How to get from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

Why visit Vientiane?

Vientiane is Laos’ fascinating capital city sitting on the banks of the Mekong River. A former French trading post, the city has kept many of its historical influences and original architecture undamaged.

True, there is not much to do in this sleepy city — and that’s exactly what sets Vientiane apart from other capital cities in Southeast Asia. It is a hub for temples, markets, spas and cafes. Our favourite spot is the riverside, where you can relax with a cold Beer Lao and just watch the sunset over the Mekong.

There are 4 ways to travel the 340 kilometers (211 miles) from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. You can choose between the bus, shared minivan, train and flight. The journey takes 50 minutes - 11 hours and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at $22 (479,000 LAK).

You can choose from several night buses on the route from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. If you don’t want to travel by night but still want to save some money compared to flying, you can also travel by day via a minivan.

Buses offer standard flatbeds and the journey trip takes about 10 to 11 hours.

A minivan can take you faster from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. They also travel during the day, which is a nice opportunity to see the landscape along the way.

However, note that sitting in a minivan for 6 to 11 hours can get really uncomfortable. We also don’t recommend this for taller travellers as there is not a lot of legroom.

Fares start at $22 (482,000 LAK). What we like about this option is that some minivan companies offer free hotel pickup. This saves you the hassle and extra cost of finding your way to bus stations.

There are three companies operating on this route: Luang Prabang Holiday Travel, Naluang and Laos Group Tour. See the schedule below.

Shared Minivan options from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

The journey from Luang Prabang to Vientiane via train takes around 2 to 4 hours. Fares start at $25 (545,000 LAK).

Trains depart from Luang Prabang Train Station and arrive at Vientiane Railway Station.

Train options from Luang Prabang to Vientiane

There are two airlines operating flights on this route, of which Lao Skyway is the cheaper option.

Lao Skyway offers one daily flight from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. The flight departs from Luang Prabang at 13:20 and travel time is only 50 minutes. You can check the latest flight schedules with Lao Skyway through their website.

Lao Airlines is also a good airline, but tickets are slightly more expensive. To check flight schedules and book your flights, click on the button below.

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