Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang
Thu, Apr 16
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Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

GM
Gila M
Comfortable even though we were in second class
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C82 Second Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Apr 3, 2026
RE
Roger E
Lost another knife, due to security scanning, like going on a plane. Nice ride, smooth, full up. Noisy tourists. On time exactly.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Mar 25, 2026
AB
Aurore B
I received the tickets at the last moment so I booked another mode of transport and it cost me twice the price… not serious
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #K12 Hard Seat, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Mar 21, 2026
HV
Helena V
Train was fine but Ticket pickup was at a remote restaurant in the middle of nowhere
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Mar 13, 2026
KB
Karin B
I only got the train ticket after several requests and only about 5 hours before the train departure (Vang Vieng - Luan Prabang). In fact, two stars is too good a rating! Till now I haven't had any problems with 12go.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Mar 8, 2026
CR
Christopher R
Abit fussy at security at station with airport style security and scissors taken off people Apart from that it was excellent. Efficient, quick and comfortable. Even the minivans at Luang Prabang station didnt try to rip you off and were super well organised
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Mar 1, 2026
SD
Sylvie D
The pick up never show up at the hotel
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 25, 2026
JB
Judy B
We.paid extra to get a transfer. From the hotel to the railway station. We were to.be picked.up at 9am for the 9.49am train but at 9.10am the transfer pick up had not arrived. We had to pay for a taxi to get us to the station otherwise we would have missed our train. 12GoAsia were not even interested when I complained. They didnt read the first.email then asked for screenshots of the.contact between us and the transfer. The transfer was through 12GoAsia, we had no.contact for the transfer. How are we supposed to provide that information? Apalling service. Just manafed to catch the train and went on our way.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Feb 23, 2026
E
Etienne
Long time for the ticket with you
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Feb 3, 2026
I
Iwona
Everything on time, no problems, clear rules.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 Second Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Jan 29, 2026
4.4
244 customer reviews
5
63%
4
18%
3
11%
2
8%
1
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Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Train Schedule

OperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
08:00
09:45
$16.63
  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
$17.17
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
First Class Seat
09:30
12:19
$18.63
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
09:49
11:04
$11.88
  4.7
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
10:06
11:22
$11.88
  5.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
10:45
11:49
$14.81
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:20
13:11
$15.99
  4.5
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:00
15:30
$13.97
  4.8
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:30
16:00
$13.97
  4.8
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
14:06
15:14
$14.81
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
14:27
15:38
$12.93
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
15:00
17:26
$13.97
  4.4
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
16:00
18:06
$13.97
  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
$14.81
  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 4m 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$11
Fastest Train50m
Earliest Train8:20 AM
Latest Train4:30 PM
Daily Train Routes27
Distance42 kilometers
TrainLaos China Railways, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by RG Adventure