Trains from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Trains from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Luang Prabang
Vientiane
Thu, Jun 18
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Luang Prabang to Vientiane Destination Reviews

CC
Camille C
The train has been delayed and then cancelled so had had to rebook an all new trip without refund!
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 10, 2026
K
Karsten
It was nice. Train is a bit slow
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train First Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 4, 2026
OG
Oyku G
The vehicle itself was fine. It’s a very clean, comfy and fast train and would give 5 stars. But our tickets were not confirmed for days after purchase. I emailed about it and was told I’ld get the ticket 24 hours prior. Still, I didn’t get it and emailed again. They said the train was full, I could take the other one. I said okay but “my friend is also waiting on her ticket for the same train can you change hers to and emailed her booking number” (The person on the phone told me, we just started calling people, we will call your friend too). W are three people traveling but since we decided to come along at different times, we had different bookings, our initial train was 12 pm, one friend booked through company website and already had her ticket, mine was delayed to 2 pm. The morning of the train, other friend still had no ticket, no email about refund, or sold out train. By the time we got to the train station (10 am because we had a whole day planned) every train was sold out except for 6 pm so she bought another ticket. One hour before the 12 pm train she received an email informing about the refund. In short, our whole travel day was ruined merely because 12go didn’t inform us the train was sold out. That can be done days before and we could book the next train right away altogether. My friend had to wait at the station for more than 8 hours.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 3, 2026
MW
Max W
It was a £7 ticket so I wasn’t expecting luxury. But half way through the journey the fans turned off so whenever the train was stationary I had to stand by the window. Between 2-6am this is not ideal when I’ve been awake the whole time beforehand. If you want a sleeper cabin then book ahead in advance.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Apr 30, 2026
J
Jennifer
Luang Prabang Station is vastly imposing architecturally and evidently built with a long term view on rail traffic through Laos. There's coffee shops, a cafe and a 7/11, and signage is multilingual.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Apr 9, 2026
MK
Marco K
Guys, you must tell us that you screen the whole lugage! In Europe noone does. So i had a handmade knife with me and you Took it away. There ist no Way to Check the knife in. There ist no Way to send it by Post. Nothing. You just Took it away!
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 30, 2026
L
Lars
High price and tickets have been sent quite late. Half a day before departure.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 22, 2026
WW
Wenjia W
Ticket issuing was quite late and made me worried and wrote a few emails to you. There are also too many emails asking for feedback. However, the response to my inquiry is almost instant, that's a good point.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 21, 2026
SR
Stephanie R
This was my first booking through 12Go. I received my confirmation about six hours before departure, which made me feel a bit nervous. However, the problem was that I was sent a QR code that didn't actually work. At the train platform, I was directed to the ticket counter, where the staff told me they couldn't locate my booking because it hadn't been booked directly through their company. I felt a bit overwhelmed by the situation and wished I had been better informed about the process beforehand. Then, a woman approached me who was holding my ticket. I have no idea where she came from or why she had the ticket, but I was simply grateful that everything worked out and that I managed to catch my train.
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 20, 2026
V
Vinod
Full peace of mind
Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 17, 2026
4.4
279 customer reviews
5
58%
4
17%
3
13%
2
11%
1
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Luang Prabang to Vientiane Train Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
08:00
13:30
$28.51
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
09:30
12:30
$25.00
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
10:30
12:30
$22.00
  4.7
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
11:00
14:56
$22.44
  4.0
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
11:22
14:22
$25.00
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
11:50
14:50
$25.00
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:22
14:25
$23.23
  4.3
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:50
14:56
$23.23
  4.3
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
13:30
16:44
$27.71
  4.0
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
13:58
16:58
$25.00
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
14:49
16:35
$26.03
  4.3
Laos Group Tour
Standard
16:07
20:37
$21.00
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
16:37
19:17
$17.29
  3.5
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
17:00
20:44
$24.28
  4.0
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
17:30
20:44
$22.44
  4.0
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
17:56
20:56
$25.00
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
18:35
20:35
$22.00
  4.7
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
18:56
20:44
$23.23
  4.3
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
19:22
21:11
$23.23
  4.3

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 525 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 2h 40m 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.

Transportation from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Facts about the train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Cheapest Train$20
Fastest Train1h 45m
Earliest Train10:20 утра
Latest Train7:22 вечера
Daily Train Routes42
Distance525 kilometers
TrainLaos China Railways, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure