VientianeBangkok
Direct serviceThe long-haul option on this border, usually run as an overnight sleeper. Many travellers cover the same ground more cheaply by crossing at Nong Khai and continuing separately on a Thai bus or train.
Verified 23 September 2026
Laos Bus, Train and Flight Tickets: Every Border, Both Ways
Laos has land borders with four countries and 33 official checkpoints. Every crossing here is covered in both directions, by bus, by train and by air: which one you need, when it opens, and what visa it will actually give you.
- 33 official checkpoints
- 40 routes checked
- Visa rules per crossing
Search live routes
Thailand's visa exemption is now 30 days
Since 15 September 2026 the 60-day visa exemption has been replaced by 30 days for 60 nationalities, and land-border entries under the exemption are capped at twice per calendar year. One 30-day extension can be requested at any immigration office for 1,900 baht; approval is at the officer's discretion. Read more.
Which border do I need?
Laos has land borders with Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and China, and 33 official checkpoints. The busiest by far are the five Thai–Lao Friendship Bridges. There is exactly one legal crossing into Cambodia, open 06:00–18:00. Vietnam has nine international checkpoints but issues no visa on arrival at any of them, get the e-visa online first.
Which crossing do I need?
| Journey | Border crossing | Typical duration | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane → Bangkok | 1st Friendship Bridge | 20–24 hrs | Full detail |
| Vientiane → Hanoi | Nam Phao – Cầu Treo | approx 24 hrs | Full detail |
| Pakse → Siem Reap | Nongnokkhene | approx 14 hrs | Full detail |
| Luang Prabang → Chiang Mai | 4th Friendship Bridge | approx 20 hrs | Full detail |
| Savannakhet → Hue | Dansavanh – Lao Bảo | approx 12 hrs | Full detail |
| 4000 Islands → Siem Reap | Nongnokkhene | approx 12 hrs | Full detail |
| Vientiane → Luang Prabang | domestic, train is fastest | 1 h 46 m by train | Full detail |
| Vientiane → Kunming | Boten – Mohan | 9.5–10 hrs by train | Full detail |
| Paksan → Bueng Kan | 5th Friendship Bridge (new) | approx 3 hrs | Full detail |
Pick your border
5 bridges + 1 land crossingLaos to Thailand
Vientiane to Bangkok, Huay Xai to Chiang Mai, and the new fifth bridge at Paksan.
See all crossings →
9 crossingsLaos to Vietnam
Lao Bảo, Cầu Treo and seven more. No visa on arrival, bring an e-visa.
See all crossings →
One crossing onlyLaos to Cambodia
Nongnokkhene to Trapeang Kriel, 06:00–18:00. Everything else is closed to foreigners.
See the crossing →
Road and railLaos to China
Boten to Mohan, plus the Lao-China Railway and the through train to Kunming.
See the crossing →
Popular routes
VientianeNong Khai
Direct serviceThe busiest hop on this border, and the easiest place to change onto Thailand's onward network, including the overnight sleeper train to Bangkok.
Luang PrabangChiang Mai
Direct serviceThe long way round by road. Many travellers do only one leg this way and take the Mekong slow boat for the other, rather than the same road twice.
Huay XaiChiang Rai
Direct serviceThe short final hop for travellers who took the two-day Mekong slow boat down from Luang Prabang.
VientianeHanoi
Direct serviceAn overnight sleeper between the two capitals, the main road link on this border.
SavannakhetHue
Direct serviceThe busiest Laos–Vietnam gate, on the way to Hue's imperial citadel.
Luang PrabangHanoi
The one northern option on this border, via the war-history town of Sam Neua.
PakseSiem Reap
Direct serviceThe gateway to Angkor Wat, on Laos's only crossing into Cambodia.
4000 IslandsSiem Reap
Starts right at the border, shaving hours off the same journey from Pakse.
VientianeVang Vieng
The gateway to Vang Vieng's karst scenery, and the shortest hop on the Laos–China Railway.
VientianeLuang Prabang
The country's best-connected long-haul run, with an overnight VIP bus alongside the much faster railway.
Is there a bus from your country to Laos?
The short answer is yes from all three neighbours that run scheduled cross-border services, and no from China, where the railway has replaced the through-bus for most travellers. Each row below goes to the crossing that route actually uses.
| From | Direct service? | Crossing used | Typical journey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | Yes, several daily | Five Friendship Bridges | 1 hr Nong Khai–Vientiane, 20–24 hrs from Bangkok |
| Vietnam | Yes, mostly overnight sleepers | Nine checkpoints | approx 24 hrs Hanoi–Vientiane |
| Cambodia | Yes, one route only | Nongnokkhene, the only one | approx 6 hrs Stung Treng–Pakse |
| China | Rail, not bus | Boten–Mohan | Laos–China Railway via Boten |
Two things catch people out regardless of where they are coming from. Vietnam issues no visa on arrival at any land border, so an e-visa has to be in hand before you reach the gate. And the only crossing between Laos and Cambodia closes at 18:00, earlier than most sources claim.
Common questions
Is there a bus from Thailand to Laos?
Yes, at all five Friendship Bridges. Nong Khai to Vientiane takes about an hour and runs several times a day; Bangkok to Vientiane is 20 to 24 hours. You cannot walk or cycle across the 1st Bridge, it is a mandatory shuttle bus or the train.
Is there a bus from Vietnam to Laos?
Yes, across nine checkpoints, mostly as overnight sleepers. Hanoi to Vientiane is roughly 24 hours via Nam Phao–Cầu Treo. Get a Vietnamese e-visa first, because no Vietnamese land border issues a visa on arrival.
Is there a bus from Cambodia to Laos?
Yes, on one route. Nongnokkhene–Trapeang Kriel is the only legal land crossing between the two countries. Stung Treng to Pakse takes about 6 hours, and the post closes at 18:00.
How many Friendship Bridges are there between Laos and Thailand?
Five. The fifth, linking Pakxan in Bolikhamxay to Bueng Kan, opened to the public on 27 December 2025. Almost every travel site still says four.
Can I get a visa on arrival at Laos land borders?
At most of them, yes, for roughly US$40 in cash plus a US$1 surcharge at weekends. Coming into Laos from Vietnam or Cambodia, do not rely on an eVisa, carry USD cash.
Can I still travel overland from Thailand to Cambodia?
Not directly. Every Thailand–Cambodia land crossing has been closed since the 2025 conflict, with no reopening timeline. The remaining overland route runs Thailand → Laos → Cambodia.
What changed for Thailand on 15 September 2026?
Since that date, 30 days for 60 nationalities instead of 60, and land-border entries under the exemption capped at twice per calendar year.
Is the train faster than the bus in Laos?
Much faster. Vientiane to Luang Prabang takes about 1 h 46 m by train against roughly 10 hours by road. Tickets release seven days ahead at 06:30 Laos time through the official app.
Which crossing do I use for Vientiane to Bangkok?
The 1st Friendship Bridge to Nong Khai. You cannot walk or cycle across, mandatory paid shuttle bus, or the twice-daily train.
Laos Bus Tickets
Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.
Sources for this page
- Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
- Tourism Authority of Thailand: the visa exemption change in force since 15 September 2026
- Thailand Immigration Bureau: Digital Arrival Card: the TDAC requirement, the 3-day filing window and the fact that it is free
- Lao News Agency (KPL): the fifth Friendship Bridge opening
- Vietnam Immigration Department: e-visa checkpoints and rules