HTX Van Tai 277

HTX Van Tai 277 is a popular choice for those travelling between Laos and Vietnam.

Hanoi–Vientiane

HTX Van Tai 277 offer one service each day between Hanoi and Vientiane, leaving Hanoi at 18.00 and arriving in the Laos capital at 18.00 the next evening, a full 24 hour trip! There is also one departure per day in the opposite direction at 17.00. Either journey will cost VND700,000 per person, each way.

But no seriously IT IS A 24 HOUR TRIP. TWENTY FOUR HOURS. THE SUN WILL SET, RISE AND BEGIN TO SET AGAIN ON YOU IN THE SAME SMALL BUS SEAT.

Hanoi–Luang Prabang

It is also possible to travel between Hanoi and Luang Prabang as there is one departure per day in either direction. This is an even longer trip than Hanoi – Vientiane and takes over 25 hours in total. The VIP sleeper bus will depart Hanoi at 18.00 and will arrive in Luang Prabang at 19.30 the next evening, with tickets costing VND1,050,000. The return trip will leave Luang Prabang at 17.30 and arrive the following day at 19.00.

Hanoi–Savannakhet

The third route offered by HTX Van Tai 277 connects Hanoi with Savannakhet, a riverside city close to the border of Thailand. As with the other two routes there is one departure per day in either direction. Buses depart Hanoi at 18.00 and are due to arrive in Savannakhet at 14.00 the following day whilst buses leave Savannakhet at 10.00, arriving in Hanoi at 06.00. Ticket prices remain the same regardless of which direction you travel and are priced a VND875,000.

The biggest advantage with travelling with HTX Van Tai 277 is the low cost of tickets. This is the cheapest way to travel between Laos and Vietnam and is ideal for those on a tight budget and not in a rush to reach their destination. Ticket prices are often well under a third of the cost of even the cheapest and most basic budget airlines so are good value if you are keeping to a strict budget.

The buses themselves are fairly comfortable, but even a Lazy-Boy recliner gets uncomfortable after 24 hours. There are few stops to stretch your legs throughout the journey but it is still likely to drag. Fortunately, HTX Van Tai 277 offer some of the most comfortable buses that you’ll find on these routes which is really not saying much.

Obviously the biggest disadvantage with HTX Van Tai 277 services is the length of the trips. The idea of sitting on a bus for over 24 hours will certainly not appeal to everyone and should only really be an option for budget travellers and those travelling for an extended period of time. After all, if you are on a two-week holiday, you will not want to spend 24 hours sitting on a bus! If you are looking for an experience then a journey such as this will certainly offer that.

Another issue with HTX Van Tai 277, as well as international bus trips in general, is that you will have to pass through immigration. This will require you to leave the bus and pass through a series of checkpoints and pay for a visa. It is usually a confusing, hectic and time-consuming process that you will not be looking forward to after an extended period of time on a bus. We are very serious when we say that it is hectic and confusing, it's also done either very late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. No one will be there to hold your hand and walk you through the process, or if there is someone to help guide you it will cost money. We don't want to hear any complaints arising from this.

It is worth noting that services depart Hanoi from Nuoc Ngam Station and arrive into Vientiane’s Southern Bus Station.

Travellers, especially those on a tight budget, choose HTX Van Tai 277 for the low-cost tickets which provide excellent value for money. It is the cheapest way to travel between the two countries and most people who use these services are willing to put up with some discomfort in order to save money!

One of the complaints from travellers who use HTX Van Tai 277 is the inconvenient departure time from Savannakhet to Hanoi. The bus departs at 10.00 which means you will spend the entire day travelling by bus, before arriving in Hanoi at 06.00. This is less preferable than the other services offered by HTX Van Tai 277 which travel throughout the night, arriving at your destination at around lunchtime. This ensures that you do not lose out on an entire day.

The biggest complaint is the length of the bus rides, although the seats are about as comfortable as you’re likely to get, it is still an awful long time to be sitting aboard a bus. As such, these trips should only really be an option for budget travellers. Although it is considerably cheaper to make the journey by bus rather than flying, you will save a lot of time as well as arriving at your destination refreshed from a short flight rather than a 24-hour bus journey.