Vientiane to Kunming

Vientiane to Kunming

Vientiane
Kunming
Sun, Aug 9
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2 Travelers
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Vientiane to Kunming Destination Reviews

RY
Richard Y
Overall it is positive and I believe it is as good as it gets when booking through an agent since it is stipulated that LCR tickets can only be purchased manually at the station. The main uncertainty is that tickets (not stated whether QR code can be used to board the train) can only be collected or issued through email or WhatsApp on day of travel itself. When I and my siblings b showed up at Vientiane station, we still collected paper tickets which in fact is required to enter the station to board the train itself. Then again we saw passengers boarding the train with QR code on their phones. This should be clarified and made clear to travelers.
Vientiane to Kunming, Train First Class, Laos Group Tour, Aug 24, 2025
DT
Darren T
Void ticket die to spelling g error in name which resulted in having to fly to kumming. Was a terrible experience due to someone human error issuing the tickets
Vientiane to Kunming, Train #D888 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), Aug 8, 2025
PM
Patriot M
Very pleasant experience. Cleanliness and service are very good. Only thing is the station only opens at 07am. Before that time, you cannot enter the station and have to wait outside. The passenger queue is not orderly.
Vientiane to Kunming, Train #D888 Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure ), May 30, 2025
4.6
11 customer reviews
5
82%
4
9%
3
0%
2
9%
1
0%

Vientiane to Kunming Schedule

TypeOperatorClassDeparture TimeArrival TimePriceRating
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
01:00
16:05
$198.97
Train
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
06:00
18:34
$90.63
Train
Laos Railway by Family Service
Second Class Seat
06:30
18:34
$90.63
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
07:25
08:50
$129.50
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
07:55
13:05
$1,476.76
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
08:30
15:05
$186.46
Flight
AirAsia
Economy
09:20
01:25
$210.95
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
10:10
12:00
$216.08
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
10:35
12:15
$183.18
Train
Laos Railway by RG Adventure
Second Class Seat
11:25
21:44
$76.79
  5.0
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
12:05
13:00
$1,503.59
Flight
Scoot
Economy
12:30
01:00
$379.74
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
13:05
13:55
$3,374.62
Flight
Thai Airways
Economy
13:30
13:00
$271.90
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
13:50
10:25
$194.54
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
14:30
12:30
$695.27
Flight
Thai AirAsia
Economy
14:50
10:25
$280.17
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
15:20
16:55
$216.08
Flight
China Eastern Airlines
Economy
15:50
17:35
$183.18
Flight
Lao Airlines
Economy
16:30
13:00
$1,088.64

How to get from Vientiane to Kunming

Travelling between Vientiane and Kunming is possible by Flight, bus, train, van and taxi. Flight guarantees the fastest travel on this route. Flight is the slowest option.

The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 2,475.18 if you go by flight; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a flight which will set you back mere USD 131.35.

How long does it take to get from Vientiane to Kunming?

It can take you anywhere between 2 and 24 hours to travel between Vientiane and Kunming depending on the means of transport you choose.

Flight is the fastest way to travel between Vientiane and Kunming. Flight will bring you to your destination in 1h 25m. Flight does a much slower job and take about 23h 30m to reach Kunming.

How much does it cost to get from Vientiane to Kunming?

Travelling between Vientiane and Kunming can be as cheap as USD 131.35 if you opt for a China Eastern Airlines flight and as expensive as USD 2,475.18 if you buy a China Eastern Airlines, Thai Airways flight ticket.

Here is the list of how much you can expect to pay travelling by each means of transport available for this route.

How many trips per day are there between Vientiane and Kunming ?

  • 22 from Vientiane to Kunming starting from 07:20 Vientiane Airport until 20:30 Vientiane Airport

Check above for a bus, train, flight and ferry timetable from Vientiane to Kunming.

What mode of transportation is the best one for my route?

Flights

Flying is the fastest and often the most expensive way to travel from Vientiane to Kunming, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as USD 131.35.

Things to remember: Note that some of the airlines may have restrictions on checked luggage weight or require paying extra for check-in, choosing seats or transportation of oversized luggage.

If opting for a flight, calculate the time you will spend getting to and from the airports as well as the waiting time before your flight, getting through immigration in case of an international flight and recovering your checked luggage.

In certain cases all these procedures can add no less than 5 hours to your total travel time.

Airlines flying between Vientiane and Kunming

China Eastern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines

Bus

Travelling from Vientiane to Kunming overland will inevitably take longer but in many cases it is the cheapest option if you opt for a bus.

Things to remember: For a more comfortable ride opt for a higher-class bus wherever possible. These buses usually have soft reclining seats and are equipped with air-conditioning and on-board toilets.

They often include water, snacks or a light lunch into your ticket price and make bathroom stops en-route.

Companies operating bus routes between Vientiane and Kunming

Laos Luxury Travel

Train

Train is a often a great choice for long-haul travel especially if you opt for a night sleeper train with berths which will allow you to sleep all your journey through. To make the most of your train journey, choose the class of your ticket wisely.

Note that there are air-conditioned and fan-only carriages; private compartments for 2 or 4; hard and soft seats.
Though the upper class you get the smoother is your journey, often second class air-conditioned or fan-only sleepers are a good money saving alternative.

What is the most popular transport to get from Vientiane to Kunming?

There is a choice of transportation means any time of the day with Train remaining the most popular option due to their reasonable pricing and comfort.

Out of 1000 travellers who bought tickets for this route

  • 84% took a train
  • 6% chosen Bus+Train
  • 5% chosen taxi+Train
  • 2% decided to fly
  • 2% opted for a bus
  • 1% Other

Transportation from Vientiane to Kunming

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Kunming

Cheapest Transport$101
Fastest Transport1h 25m
Earliest Departure6:00 AM
Latest Departure8:30 PM
Departures per day22
Distance1205 kilometers
Transport CompaniesChina Eastern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Laos Luxury Travel, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines