Find out the easiest and best ways to get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng in Laos. There has been a lot of changes over the years, including a train, so come check out the latest information!
If you have limited time in Laos and are looking to get in touch with nature there is no better option than a visit to Vang Vieng.
This once drugged-filled drunken backpacker town has been rebranded into an adventure nature lovers’ paradise.
Though if this is your first time in Laos you may start to feel overwhelmed with transport options. There are no airports by Vang Vieng and the roads are not in the best condition.
It is not a fun experience being squished into a minivan with 12 plus other travelers, but neither is jumping on a local bus just for it to stop every couple of minutes.
Thankfully there is now a train connecting the two, however, it is run by a Chinese Railway Company and has a few odd things you need to know.
Luckily enough this is a journey I have done multiple times throughout the years. Laos may be relatively small but I love it and always find myself back there exploring!
So let’s get into all the details to figure out the best way to travel from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng!
| Transport Method | Length | Price | Book Your Trip |
| Train | 1 Hour | $20.00 | Book Now |
| Fly | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bus | 7 Hours + | $30.00 | Book Now |
| Shared Shuttle | 6 Hours | $28.00 | Book Now |
| Taxi | 5 Hours | $150.00 | Book Now |
How To Get From Luang Prabang To Vang Vieng: The Best Ways To Travel
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia
Train From Luang Prabang To Vang Vieng
The newest and for sure fanciest option to travel to Vang Vieng is by taking the train. This will allow you to avoid the motion sickness-inducing winding roads and instead be able to have a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
The travel time will be 2 hours including transfers to and from your hotel. Because this is a high-speed train it will allow you to cut out a lot of travel time, especially compared to taking one of the road options.
They definitely look super futuristic and don’t fit in with the chill and quaint vibes of Laos.
These are actually electric trains with air conditioning that were built in China. You can travel from the Laotian capital of Vientiane, right to the town of Boten on the border.
This is perfect for backpackers looking to explore further afield, just make sure to organize your China visa in advance.
Nevertheless, it is definitely the best option for a quick and enjoyable journey. You will find this is more expensive as tickets start at $25.00. However, if you are like me and suffer from motion sickness it will definitely be worth the money.
Tickets can be booked online with 12.Go Asia. This is a booking platform I have used all throughout Southeast Asia and highly recommend.
You can even see other travelers’ reviews of certain transportation companies, so you know what to expect.
| Train No | Departure | Arrival | Journey Time | Book Tickets |
| #C85 | 11:41 | 12:49 | 1 hour 8 minutes | Book Now |
| #D887 | 14:49 | 15:38 | 49 minutes | Book Now |
| #C81 | 16:51 | 17:43 | 52 minutes | Book Now |
| #C83 | 19:00 | 19:52 | 52 minutes | Book Now |
How To Book Tickets For The Train Luang Prabang To Vang Vieng
Luckily you do have a couple of different options when it comes to booking your tickets. However one thing to note is they can be hard to get your hands on.
This is no doubt the most popular way to travel now so you will find locals and tourists alike wanting to take the trains.
Option 3. Book Through The LCR Ticket App
You can download the LCR Ticket app on your phone to book tickets on the Laos China Railway. It is pretty straightforward to use, however, to actually buy the tickets you need to be registered on the app and have a Laotian phone number.
It isn’t too hard at all to get a local SIM card. For example, a Unitel sim with data for 15 days costs 70,000 / $3.40.
Prices start from $7.00 for a second-class seat, which for a short journey is all you need. However, you will need to organize a tuktuk or taxi to take you to the train station.
2. Booking Through 12GoAsia
For an easy and chill experience simply book through 12Go Asia. Prices start from $21, which includes your transfer from Luang Prabang city center to the train station.
This is perfect if you are arriving in the country quite close to your date of travel and don’t have time to organize a Laotian sim card to purchase on the app or spend time waiting in line.
The best part about buying your train ticket from 12Go Asia is that you can book even months beforehand, which gives you peace of mind knowing the journey is all sorted.
3. Booking At The Train Station
Now booking at the train station will only work if you plan to spend a few days exploring Luang Prabang prior to your train to Vang Vieng.
Basically, you will need to go to the Luang Prabang Train Station 2 to 3 days before your desired date of travel. Unfortunately, this journey does get booked up so trying to buy them the day of travel is not an option.
At the station, you will be able to line up and purchase your tickets for $7.00.
4. Luang Prabang Ticket Office
Now I know this might seem like the ideal choice, a ticket office smack bang in town selling tickets at the normal $7.00 price + a $1.00 surcharge.
However, because of its popularity, you are likely to spend a good portion of your day waiting in line with queues reported over 2 hours long!
Plus you can only purchase 2 tickets per person and you need to bring along your passport.
No Visa or MasterCard are accepted, so bring cash.
It should be noted that there are a couple of companies posing as the Luang Prabang ticket office in town, but you will want to make sure you head to the correct one.
Location: The OFFICIAL ticket office is located on Phothisalath Road opposite the Luang Prabang Provincial Administration building.
Opening Hours: 10 am – 12 pm & 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm – perfect for standing around in the midday heat.
Luang Prabang Center To The Luang Prabang Railway Station
The Luang Prabang Railway Station is located 12 kilometers outside of the main city center.
Depending on where you buy your ticket a transfer may or may not be included. For example, with 12GoAsia you can book just the train and a transfer for just a couple of dollars more.
If you plan on doing this yourself a taxi or tuk tuk will take you about 30 minutes and cost between $5.00 – $8.00.
Vang Veing Railway Station To Town Center
The Vang Vieng Railway Station is 4 kilometers from the town center. You will find plenty of tuk-tuks waiting at the train station available to take you the 10 minute drive.
Expect to pay around $2.00 per person for the short journey in a shared tuk-tuk.
What Is The Road To Vang Vieng Like?
The road to Vang Vieng is not the most comfortable journey, so let’s hope the vehicle has good suspension.
There are many potholes and curves which is never fun. If you have motion sickness tablets I highly recommend you take them.
Seriously I would consider this to be one of the worst journeys on the banana pancake trail around Southeast Asia. Though the worst of all is no doubt Chiang Mai to Pai.
The plus side is that there is a lovely stop where the majority of tourist buses and minivans will stop. On my most recent trip around Laos, our guide called this stop the ‘loo with a view’.
There are a few small stores selling snacks like chips as well as cup noodles for a quick bite. It will also cost you just under a dollar to use the bathroom.
From the parking lot, there are sweeping views of the valley below. The green mountains seem to go on forever and it is incredible to see how high you have climbed. Just be prepared for a very curvy downhill journey from here.
One of the times I was here the roads after the ‘loo with a view’ stop were being resurfaced, so they were just dirt. It made for quite an amusing experience to see cars struggling to get up on the other side and instead, slipping back down the road.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia
Old Road VS New Road
There are two different roads you can take to Vang Vieng, the old road and the new road. The old road is the one which the buses go and the total journey does take longer this way.
Though, it is a lot more scenic with great views and overall fewer hills/curves.
The new route is used by cars and minivans and is quicker by about an hour or two. It may not be as scenic as the old road, though it is still pretty good. I mean there is still the impressive ‘loo with a view’.
The new road is now finished, so you don’t have to worry about potholes and dirt sections.
However, the main thing to note with the new road is that it is very curvy and hilly, not great for people who get car sick.
It is common to see vans pulled to the side of the road with people vomiting. My advice is just to take motion sickness pills.
Bus To Vang Vieng
Taking the bus to Vang Vieng from Luang Prabang is a great choice if you get motion sickness.
This is because it is a slower drive, as well as the bus takes the old route where there are fewer curves, ultimately making a more comfortable experience.
Though, the downside is taking the bus will add at least 1 hour to your journey. Therefore if you are on a tight schedule you may find the minivan a better choice.
VIP Tourist Bus
If you take a Tourist bus you will be picked up by a shuttle bus from your accommodation which will then take you to the bus station.
As great as it sounds, sometimes this means being stuck being driven around town while the van picks up others.
When you get to the bus station, you will grab your bags and chuck them on the bus. Just know once again you may be stuck waiting around as the bus waits for more of the vans picking up travelers.
When the bus finally heads off you will be taking the old road. Perfect for people who get motion sick as you won’t constantly be tossed around corners.
Being a tourist bus you will have air conditioning which is a lifesaver in the heat. However, just remember we are in Laos things can sometimes be broken.
At least you will be able to get some fresh air during rest breaks. The van will stop at least once so you can use the bathroom and buy some snacks.
One of the best parts about taking the bus is the beautiful scenery out the window. From lush mountainsides to children playing, farm animals, and local families, there is always something happening out there.
You will arrive in Vang Vieng a few kilometers away from the center and have to get a tuk-tuk the rest of the way.
Unfortunately, drivers won’t be willing to negotiate. Though if you walk down the road a bit you should be able to find a cheaper ride.
Local Bus From Luang Prabang To Vang Vieng
The local buses in Laos are similar to the Tourist bus however it will be slightly cheaper. This is because local buses are infamously slow as they stop in numerous villages, loading and unloading goods and locals.
Also, be aware it can be a pretty cramped journey as the drivers like to squeeze on as many people until it turns into a clown car scenario.
Seriously, it is actually common to have little plastic stools in the walkway as extra seating.
Lastly, get ready to embrace Southeast Asia air conditioning aka opening the window. There is not usually air conditioning on the local bus meaning it could get quite dusty inside from the open windows.
While taking a local bus may not be a direct journey or comfortable, it’s perfecting if you want to save money.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia
Shared Minivan To Vang Vieng From Luang Prabang
Next, we have a shared minivan and this is actually one of the ways I have traveled this route. We booked it in advance from a random travel agency in the town.
Though, if you want some peace of mind all your transport is taken care of you can visit 12.Go Asia and prebook from them. On their website, you will also be able to check out reviews so you will know exactly what to expect.
Prices for the minivans are generally around 170,000 – 250,000 LAK / $7.80 – $11.40. This will include pick up in a tuk-tuk from your guesthouse or hostel in Luang Prabang to the bus station.
| Company | Departure / Arrival | Length | Ticket Price | Availability |
| Vieng Chaleune | 07:30 – 13:30 08:00 – 14:00 11:00 – 17:00 14:00 – 20:00 17:00 – 23:00 18:30 – 00:30 | 6 Hours | $28.00 | Book Now |
| Naluang | 08:30 – 14:30 11:00 – 17:00 | 6 Hours | $28.00 | Book Now |
My Experience Taking The Shared Minivan
A tuk-tuk comes and meets us at our accommodation in Luang Prabang. Luckily we don’t have to pick up too many passengers and are soon on our way out to the city center and to the bus station.
Pulling up on the side of the road we enter a gate to a property with a few different minivans around.
There was a little bit of confusion, but we finally figured out that we needed to exchange our ticket for a different ticket.
My partner does this for us while I use the bathroom. After that, we are ushered over to a minivan and packed in preparation for the journey.
Being someone who often can get mountain sick on these journeys, I try to sleep most of the way. Though it can be hard to keep your eyes closed while being tossed around each corner.
The van is packed full of people with a couple of bags downs the middle which cannot fit in the back of the van.
A couple of hours into the journey we pull over at the impressive ‘loo with a view’ stop. The bathrooms are unimpressive, though the view is quite the opposite.
Even being the burning season we can still see across the valley and over the beautiful rolling hills.
There are a couple of snack places here, but I purchased some lollies and chips last night at a supermarket to keep me going.
Sleeping away a few more hours on the bus the landscape quickly begins to change. The rolling hills become impressive karst mountains and we follow alongside a river to the town of Vang Vieng.
Pulling into the bus station outside of the center of Vang Vieng we quickly become swarmed with tuk-tuk drivers.
Being 2 kilometers outside the town options are limited, especially in the heat. We quickly give in and pay the 20,000 LAK for a shared ride to the doorstep of our hostel.
Vang Vieng Bus Station Into Town
Like most transportation in Southeast Asia, the minivans and buses will drop you at a bus station inconveniently out of town. In Vang Vieng, this station is situated 2 kilometers outside of the city center of the town.
Realistically this is not too far, though under the hot sun, carrying all your luggage makes it seem a whole lot longer.
Don’t worry though as there will be tuk-tuks waiting around to take you into town for an expensive price knowing they are basically your only option. Generally, they ask for at least 20,000 LAK per person for the short ride.
Though, if you walk a little further down the ride you should be able to flag down a driver for a cheaper rate. Just prepare to pay at least 10,000 LAK.
Which only a dollar difference you might not worry too much about finding another driver and just suck it up.
This is what I did and it was not a big deal since the drivers will drop you off right at your accommodation door.
Taxi To Vang Vieng
No doubt taking a taxi will be the most expensive option when it comes to traveling from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng.
However, the bonus is that it will give you the freedom to stop wherever along the way and avoid being stuck with a bunch of randoms.
If you are keen to book I recommend asking your hotel in Luang Prabang and they will be able to let you know the latest prices. Generally, you should expect it to cost $150.00.
Can You Fly
Unfortunately, there is no airport in Vang Vieng at this current time, even though there is one in Luang Prabang.
If you do perhaps get horrible motion sickness and cannot bear the curvy roads from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng then there is another option that involves flying. Though, this involves 2 separate parts to complete the journey.
For the first portion of the journey, you will need to fly from Luang Prabang to Vientiane. This is a short easy flight to the capital of Laos.
These flights are every day of the week and it is best to book in advance for cheaper prices.
The second half of the journey will consist of taking a minivan or bus from Vientiane to Vang Vieng.
I know this may seem counterproductive. The roads between these two cities are a lot better than that of Luang Prabang.
This journey will take around 4 hours, so this way is more expensive than the others as well as overall will take a lot longer.
Nonetheless, you will be avoiding the horrible curvy roads and mountain ranges. Overall making for a lot smoother transit.
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Laos: 12Go Asia
Where To Stay In Vang Vieng
Luckily enough the main town center of Vang Vieng is relatively small and you will find plenty of accommodation options around every corner.
From backpacker hostels to river view hotels, you can find some great and affordable options here.
I have stayed at Vang Vieng Backpackers Hostel during one of my visits. The location is perfect, right amongst the town and near the best restaurants in Vang Vieng.
I loved the pool which is the perfect way to cool off and happy hour at the bar is a great way to meet people.
Alternatively, during a separate visit, my partner and I chose to splash out by booking the Amari Vang Vieng Hotel. This is certainly a more luxe option here, but the rooms are super nice and modern, the best place to relax after a dusty day exploring.
The only thing is I don’t recommend the onsite restaurant, it’s expensive and the food is average. Luckily you will find plenty of other options literally seconds away.
A fun and social hostel in an excellent location. From $7.00 per night for a dorm. BOOK NOW |
A social and party hard hostel on the main road of the town. From $4.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
A lovely resort with a pool to relax in. Prices start from $22.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
A taste of luxe with amazing views. Prices start from $100.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
Things To Do In Vang Vieng
You will find so many awesome adventure activities to do here in Vang Vieng to full your days.
Tham Phu Kham Cave and Blue Lagoon: This is a popular tourist spot that features a beautiful cave and a stunning blue lagoon. You can swim in the lagoon, explore the cave, and enjoy the scenic views.
Tubing: Tubing in Vang Vieng is a fun activity where you float down the river on an inner tube. You can stop at various bars along the way and enjoy drinks and snacks.
Visit Blue Lagoon 3: For the ultimate paradise venture out to Blue Lagoon 3 for a few hours. Enjoy the refreshing waters and swing from the different platforms.
Hot air balloon ride: Taking a hot air balloon ride is a unique way to see the beautiful landscape of Vang Vieng. You can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the mountains, rivers, and rice fields.
Kayaking: A great way to explore the Nam Song River and the surrounding countryside. You can rent a kayak for around $10 per day
Rock climbing: Vang Vieng is known for its limestone cliffs, which are perfect for rock climbing. You can take a guided tour or rent equipment and climb on your own.
FAQs About Traveling Luang Prabang To Vang Vieng
How long is the train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng?
The train from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng is a short journey taking around 1 hour.
How long is the bus from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng?
Depending on the type of bus booked, the journey from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng will take 6 to 9 hours.
Wrap Up: Best Ways To Get To Vang Vieng
Whether you decide to travel to Vang Vieng by train, bus, shared shuttle, or taxi it should be a relatively straightforward journey.
However, I definitely recommend booking the train for a unique experience in Southeast Asia.
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There is a high speed train now from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (and even furrher to China). The trip is much shorter, about 3h, and there is a stop in Vang Vieng
Hey Lucia! Thanks for letting me know, I have just updated the post with this information.
I’d say town size is about 10 by 10 miles. Yes some hotel has air conditioning but not sure if there is any at Cafe but there is the night market
Thank you for those information. I have 5 nights in Luang Prabang, (my 2nd visit) and I am undecided if I should go to Vang Vieng or not and I am not interested to visit the caves.
Can you tell me how the the town centre size and vibe compared to Luang Prabang ? Are there any cafe with air-conditioning ? Any night market ?