How to get from Hoi An to Pakse

Why visit Pakse?

Pakse is a transport hub and gateway to southern Laos. Its strategic location, comfortable accommodations and tour offerings make it a convenient basecamp for travellers visiting the nearby Bolaven Plateau and Wat Phu.

Admittedly, there is not much to do in this riverside town. But if you’re looking for a relaxing yet strategic place to take some time off, then your best choice in the south is Pakse. Walk around town, visit some temples, explore the local markets, or just sample traditional Lao dishes.

There are 3 ways to travel the 400 kilometre (249 miles) distance from Hoi An to Pakse. You can choose between the bus via Da Nang, flight and bus via Kon Tum. The journey takes 8 hours 20 minutes to 19 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus via Kon Tum with tickets starting at $27 (586,000 LAK).

Travelling by bus from Hoi An to Pakse is a budget-friendly option, but finding information and booking tickets can be challenging.

Your best bet is to seek help from your hotel staff or a reputable travel agency in Hoi An. They can assist you in arranging the trip since there are no direct buses, and it likely involves one or two transfers.

We recommend taking Da Nang Bus for your trip. It offers a convenient 12-hour direct journey from Da Nang to Pakse, crossing the border at Lao Bao. The bus departs at 6:00 AM and a ticket costs 1,050,000 VND ($40.50). However, keep in mind that this is not a luxury service, and the bus may occasionally carry cargo onboard.

Below, we break down the steps of travelling from Hoi An to Pakse via Da Nang.

There are several ways to get from Hoi An to Da Nang, but we recommend taking either a taxi for around 374,000 VND ($14.40) or use the Da Nang Bus pick-up service for 200,000 VND ($7.70).

You can hail a taxi from the street or book one online via BookAway.

The advantage of taking a taxi to Da Nang Bus Station is that you can still look for other bus companies that service Laos — like Chau Chinh and Loc Thuy. However, we cannot guarantee a smooth ride with them.

If you already decided to take the Da Nang Bus from Da Nang to Pakse, we recommend also using their pick-up service. For an additional 200,000 VND ($7.70) per person, they will pick you up in Hoi An at around 05:00 in the morning. This ensures a hassle-free and timely arrival in Da Nang for their 06:00 AM bus departure to Pakse.

For more transport options, check out our guide for Hoi An to Da Nang.

There are no direct flights between Hoi An and Pakse, but you can fly with a layover in Ho Chi Minh City. This option typically involves flying from Da Nang to Ho Chi Minh City, followed by another flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Pakse.

It’s important to note that flying this route, with its layovers, can take at least 8 hours.

Additionally, flights can be more expensive than taking the bus. Booking a few weeks in advance is highly recommended, as prices tend to rise closer to the departure date.

A one-way ticket typically starts at $320 (6,920,000 LAK) and the total travel time, including layovers, is around 8 hours 20 minutes.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

When travelling by bus from Hoi An to Pakse, there is another option via Kon Tum, but we don’t recommend this due to its complexity and potential for missed connections. But if you’re considering this option, read on for the details.

Kon Tum is located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, bordering Laos to the west. The Bo Y International Border Gate, about 40 km west of Kon Tum City, will be your entry point into Laos.

Travelling from Hoi An to Pakse via Kon Tum requires multiple transfers:

1. A 1-hour taxi ride from Hoi An to Da Nang
2. A 6-hour bus transfer from Da Nang to Kon Tum
3. Another 12-hour bus transfer from Kon Tum to Pakse

Here’s the catch: Buses travelling to Pakse from Kon Tum (via Mai Linh Express or VietLao) typically start from Pleiku. They only stop in Kon Tum if you reserve a seat a day in advance by calling the bus company directly. If you don’t make a reservation, chances are you can’t get a bus connection from Kon Tum to Pakse.

The total travel time from Kon Tum to Pakse is around 12 hours, including the border crossing at Bo Y. Note that this route crosses a different border from the bus via Da Nang.

Expect to pay about $9.40 (203,000 LAK) for the ticket from Da Nang to Kon Tum and about $17.70 (383,000 LAK) from Kon Tum to Pakse. While this might be the cheapest option, you may need to budget extra for accommodation in case you miss the connecting bus.

IMPORTANT: This option requires more planning and flexibility compared to the bus route via Da Nang. There’s a chance you might miss a connection in Kon Tum if the bus doesn’t make a stop there.