Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

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How to get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

Luang Prabang is an ancient Laotian town set at the confluence of Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, secluded by mountains and aligned by a sacred hill. Nicknamed the “Jewel in Laos Crown”, Luang Prabang has managed to preserve its age-old magic. It remains a major tourist attraction for its beautiful temples, French-Lao architecture, and delicious cuisine.

Vang Vieng is a small and pristine town in Northern Laos. It lies halfway between Vientiane and Luang Prabang on the Nam Song River, and is enclosed by limestone mountains and caves. Vang Vieng has no shortage of activities for adventure seekers — go tubing, ride a bike, climb a cliff, or try the zip line. Spend a few days here and enjoy one of Laos’ most beautiful spots.

3 ways to get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

You can choose from 3 options when travelling the 180 km distance from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng: a 5-hour van, a 7-hour bus, or a 1.5 to 2-hour train. Rates start from $11 to $33.

The van is the cheapest way to get to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang. Some companies offer free hotel pick-up so it’s quite convenient, too. The only downside is that vans are not as spacious as buses.

*The bus is more expensive at $33, but also more comfortable. Note that the last time we checked (April 2023), buses from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng have yet to resume operations.

The train is the fastest and most scenic way to travel from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng. Combined prices start from $11, making it also the cheapest option if you’re able to score train tickets from the local offices. There are a couple of disadvantages, though: tickets sell out fast and the train stations are outside the centre of both cities.

There are four transport companies offering minivan trips from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng: Laos Group Tour, Thavisouk, Naluang and Vieng Chaleune.

Vans depart from 06:45 to 15:15 daily and the journey takes around 5 hours. Except when you book with Vieng Chaleune, which arrives at Vang Vieng after 9 hours.

The advantage of taking a van is that some companies already offer free pick-up service, so you won’t have to worry about your transfer to the bus station. The disadvantage is that vans aren’t as spacious as buses. If you’re a tall passenger, it may not be a comfortable ride.

PRO TIP: We suggest that you depart from Luang Prabang before noon for safety. The route goes through the mountains and because of the road’s twists and turns, travelling in the dark poses more risks.

Departure and arrival station

Laos Group Tour and Thavisouk offer free hotel pick-up from Luang Prabang. Naluang and Vieng Chaleune depart from Southern Bus Terminal, some 3 km south of Luang Prabang city centre.

All vans arrive at Vang Vieng Bus Terminal, 2 km north of the town centre.

Van schedules from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

*Important note: The last time we checked (April 2023), the bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng has not yet resumed its operations.

Travelling by bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng allows for more comfort and legroom, but the journey takes longer at around 7 hours. Bus fares start from $33.

Departure and arrival station

The bus departs from Luang Prabang’s Southern Bus Station, which you can find 3 km south of the centre.

It arrives at Malany Hotel in Vang Vieng city centre.

Bus schedules from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng

A faster way to travel the Luang Prabang-Vang Vieng route is by train. This train journey takes just around 1.5 to 2 hours, but it also has disadvantages. The train stations are outside the city centres and tickets sell out really fast.

It’s not impossible to score tickets, though! Below, we give you tips on how to get train tickets depending on your budget and schedule.

Luang Prabang Railway Station is about 12 km east of the city centre. The cheapest way to get there is by minivan. A 20-minute ride costs $2 per person.

There are several minivan pick-up points in Luang Prabang. We recommend asking for assistance from your accommodation to find the nearest minivan stop.

The trains on this route are high-speed trains of the new Laos-China Railway, so you can expect a scenic and comfortable 1-hour ride from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.

Ticket prices start from $7 to $21, depending on where you buy your tickets. Read on for the train schedules and more details on the booking platforms.

Train schedule from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang

PRO TIP: Luang Prabang Train Station looks a lot like an airport and you can expect the usual security checks. We recommend arriving about 1 hour before your train’s departure. Note that you won’t be allowed inside the station until an hour before the trip, so there’s also no use arriving too early.

Where to buy your train tickets

The train ride itself is easy, but booking your ticket is another matter. There is a high demand for tickets for this new train line. Also for most portals, tickets are released for selling only 3 days before the travel date.

There are a few ways you can book a train ticket. Below we break down the pros and cons of each option to help you pick the best booking platform for you.

Option 1: Cheapest & easiest booking through the LCR Ticket app

LCR Ticket is a new app made specifically for booking tickets for the Laos-China Railway. It’s pretty easy to use. Like most booking apps, you just enter your pick-up and drop-off point and desired date.

Ticket prices start from $7 for a second-class seat and you can buy your tickets through the app at least 3 days in advance.

The only catch is, you have to be logged in to be able to buy a ticket. To log in, you have to be registered on the LCR Ticket app. And to register, you need to have a Laotian mobile number.

Option 2: Easy yet expensive booking through 12goAsia

If you don’t mind spending more, you can book a combined minivan and train ticket through 12GoAsia. Prices start from $21, already including your transfer from Luang Prabang city centre to the train station.

That’s more than double the regular minivan + train rates, but the advantage is that you won’t have to worry about long ticket queues or having a Laotian number.

The best part about buying your train ticket online is that you can book even months beforehand — not just 3 days prior to your trip.

Option 3: Cheap booking at the train station, but only if you can buy in advance

If you are able to go to Luang Prabang Train Station 2-3 days before your desired travel date, you can also buy your tickets here. Like the LCR App, ticket prices start from $7 at the train station.

You’re probably asking, why not just buy your ticket on the day of your trip? Because there’s a high chance that tickets are already sold out for that day.

Option 4: Luang Prabang Ticket Office is our least recommended

The Luang Prabang Ticket Office seems like the logical option because you can find it in the city centre and they sell tickets at a regular price — starting from $7. But a lot of people think the same way, so queues at the ticket office are often 1 to 2 hours long.

That’s valuable time you can spend exploring the town instead. But if you don’t mind the long queues at Luang Prabang Ticket Office, you should be able to find it across the Provincial Office of Transportation on Photisalath Road, according to the Laotian Times. We are unable to pinpoint its exact location on Google Maps, though!

Some travellers complain that this ticket office is almost “imaginary” because of how difficult it is to find it. So if you have any additional information on its exact location, you’ll be helping a lot of travellers by letting us know!

Note that the ticket office in Luang Prabang only opens at specific hours:

• Morning: 10:00-12:00
• Afternoon: 12:30-15:30

Vang Vieng Railway Station is about 4 km away from the town centre. Tuk-tuks are waiting at the train station to take passengers to the city centre.

A tuk-tuk ride from the train station to Vang Vieng city centre would cost about $2 per person and take 10 minutes.

Have you recently taken the Train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng? Share your travel tips through this form and help fellow travellers!