I had an e-ticket so didn’t need to pick up the ticket.
Took a taxi from the city $50.000 Kip.
You need to show passport and e-ticket, your bags go through x-ray (like the airport)
Ticket indicates your seat in the train.
Train is super modern. You can buy snacks on board.
Overall great experience
The bus left Luang Prabang 3.5 hours late and arrived in Vang Vieng 4 hours late. The bus service had more people packed in than seats available so we each had very little room and after picking up even more people on the route I ended up with a stranger sitting in my feet. The roads they drove down could barely even be called roads with us getting stuck multiple times but I guess that's not the bus's fault
Bus left late and the vehicle was different than the one I booked. No AC like promised and the driver had the most awful music on. Usually wouldn’t be bothered but for a 9 hour drive it was awful. For the money you pay you would expect better service and/or explanation.
The ride was okay! It was 5 hours, not 9 hours which was good! The van itself is small, and the driver squeezes 14 people in it, so if your at the back row then good luck, especially if your a bigger person.
But the driver was friendly, stopped of once, and got here quick!
The service itself was fine, but confirming and receiving the tickets was a nightmare. Someone came to drop our train tickets the day before, only to be called an hour later to say they are the wrong ones and we had to wait where we were until the others could be dropped off. A massive inconvenience and not ideal to be texted/called all the time. Pick up time was not clear and we arrived at the train station far too early. Massively over priced as well, and 12go is not accurate in that you HAVE to book train tickets 3 days in advance. Book with your hostel-cheaper and more convenient.
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