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A Laos–China Railway train in red, white and blue livery crossing paddy fields

Laos–China Railway · Updated 19 October 2026

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

Vientiane to Luang Prabang takes 1 h 46 m by train, against about ten hours by road. Here: the 7-day timetable, fares, how to buy tickets and how to reach each station.

  • Vientiane–Luang Prabang 1 h 46 m
  • From 234,000 kip
  • Tickets 7 days ahead via the app
  • Stations 3–15 km from town

Is the train worth it?

One railway line runs the length of northern Laos: Vientiane – Vang Vieng – Luang Prabang – Boten. Vientiane to Luang Prabang takes 1 h 46 m and costs from 234,000 kip. Two things to know: tickets go on sale seven days ahead at 06:30 in the official app, and every station is a long way outside its town.

Laos train timetable, updated daily

This week, 7 trains run north from Vientiane and 7 come south to it, 8 of them every day. The fastest take 1 h 46 m between Vientiane and Luang Prabang (D88, D84, D87).

  • Vientiane → Luang Prabang: first train 08:00 (D88), last 15:15 (C86)
  • Luang Prabang → Vientiane: first train 09:48 (C95, not daily), last 18:35 (C85)

Trains from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Boten and Kunming

Trains from Vientiane to Luang Prabang, Boten and Kunming
TrainVientianeVang ViengLuang PrabangMuang XaiNateuyBotenRuns
D88to Kunming South, arr. 18:34 China time08:0008:5509:5010:44does not stop11:15Daily
K1208:2509:4911:1512:2813:1313:24Monday to ThursdayFriday to Sunday: not on sale yet
C9209:2010:1611:38does not stopdoes not stopdoes not stopDaily
D84to Kunming, arr. 22:08 China time11:2512:2013:15does not stopdoes not stop14:31Daily
C9614:0515:1516:5217:5318:2518:35Monday, Thursday
C9614:0515:1516:5217:5318:2518:35Friday to Sunday
C8615:1516:3017:26does not stopdoes not stopdoes not stopDaily

Trains to Vientiane from Boten, Luang Prabang and Kunming

Trains to Vientiane from Boten, Luang Prabang and Kunming
TrainBotenNateuyMuang XaiLuang PrabangVang ViengVientianeRuns
C9508:0008:1408:4809:4810:4611:47Monday, Tuesday, Friday
C9508:0008:1408:4809:4810:4611:47Saturday, Sunday
C91does not stopdoes not stopdoes not stop12:2813:3814:31Daily
D87from Kunming South, dep. 08:08 China time13:27does not stop14:0414:5815:5216:44Daily
K1114:1014:2615:1316:3118:0619:25Monday to ThursdayFriday to Sunday: not on sale yet
D83from Kunming, dep. 10:55 China time16:44does not stop17:1818:1119:0619:59Daily
C85does not stopdoes not stopdoes not stop18:3519:3520:28Daily
  • Times are Laos time. Each time is the departure; at a train's last stop in Laos, the arrival.
  • † To and from China, in China time (one hour ahead of Laos): D88 arrives Kunming South 18:34; D84 arrives Kunming 22:08; D87 leaves Kunming South 08:08; D83 leaves Kunming 10:55.
  • * K12, K11: Friday to Sunday not on sale yet in the app.

Last checked in the LCR Ticket app: Monday 19 October 2026, 06:00, Laos time · Monday 19 October to Sunday 25 October

All stops, train by train

D88 Vientiane 08:00 → Kunming South 18:34
  1. Vientianedep. 08:00
  2. Vang Viengarr. 08:52 · dep. 08:55
  3. Luang Prabangarr. 09:46 · dep. 09:50
  4. Muang Xaiarr. 10:41 · dep. 10:44
  5. Botenarr. 11:15 · dep. 12:07
  6. Mohanarr. 13:19 · dep. 14:11 (China time)
  7. Xishuangbannaarr. 15:10 · dep. 15:16 (China time)
  8. Pu'erarr. 15:56 · dep. 16:00 (China time)
  9. Yuxiarr. 17:52 · dep. 17:56 (China time)
  10. Kunming Southarr. 18:34 (China time)
K12 Vientiane 08:25 → Boten 13:24
  1. Vientianedep. 08:25
  2. Phonhongarr. 09:04 · dep. 09:08
  3. Vang Viengarr. 09:44 · dep. 09:49
  4. Kasiarr. 10:16 · dep. 10:24
  5. Luang Prabangarr. 11:09 · dep. 11:15
  6. Muang Ngaarr. 11:52 · dep. 11:55
  7. Muang Xaiarr. 12:23 · dep. 12:28
  8. Namorarr. 12:54 · dep. 12:57
  9. Nateuyarr. 13:10 · dep. 13:13
  10. Botenarr. 13:24
C92 Vientiane 09:20 → Luang Prabang 11:38
  1. Vientianedep. 09:20
  2. Vang Viengarr. 10:12 · dep. 10:16
  3. Luang Prabangarr. 11:38
D84 Vientiane 11:25 → Kunming 22:08
  1. Vientianedep. 11:25
  2. Vang Viengarr. 12:17 · dep. 12:20
  3. Luang Prabangarr. 13:11 · dep. 13:15
  4. Botenarr. 14:31 · dep. 15:25
  5. Mohanarr. 16:37 · dep. 17:29 (China time)
  6. Xishuangbannaarr. 18:28 · dep. 18:34 (China time)
  7. Pu'erarr. 19:15 · dep. 19:19 (China time)
  8. Kunming Southarr. 21:44 · dep. 21:48 (China time)
  9. Kunmingarr. 22:08 (China time)
C96 Vientiane 14:05 → Boten 18:35
  1. Vientianedep. 14:05
  2. Vang Viengarr. 15:08 · dep. 15:15
  3. Luang Prabangarr. 16:48 · dep. 16:52
  4. Muang Xaiarr. 17:50 · dep. 17:53
  5. Nateuyarr. 18:20 · dep. 18:25
  6. Botenarr. 18:35
C96 Vientiane 14:05 → Boten 18:35
  1. Vientianedep. 14:05
  2. Vang Viengarr. 15:08 · dep. 15:15
  3. Luang Prabangarr. 16:48 · dep. 16:52
  4. Muang Xaiarr. 17:50 · dep. 17:53
  5. Nateuyarr. 18:20 · dep. 18:25
  6. Botenarr. 18:35
C86 Vientiane 15:15 → Luang Prabang 17:26
  1. Vientianedep. 15:15
  2. Phonhongarr. 15:44 · dep. 15:47
  3. Vang Viengarr. 16:26 · dep. 16:30
  4. Luang Prabangarr. 17:26
C95 Boten 08:00 → Vientiane 11:47
  1. Botendep. 08:00
  2. Nateuyarr. 08:09 · dep. 08:14
  3. Muang Xaiarr. 08:41 · dep. 08:48
  4. Luang Prabangarr. 09:35 · dep. 09:48
  5. Vang Viengarr. 10:42 · dep. 10:46
  6. Vientianearr. 11:47
C95 Boten 08:00 → Vientiane 11:47
  1. Botendep. 08:00
  2. Nateuyarr. 08:09 · dep. 08:14
  3. Muang Xaiarr. 08:41 · dep. 08:48
  4. Luang Prabangarr. 09:35 · dep. 09:48
  5. Vang Viengarr. 10:42 · dep. 10:46
  6. Vientianearr. 11:47
C91 Luang Prabang 12:28 → Vientiane 14:31
  1. Luang Prabangdep. 12:28
  2. Vang Viengarr. 13:34 · dep. 13:38
  3. Vientianearr. 14:31
D87 Kunming South 08:08 → Vientiane 16:44
  1. Kunming Southdep. 08:08 (China time)
  2. Yuxiarr. 08:45 · dep. 08:49 (China time)
  3. Pu'erarr. 10:38 · dep. 10:42 (China time)
  4. Xishuangbannaarr. 11:24 · dep. 11:30 (China time)
  5. Mohanarr. 12:31 · dep. 13:23 (China time)
  6. Botenarr. 12:35 · dep. 13:27
  7. Muang Xaiarr. 13:58 · dep. 14:04
  8. Luang Prabangarr. 14:54 · dep. 14:58
  9. Vang Viengarr. 15:49 · dep. 15:52
  10. Vientianearr. 16:44
K11 Boten 14:10 → Vientiane 19:25
  1. Botendep. 14:10
  2. Nateuyarr. 14:21 · dep. 14:26
  3. Namorarr. 14:39 · dep. 14:42
  4. Muang Xaiarr. 15:08 · dep. 15:13
  5. Muang Ngaarr. 15:42 · dep. 15:48
  6. Luang Prabangarr. 16:24 · dep. 16:31
  7. Kasiarr. 17:29 · dep. 17:33
  8. Vang Viengarr. 18:00 · dep. 18:06
  9. Phonhongarr. 18:42 · dep. 18:46
  10. Vientianearr. 19:25
D83 Kunming 10:55 → Vientiane 19:59
  1. Kunmingdep. 10:55 (China time)
  2. Kunming Southarr. 11:14 · dep. 11:20 (China time)
  3. Pu'erarr. 13:42 · dep. 13:46 (China time)
  4. Xishuangbannaarr. 14:30 · dep. 14:36 (China time)
  5. Mohanarr. 15:50 · dep. 16:42 (China time)
  6. Botenarr. 15:54 · dep. 16:44
  7. Muang Xaiarr. 17:15 · dep. 17:18
  8. Luang Prabangarr. 18:07 · dep. 18:11
  9. Vang Viengarr. 19:02 · dep. 19:06
  10. Vientianearr. 19:59
C85 Luang Prabang 18:35 → Vientiane 20:28
  1. Luang Prabangdep. 18:35
  2. Vang Viengarr. 19:31 · dep. 19:35
  3. Vientianearr. 20:28

How to read the timetable

  • D trains are the international trains between Vientiane and Kunming. They stop at the main Lao stations only and are the fastest.
  • C trains run only inside Laos, some between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, some all the way to Boten.
  • K trains are the slow trains. They stop at every station, including the small ones in "All stops", and have the cheapest seats.
  • A dash means the train does not stop there.
  • None of the stations is in its town: allow for the ride out. How far each station is.

How this timetable stays current

We check this timetable against the railway's official LCR Ticket app every day, so new trains, cancellations and time changes show up here within a day. The note under the tables says when it was last checked. Your ticket is what counts on the day.

Tickets: when to book, how to buy, what it costs

When tickets go on sale

  • LCR Ticket app: seven days before departure, from 06:30 Laos time. The app sells from 06:30 to 22:00 each day.
  • Station counters and town ticket offices: also seven days ahead, often with a queue before they open.
  • Through trains to Kunming: up to 14 days ahead.

Popular trains (Vientiane to Luang Prabang on a Friday, anything around Pi Mai) sell out on the morning they go on sale.

The same goes for the week of Boun That Luang, Vientiane's biggest festival, on 24 November 2026: book trains to and from Vientiane the morning sales open.

How to buy as a foreigner

In the app, register with an email address, pay by Visa, Alipay or WeChat, and enter passport details for every passenger. To pay cash, use a station counter or a ticket office in town: in Vientiane on the ground floor of Vientiane Center or near the Morning Market (about 200 m from the Central Bus Station), in Luang Prabang in the old town, which saves an 11 km trip to the station.

Avoid the hassle

Book online, with no app to set up, and before the app opens your date.

Book online

Fares

Vientiane to Luang Prabang, one way, by train type and class.
TrainClassFare
C85–C96, fastSecond class330,000 kip
C85–C96, fastFirst class522,000 kip
K11/K12, slowerHard seat234,000 kip

Business class on the C trains and soft sleepers on the K trains also exist; we list no fare for them until we can confirm one. Prices move with the kip, so the price the app shows on the day is the one that counts.

A high-speed train emerging from a tunnel portal painted with the Lao and Chinese flags
A Laos–China Railway train leaving a tunnel: much of the line runs through tunnels and over viaducts.

At the station

What security takes off you

Every station screens bags like an airport, and staff confiscate rather than argue. Before you pack, know what will not get through:

  • Sprays and aerosols: deodorant, hairspray, spray sunscreen, insect repellent.
  • Pocket knives, including small Swiss army knives, and other blades.
  • Opened bottles of alcohol.
  • Anything with a flammable symbol, which catches some hand sanitisers and gels.
  • Large quantities of liquid, which can be refused.

Creams and pump bottles go through.

How early should I arrive?

Allow 45 to 60 minutes. Passports and tickets are checked at the entrance, then bags go through airport-style screening before the waiting hall. Sort your bag at the hotel rather than losing toiletries at the scanner.

The stations are not in the towns

Worth saying plainly, because it is the mistake we see most often: none of these stations is walkable from the place it is named after. In Vientiane, the railway station and the three bus terminals are all in different places: which Vientiane station you need.

Build the transfer into your planning twice, not once. A train that takes 1 h 46 m from Vientiane to Luang Prabang has perhaps an hour of road travel bolted onto each end, and the queue for shared minivans at Luang Prabang forms around the arrival of each train rather than running continuously.

It is still comfortably faster than the ten-hour bus. It is not the 1 h 46 m the timetable advertises.

Station-to-town distances and how to cover them.
StationDistance from townGetting there
Vientiane Railway Station (Laos–China Railway)about 14–15 km north-east of the centre, at Don Noun, Xaythany districtShared minivan or taxi; allow 30 minutes or more to the centre, and longer when a train has just emptied. Tickets are also sold in town at Vientiane Center, ground floor.
Vang Vieng Railway Station3–4 km north of townMinivan or green shared bus 40,000 kip, or a tuk tuk; about 10 minutes.
Luang Prabang Railway Stationabout 11 km from the old townShared minivan about 30 minutes, around 40,000 kip a head; a private taxi costs several times that. Tickets are also sold in the old town, so you do not have to go out to the station twice.
Boten Railway Stationabout 4 km from the road borderShared taxi 60,000 kip or 20 RMB.

Route by route: train or bus?

Compare domestic bus routes

Common questions

How much is the train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?
234,000 kip for a hard seat on the slower K11/K12, 330,000 kip in second class and 522,000 kip in first class on the faster C trains. The trip takes 1 h 46 m to 2 h 54 m, depending on the train.
Can foreigners buy Laos train tickets?
Yes. Register in the official LCR Ticket app with an email address and pay by card, or pay cash at a station counter or a ticket office in town. Every ticket needs the passenger's passport details.
Is the Laos train website I found official?
Probably not. The railway sells tickets only through the LCR Ticket app, its station counters and its ticket offices in town. Websites with "Laos train" in their name are independent resellers, and their prices can differ from the app's.
Do the trains run every day?
Most do. A few run on certain days only, such as the C95 and C96 between Boten and Vientiane, added on 28 September 2026. The Runs column in the timetable shows the days for every train.
Can I take the train all the way to China?
Yes. Through trains reach Kunming in about 9.5 to 10 hours, border formalities included. See the Boten crossing.
What is the luggage allowance?
In practice one carry-on and one larger bag per passenger, around 20 kg, rarely weighed on domestic trains. There is no luggage van on the Vientiane–Luang Prabang trains, so bring only what fits at your seat or on the rack, and check bicycles or oversized bags at the counter in advance.
How do I get from Wattay Airport to the railway station?
By taxi, or with LOCA or Green SM. The station is 14–15 km north-east of the centre, on the far side of town from the airport, so allow at least 45 minutes.
Is there a train from Laos to Vietnam?
No. No railway links the two countries; every overland route is a bus across one of the land borders. See Laos to Vietnam.

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

  1. LCR Ticket, the official app of the Laos-China Railway Company: every train, its stops, times and running days, checked each morning
  2. People's Daily: new Boten–Vientiane trains C95 and C96: the C95/C96 service launched on 28 September 2026
  3. Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
  4. Lao News Agency (KPL): LCR Ticket app: the seven-day advance booking window and the LCR Ticket app booking hours
  5. The Man in Seat 61: train classes, timings, fares, security rules, ticket offices and the 2025 extension of the advance booking window
  6. Việt Nam News: high-speed Laos–China trains: the first-class fare from Vientiane to Luang Prabang
  7. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Luang Prabang: the protected status of the old town the line serves
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