VientianeVang Vieng
The gateway to Vang Vieng's karst scenery, and the shortest hop on the Laos–China Railway.
Bus and train · Verified 14 October 2026
Vang Vieng Bus & Train Tickets: Getting There and Around
Vang Vieng's railway station and bus station are both outside town. From Vientiane the train is fastest; from Luang Prabang the bus is cheapest.
- Train from Vientiane: about 1 hr
- Tuk tuk into town 10,000+ kip
- From Luang Prabang: 6 hrs by road
Search Vang Vieng routes
Which station do I need, and how do I get into town?
From Vientiane, take the train: about an hour against roughly four hours by road, into the railway station 3 to 4 km north of town. From Luang Prabang, the bus takes about six hours to the bus station about 2 km north on Route 13; the train covers it in about an hour but still needs the same transfers. Either way, budget a tuk tuk into town.
Two stations, neither in town
| Station | Distance | Getting into town |
|---|---|---|
| Railway station | 3–4 km north | Minivan or green shared bus, 40,000 kip, or a tuk tuk, about 10 minutes |
| Main bus station | about 2 km north, on Route 13 | Organised tuk tuk approx 10,000 kip per person, or a shared songthaew approx 25,000 kip |
| South Bus Terminal | approx 750 m from the Nam Song toll bridge | Closer in; a short walk or a cheap tuk tuk hop |
Northbound
- D88 08:55 → Kunming South
- K12 09:49 → Boten
- C92 10:16 → Luang Prabang
- D84 12:20 → Kunming
- C96 15:15 → Boten Thursday
- C96 15:15 → Boten Friday to Monday
- C86 16:30 → Luang Prabang
Southbound
- C95 10:46 → Vientiane Tuesday, Friday
- C95 10:46 → Vientiane Saturday to Monday
- C91 13:38 → Vientiane
- D87 15:52 → Vientiane
- K11 18:06 → Vientiane
- D83 19:06 → Vientiane
- C85 19:35 → Vientiane
From our daily train timetable, last checked Tuesday 20 October 2026, 06:00. Full timetable
People routinely assume the bus station is close because Vang Vieng itself is small. It is not. Budget the transfer into your connection time either way, especially for an early train.
At Vang Vieng railway station
Treat the railway station more like an airport than a train stop: passport and ticket checks come first, then luggage screening, and recent passengers still report aerosols and sharp items being confiscated. The station itself is clean and spacious, with plenty of seating. Arrive about 45 to 60 minutes before departure; shared green minivans and tuk tuks connect it with town.
Getting to Vang Vieng
For the train timetable and fares on both these pairs, see Laos train tickets, which covers Vientiane–Vang Vieng and Vang Vieng–Luang Prabang in full. Coming from the north, the Luang Prabang page says which of its stations you leave from.
Vientiane
Luang PrabangVang Vieng
Links the country's two most-visited towns, with karst scenery continuing most of the way.
Wattay Airport and Vang Vieng
There is no direct airport bus to Vang Vieng. The quickest way is the train: a taxi, LOCA or Green SM from Wattay to the Laos–China Railway station, 14–15 km north-east of the centre and on the other side of town from the airport, then about an hour to Vang Vieng and 3–4 km into town.
Allow at least 45 minutes for the first leg, and remember the train seat has to be booked in advance.
By road, it is about four hours to Vang Vieng from Vientiane's Northern Bus Terminal, or by minivan from town. Going the other way to catch a flight, build in both the station transfers and the ride across Vientiane before check-in.
Common questions
Where is the Vang Vieng railway station?
3–4 km north of town. Minivan or green shared bus 40,000 kip, or a tuk tuk, about 10 minutes.
Where is the Vang Vieng bus station?
About 2 km north on Route 13. Tuk tuk approx 10,000 kip per person; shared songthaew approx 25,000 kip.
Should I take the train or the bus from Vientiane?
Train is about an hour against roughly four by road, but the station transfers narrow the real-world gap.
How do I get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng?
About six hours by road, or about an hour by train.
Wattay Airport to Vang Vieng?
Train is fastest: taxi to the station (45+ minutes), then about an hour. By road about four hours.
Vang Vieng to Vientiane airport?
About an hour by train plus both transfers, or four hours by road.
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
- Travelfish: how to get to Vang Vieng: bus station location and tuk tuk fares
- Wikivoyage: Laos: background on overland travel and bus classes