# Laos Train Tickets: Vientiane to Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang

> The Laos-China Railway is the fastest way between Vientiane, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang. Fares, times, how tickets go on sale, and how far the stations are.

**Source:** https://laosbustickets.com/train-tickets-laos/  
**Language:** en  
**Last verified:** 4 September 2026  
**Written by:** Laos Bus Tickets, Vientiane, Laos
**Other languages:** [Français](https://laosbustickets.com/fr/train-tickets-laos.md) · [Deutsch](https://laosbustickets.com/de/train-tickets-laos.md) · [Español](https://laosbustickets.com/es/train-tickets-laos.md)  

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## Quick answer

The Laos–China Railway runs Vientiane – Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang – Boten. Vientiane to Luang Prabang takes 1 h 46 m to 2 h 21 m and costs 234,000–330,000 kip in second class. Tickets go on sale three days before departure at 06:30 Laos time and sell out on popular services. Every station is well outside its town: Vang Vieng 3–4 km, Luang Prabang about 11 km, Vientiane 9–13 km.

## Routes

| Route | Border crossing | Duration | Bookable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane to Luang Prabang | , | 1 h 46 m – 2 h 21 m | Yes |
| Vientiane to Vang Vieng | , | about 1 hr | Yes |
| Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang | , | about 1 hr | Yes |

## Common questions

### How do I actually buy a ticket?

Tickets release three days before departure at 06:30 Laos time and popular services sell out the same morning. The official app takes Visa, Alipay and WeChat. You need passport details for every passenger. Buying at the station counter works but the hours are restrictive and the queue starts early.

### How far is Vang Vieng station from town?

3–4 km north. A minivan or the green shared bus costs 40,000 kip, or take a tuk tuk, about 10 minutes. Budget for it; people routinely miss trains assuming the station is central.

### How far is Luang Prabang station?

About 11 km from the old town. Allow 25–30 minutes and arrange transport in advance for an early departure.

### Is the train worth it over the bus?

For Vientiane–Luang Prabang, almost always: under two hours against about ten by road. For Vientiane–Vang Vieng the gap is smaller once you add both station transfers, so the bus can be simpler if your hotel is central.

### How much is Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

234,000 kip second class on the slower K11/K12 services, 330,000 kip on the faster C81–C98 trains, roughly US$11–17.

### Can I take the train all the way to China?

Yes. The through service runs to Kunming in about 9.5–10 hours including border formalities. See the Boten crossing.

## Sources

- [Lao Department of Immigration](https://immigration.gov.la): checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status

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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._