# Thakhek Bus Tickets: Getting There, and Starting the Loop

> Direct buses run Vientiane to Thakhek in about 8 to 9 hours. Where the bus station actually is, and the Thakhek Loop and Thailand border crossing that start here.

**Source:** https://laosbustickets.com/thakhek-bus-tickets/  
**Language:** en  
**Last verified:** 5 September 2026  
**Written by:** Laos Bus Tickets, Vientiane, Laos
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## Quick answer

Direct buses run Vientiane to Thakhek, about 8 to 9 hours, from roughly 220,000 kip. Long-haul buses toward Savannakhet or Pakse also pass through and will stop there if the direct service does not fit your schedule. The bus station is on Route 13, a few hundred metres south of the Route 12 junction, about 5 km from the riverside travellers' area where motorbike rental shops for the Thakhek Loop are based. The loop itself is a roughly 500 km round trip on Routes 12 and 13. Thakhek is also the Lao side of the 3rd Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge to Nakhon Phanom.

## Routes

| Route | Border crossing | Duration | Bookable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane to Thakhek | Domestic | approx 8–9 hrs | Yes |
| Thakhek to Nakhon Phanom | 3rd Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge | approx 1 hr | Yes |

## Common questions

### Is there a direct bus from Vientiane to Thakhek?

Yes. Direct buses run Vientiane to Thakhek in about 8 to 9 hours, from roughly 220,000 kip. Long-haul buses continuing to Savannakhet or Pakse also pass straight through and will stop there too.

### Where is the Thakhek bus station?

On Route 13, a few hundred metres south of the junction with Route 12. It is about 5 km from the riverside area where most guesthouses and motorbike rental shops are, so arrange a tuk tuk rather than expecting to walk in with luggage.

### What is the Thakhek Loop?

A roughly 500 km motorbike loop east on Route 12 through the karst and cave country around Kong Lor, then back south and west on Route 13. Most riders go counter-clockwise and leave the long, flatter Route 13 stretch for last. Rental shops cluster in the riverside travellers' area, not at the bus station.

### Can I cross to Thailand from Thakhek?

Yes, the 3rd Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge to Nakhon Phanom starts here, the quietest of the five bridges and the natural start or end point for the loop. See Laos to Thailand crossings for hours and visa details.

## Sources

- [Lao Department of Immigration](https://immigration.gov.la): checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
- [Wikivoyage: Laos](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Laos): background on overland travel and bus classes
- [Away Go We: the Thakhek Loop](https://www.awaygowe.com/thakhek-loop-motorbiking-guide/): the loop route and where to rent a motorbike

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_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._