VientianeThakhek
The route into the Thakhek Loop, one of Laos's best-known motorbike circuits.
The Thakhek Loop · Verified 14 October 2026
Thakhek by Bus, and Starting the Thakhek Loop
Direct buses run Vientiane to Thakhek in about 8 to 9 hours. Thakhek is also the start of the famous motorbike loop, and the Lao side of the 3rd Friendship Bridge to Thailand.
- Motorbike rental in the riverside area
- Bus station approx 5 km from that area
Search Vientiane to Thakhek routes
How do I get to Thakhek?
Take the direct bus from Vientiane, from roughly 375,000 kip, or any Savannakhet- or Pakse-bound bus, which stops here too. Both set you down at the station on Route 13, about 5 km from the riverside area where the Thakhek Loop starts, so take a tuk tuk for the last leg.
Getting to Thakhek
A direct bus runs Vientiane to Thakhek, about 8 to 9 hours. If the direct departure times do not suit, a Savannakhet or Pakse-bound bus works just as well, since every long-haul service on Route 13 passes straight through town and will set you down there.
The bus station itself is on Route 13, a few hundred metres south of the Route 12 junction, about 5 km from the riverside travellers' area. Arrange a tuk tuk for the last leg with luggage. From the bus station you can also book a ride on KOKKOK Move, the Lao ride-hailing app: you propose a fare and pick from the drivers' offers.
Vientiane
The Thakhek Loop starts here
A roughly 500 km round trip by motorbike, out along Route 12 through the karst and cave country around Kong Lor, then back to Thakhek on Route 13, usually 2 to 4 days depending on how many caves and viewpoints you stop for. Most riders go counter-clockwise, saving the longer, flatter Route 13 return for last.
Rental shops are concentrated in the riverside travellers' area, five kilometres from the bus station, not at the terminal itself. Not keen on riding it yourself? Thakhek Tours runs guided motorbike trips around the loop.
Crossing to Thailand from here
Thakhek is the Lao side of the 3rd Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge, into Nakhon Phanom, the quietest of the five bridges and a natural start or end point for the loop. Full hours, visa rules and fares are on the Laos to Thailand crossings page.
ThakhekNakhon Phanom
Direct service
The crossing where the Thakhek Loop motorbike route begins on the Lao side.
Crossing to Vietnam: Na Phao, and what is not sold online
Thakhek is also the Lao side of Na Phao – Cha Lo, open 07:00–20:00. It is the quietest of the nine Laos–Vietnam crossings, and the one where the gap between what people want and what is bookable is widest.
| Journey | Crossing | Time | Bookable online? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thakhek → Hue | Dansavanh – Lao Bảo | 10 h – 10 h 15 m, departing 23:30 or 06:00 | Yes |
| Thakhek → Da Nang | Na Phao – Cha Lo | approx 16 hrs | Yes |
| Thakhek → Phong Nha | Na Phao – Cha Lo | approx 8 hrs | No, arrange locally |
| Thakhek → Vinh | Na Phao – Cha Lo | Overnight | No, arrange locally |
The one to plan around is Phong Nha. It is the obvious next stop for anyone doing the caves of central Laos and then the caves of central Vietnam, it is only about eight hours away, and no platform sells it. Arrange it in Thakhek, through a guesthouse or an agent, rather than arriving expecting to book a seat online.
Note also that Na Phao issues no Lao visa on arrival, and neither does any Laos–Vietnam crossing except Dansavanh. Coming west into Laos this way, your visa has to exist before you reach the gate. The Laos to Vietnam crossings page has the full picture.
Common questions
Is there a direct bus to Thakhek?
Yes, Vientiane to Thakhek direct, about 8 to 9 hours, from roughly 375,000 kip.
Where is the bus station?
On Route 13, near the Route 12 junction, about 5 km from the riverside area.
What is the Thakhek Loop?
A roughly 500 km motorbike loop via Route 12 and Kong Lor, back on Route 13, usually 2 to 4 days.
Can I cross to Thailand here?
Yes, via the 3rd Friendship Bridge to Nakhon Phanom.
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
- Wikivoyage: Laos: background on overland travel and bus classes
- Lao Smart Mobility: KOKKOK Move: how the KOKKOK Move ride-hailing app sets a fare