Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Trains from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Vang Vieng
Luang Prabang
Sun, Dec 21
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Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

BH
Bought 3 sectors of train ticket on Friday 12 Dec 2025. Got confirmation of Vientiane-Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang-Xishuangbanna sectors but Vang Vieng-Luang stats was shown PAID. Was informed to wait 19 hours for final confirmation. Waited for 2 days, left message and emailed Helpdesk to no avail. In the end, I had to purchase another ticket that departed a day later as there was no tickets available. My holiday plans were disrupted which cause me great anxiety. Finally received WhatsApp message ticket confirmation after 6 pm the night before departure. By then, I had already purchased another ticket for departure a day later. My bet is this feedback will simply be ignored. I don’t expect any compensation.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 17, 2025
LG
We bought round trip tickets to Vang Vieng. 12Go didn't send us our tickets to Vang Vieng on time. In fact, we bought tickets that never existed: on the day of departure, we still didn't have our tickets. We asked for more information and we were told 3h before departure that the operator could not get our tickets. We then learned that the train was already full since a few days. 12Go simply cancelled our tickets, thankfully with a refund for this part. We could not reach Vang Vieng at all due to this and had to cancel our plans. Thankfully, we got refunds from our hotel. Yet, 12Go refused to get us a refund for the return trip we could not do anymore. While we understand that delays, cancellations or force majeure events can be part of a trip, we do not think that non existent tickets being sold are. Whenever such ticket sold, there should be refund, no matter what the terms of use state.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 16, 2025
SC
transfer pick up didnt show up and no message. had to manage myself to get to the train station with time trouble. train ticket was good.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Dec 16, 2025
AW
Our vang Veing transfer never showed up so had to pay to get a tuk tuk to the station hoping we would still make it in tie for our train. To top it off it didn’t even say what time the train was on our tickets (only the time of the transfer that never showed) so we were completely blindsided. We also didn’t get our confirmation till very shortly before the trip. Contacted 12Go and although they replied quickly said confirmation could take 24 hours but the trip was in 14 hours.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Dec 14, 2025
JG
I had the reservation confirmed quite early. But I know it’s not the case for one of my friend who had her reservation canceled. For my trip everything was easy
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Dec 13, 2025
QB
Very nice, clear and confortable.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #K12 Hard Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Dec 13, 2025
MI
The chat bot said they the date of our ticket was changed as requested but we kept asking for a confirmation email and didn't get one. Absolutely impossible to talk to a real person. Tickets hadn't been changed, awful experience
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 Second Class Reserved Seats, Laos Railway by Naluang (Laos Railway by Naluang), Dec 4, 2025
MR
It was chaos in the train car. Many people were not in their correct seat. And that took forever for people to find a empty seat cause train was full.. you didn't now what end of the train car to enter so you had to push past people that eleas going the wrong way. Luggage was everywhere.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Nov 30, 2025
ST
The station is beautiful and the train was great. My issue is that the crowd was disorderly. The mass was pushing their way through even though there was no need for it. The passengers were cutting through the line when there was no need for it. There was plenty of time for everyone to get to the train platform without being in a mad rush.
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 First Class, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Nov 29, 2025
LA
I had to contact the provider myself because 2 days before the train I did not receive the ticket , but once contacted they sent me the ticket pretty fast
Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class, Laos Group Tour, Nov 29, 2025
4.4
146 customer reviews
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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
₱1,000
  4.4
Laos Group Tour
Second Class
08:16
09:06
₱849
  2.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
08:55
09:46
₱1,032
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
First Class Seat
09:30
12:19
₱1,120
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
09:49
11:04
₱714
  4.7
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Hard Seat
10:06
11:22
₱714
  5.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
10:45
11:49
₱890
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
12:20
13:11
₱961
  4.5
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:00
15:30
₱840
  4.8
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
13:30
16:00
₱840
  4.8
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
14:06
15:14
₱890
  4.6
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
14:27
15:38
₱777
  4.6
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
15:00
17:26
₱840
  4.4
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
16:00
18:06
₱840
  4.8
Laos Fast Train
Second Class
16:25
17:25
₱896
  5.0
Laos Railway by Naluang
Second Class Reserved Seats
17:12
18:20
₱890
  4.6

Transportation from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Facts about the train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Train₱882
Fastest Train50m
Earliest Train8:00 AM
Latest Train4:52 PM
Daily Train Routes46
Distance42 kilometers
TrainLaos Group Tour, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure

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.