Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang
Sat, Jan 24
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Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

RV
We get the tickets just on the morning from departure. Way to late. Long time not shure. Bad contact with 12go
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 21, 2026
EE
On the 16th, I booked a train ticket on your platform for travel from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang on the 18th. Your platform showed that my booking had been confirmed, but also stated that I still needed to wait for further confirmation from your platform, and that the booking would only be considered confirmed once the e-ticket was issued. My hotel in Luang Prabang for the 18th had already been confirmed and could not be rescheduled. However, until the afternoon of the 17th, I was unable to contact your company at all, including searching online for a contact phone number. I sent emails to you, but your replies were vague and unhelpful. As a last resort, I went directly to Vang Vieng train station to check the email confirmation you sent me. After checking, my name and booking could not be found in the system. With no other option, I had to book a minibus early the next morning to reach my destination. I lost the money I paid for the train ticket and still had to endure a 7-hour bus ride. I sincerely urge your company: if you do not have the capability to confirm train tickets immediately after customers have paid, please do not sell them. As for how reasonable it is to send a “re-confirmation” at a later time, please assess this yourselves. Finally, please do not send me any further emails. I do not wish my mailbox to be treated as a trash bin. Thank you.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Jan 19, 2026
FR
The train ticket had a different passport number on it, which caused some confusion at the entrance check. After showing my booking and passport, I was allowed to enter.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 18, 2026
C
The agency got us the tickets we asked for and the paper tickets collecting was really quick and efficient.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 11, 2026
UG
I didn't like the service of 12go so much. The train tickets arrived very late, and the need to pick up the tickets at a different place again, doesn't make it easier.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 9, 2026
A
It's a good trip but 2 things stop it being a 5 star score. One, the station is quite a bit out of town at both ends (over 10km at the Luang Prabang end) so be prepared to pay as much for the train ticket again for tuktuks into town at either end or be prepared for a hot and sweaty walk from Vang Vieng. Two, you need to be fully registered with the train in advance. Don't just book it on 12Go or other 3rd party app and turn up just before the train is ready to go. Think of it as though you were going to fly from an airport and you need to do the pre check in up front. It's easy enough but you need to go to a restaurant before you get to the station to register your details. I'd recommend you do this the day before if it's not too inconvenient, otherwise at least 90mins before the departure. Bring your passport (or at least a good picture of your passport details page on your phone) and a recent digital picture of yourself, and then they will register your details with the actual train company. Then you can come back to the restaurant on the day 30-45mins before the actual departure to pick up your scanned photo and passport registered train ticket. Then head to the station (5mins from the restaurant). It's nice and modern with aircon and facilities like food and drink and duty free etc. Wait around till you're called forward and then they'll scan your QR code and you can get on the train. It's not Bullet Train or Maglev fast but clean modern and fast enough 180kph. Only takes just over an hour to get between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang compared to the 7+hrs that a minibus would take! Definitely worth doing just do your homework with the checkin to avoid being caught out on the day. Also note that like with planes you can't take aerosol products on the train so no cans of deodorant etc. Your bags have to go through an airport style scanner before you board and they will confiscate if they find.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Jan 6, 2026
H
Too much pushing of the people
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C82 First Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Jan 5, 2026
MH
Did not get picked up and driver didn’t call. I called and texted with only a reply when it would have been too late for making it. We ended up taking a taxi on our own expense (more then the compensation given).
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jan 4, 2026
S
this vendor is very good they find alternative seats for us when the original seats were not available v professional
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 25, 2025
S
very good service , offered to help upgrade our seats to first class as out seats are sold out !!! send us confirmation even late at night to ensure we are well informed
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 24, 2025
4.4
182 customer reviews
5
63%
4
19%
3
8%
2
8%
1
2%

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Train Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
08:00
09:45
$17.18
  4.4
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
08:16
09:06
$14.50
  2.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
08:55
09:46
$17.74
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
First Class Seat
09:30
12:19
$19.25
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
09:49
11:04
$12.27
  4.7
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
10:06
11:22
$12.27
  5.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
10:45
11:49
$15.30
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:20
13:11
$16.52
  4.5
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:00
15:30
$14.44
  4.8
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:30
16:00
$14.44
  4.8
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
14:06
15:14
$15.30
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
14:27
15:38
$13.36
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
15:00
17:26
$14.44
  4.4
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
16:00
18:06
$14.44
  4.8
Laos Fast Train
Second Class
16:25
17:25
$15.30
  5.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
17:12
18:20
$15.30
  4.6

How to get from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang by train

Train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is a decent alternative to bus or air travel. Travelling from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang 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 Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang?

The distance from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is 42 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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang by train?

Depending on the type of train, the length of your railway journey from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang may vary. The slowest train needs about 2h 10m to get to Luang Prabang, and the fastest one brings you there in about 50m. 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 Luang Prabang.

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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang 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 Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang 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 Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Facts about the train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Train$10
Fastest Train50m
Earliest Train8:00 AM
Latest Train4:52 PM
Daily Train Routes54
Distance42 kilometers
TrainLaos China Railways, Laos Group Tour, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure