper
19:00
02:00
$18.56
KP 79 Transportation
Sleeper
19:30
04:30
$17.00
Chit Prasong
Sleeper
20:00
04:00
$13.07
  3.4
RG Adventure
Sleeper
20:00
04:00
$18.56
  5.0
Chanthachone Transportation
Sleeper
20:00
02:00
$13.92
KP 79 Transportation
Sleeper Bus
20:00
05:00
$17.00

How to get from Vientiane to Thakhek by bus

Bus travel remains one of the most affordable and convenient ways to travel between many destinations. Getting from Vientiane to Thakhek 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 Vientiane to Thakhek 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 Vientiane from Thakhek?

If travelling by bus, you will cover the distance of 250 km between Vientiane and Thakhek.

How long does it take to get from Vientiane to Thakhek by bus?

Buses normally need between 6h and 9h hours to get to Thakhek from Vientiane. 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, Chanthachone Transportation offers the fastest service. KP 79 Transportation 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 Vientiane to Thakhek 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 Vientiane and Thakhek remains an affordable option. The cheapest ticket is offered by Chit Prasong (ຈິດປະສົງ) and costs USD 13.42. A RG Adventure's ticket will set you back USD 13.42 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.

Transportation from Vientiane to Thakhek

Facts about the bus from Vientiane to Thakhek

Cheapest Bus$14
Fastest Bus6h
Earliest Bus12:00 PM
Latest Bus8:00 PM
Daily Bus Routes14
Distance250 kilometers
Bus CompaniesChanthachone Transportation, Chit Prasong, Family Service, KP 79 Transportation, RG Adventure, Sarah Transport Laos, Soutchai Travel