Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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Vientiane to Luang Prabang Destination Reviews

Bram B

Via your website i paid double the price

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Sep 9, 2026

Peter D

Only downside was confusion about the Tickets Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Sep 8, 2026

Nina M

The only good thing was the transfer from the hotel to the busstation. I got picked up on time and the guy brought me to the right bus. The bus from ride was bad. First of all the bus was completely full, not everyone had a real seat. The bus was suposed to start at 8am put it was 8.40am when we finally startet. The the bus stopped every five minutes, so we literally got nowhere. Suddenly the bus broke down so we stopped again for like an hour an I got no information about what was going on. We arrived in Luang Prabang 4 hours late and the busride was definitely way longer than 7 hours.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Van Standard, Family Service (Family Service), Sep 7, 2026

Francisco G

Easy and helpful staff

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 First Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Aug 31, 2026

Rosario S

Very good

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C86 Second Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Aug 20, 2026

Matteo D

The bus is set up with very small, narrow double mattresses, so it’s not very easy for two people to sleep there. The bus is quite dirty. If you have low expectations, it’s perfect and gets the job done.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Aug 6, 2026

Eefje W

Easy that the tickets were sent by email. Perfect arranged

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, Jul 18, 2026

Pedro D

Excelente service. Left and arrived on time and the train was very comfortable.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C82 Second Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), Jun 4, 2026

Mats B

It was supposed to be first class, but you had to wait in line with everyone else, except business class passengers. The back of the seat was hard. The train was quiet and did not induce discomfort for me. There were sick bags in the pocket. I rarely if ever get seasick. The train seems to be built for higher speeds than it travelled at. Mobile phone availability was very spotty once the train entered the mountains. Many long tunnels after about 1/3 of the distance. Although at the stations this line is called the Lao-China Railway, on the train they consistently say China-Lao Railway.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train #C92 First Class Seat, China Railway (中国铁路), May 30, 2026

Suu K

I arrived 5 minutes late for the train. I lost my ticket. I couldn't get a refund. I had to buy a new ticket and continue my journey.

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Train Second Class Seat, Laos Railway by Family Service, May 23, 2026

4.4

413 customer reviews

52%

23%

16%

Vientiane to Luang Prabang Schedule

Type	Operator	Class	Departure Time	Arrival Time	Price	Rating
Taxi	RG Adventure	SUV 4pax	Any time	+7h 30m	$258.28	5.0
Van	Luang Prabang Travel	Van	05:30	13:30	$19.00
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	06:00	09:16	$22.79	3.8
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	06:30	09:46	$22.79	3.4
Train	Laos Railway by Family Service	Second Class Seat	07:00	11:04	$19.14	3.4
Train	Laos Group Tour	Second Class	07:20	09:06	$22.00	4.1
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Hard Seat	07:40	11:24	$21.33
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	08:00	09:46	$27.26	4.3
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Hard Seat	08:25	11:04	$17.05	4.0
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Hard Seat	08:42	11:24	$17.05	4.0
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	09:45	11:49	$23.76	4.3
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	10:30	16:25	$172.25
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	10:50	11:35	$71.37	4.0
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	11:20	12:05	$48.62	4.0
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	11:45	12:30	$59.53	4.0
Flight	Lao Airlines	Economy	12:05	12:05	$273.51
Train	Laos Railway by RG Adventure	Second Class Seat	12:30	15:40	$24.28
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	13:00	15:54	$23.76	4.3
Train	Laos Railway by Naluang	Second Class Reserved Seats	13:30	15:30	$23.76	4.3
Flight	Thai AirAsia	Economy	13:50	14:05	$185.64

How to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

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

The most expensive ticket will cost you USD 615.32 if you go by taxi; to keep it budget-friendly, opt for a train which will set you back mere USD 24.59.

How long does it take to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

It can take you anywhere between 1 and 12 hours to travel between Vientiane and Luang Prabang depending on the means of transport you choose.

Flight is the fastest way to travel between Vientiane and Luang Prabang. Flight will bring you to your destination in 45m. Taxi+van does a much slower job and take about 11h 30m to reach Luang Prabang.

How much does it cost to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

Travelling between Vientiane and Luang Prabang can be as cheap as USD 24.59 if you opt for a Laos Railway by Family Service train and as expensive as USD 615.32 if you buy a RG Adventure taxi 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 Luang Prabang ?

31 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:00 Vientiane Transfer until 15:15 Vientiane Railway Station
7 by taxi+Train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 07:40 Vientiane Transfer until 09:50 Vientiane Railway Station
3 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 08:25 Vientiane Railway Station until 15:15 Vientiane Railway Station
6 from Vientiane to Luang Prabang starting from 00:00 Vientiane Transfer until 14:15 Vientiane Transfer

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

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 Luang Prabang, but with a bit of luck you can score very good deals for as little as USD 41.82.

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 Luang Prabang

Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines

Bus

Travelling from Vientiane to Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang

Laos Easy Go Travel

Taxi

Some travellers consider taxi to be the most convenient form of overland transport thanks to flexible departure times, a possibility to choose the size of the car you need, and a hassle-free door-to-door service.

Things to remember: If you are planning to make detours during your trip, discuss it with your driver or service provider in advance as it may affect the price.

Companies offering charters between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Laos Railway by RG Adventure (RG Adventure), RG Adventure

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.

Van

Vans are a great alternative - or, in many cases - your only option - if you need to travel overland within one and the same province or neighbouring provinces or states. Vans ply the roads between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, too.

Things to remember: When travelling by van with huge luggage buying a separate seat for your suitcase or backpack is a good idea. Do not expect there is a roomy luggage compartment in a van - there is actually none and your fellow passengers are unlikely to appreciate your luggage stuck under their feet, alas.

Companies operating vans between Vientiane and Luang Prabang

Family Service

What is the most popular transport to get from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

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

36% took a train
15% bought a taxi ride
15% chosen taxi+Train
14% chosen taxi+Van
10% chosen Train+Van
6% chosen Bus+Train
1% Other

Transportation from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Facts about the transport from Vientiane to Luang Prabang

Cheapest Transport	$24
Fastest Transport	45m
Earliest Departure	6:30 午前
Latest Departure	3:15 午後
Departures per day	47
Distance	575 kilometers
Transport Companies	Family Service, Lao Airlines, Lao Airlines, Laos China Railways, Laos Easy Go Travel, Laos Railway by Family Service, Laos Railway by Naluang, Laos Railway by RG Adventure, RG Adventure