# Vientiane Bus & Train Tickets: Getting There and Around

> Vientiane runs on three separate bus terminals plus a railway station, none of them downtown. Which one you need for which direction, and how to reach the airport.

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

Vientiane runs on three separate bus terminals, none of them downtown, plus a railway station further out again. The Central Bus Station (Talat Sao), beside the Morning Market, handles city buses and a handful of nearby destinations. The Northern Bus Terminal, on T2 Road over 10 km out, handles Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and the north. The Southern Bus Terminal (Dong Dok), about 11 km north-east of downtown near Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue, is named for the destinations it serves, not its own location, and handles the south plus international services to Vietnam and Cambodia. Khamsavath railway station is 9 to 13 km out and is itself an official international checkpoint. Wattay Airport is 5.5 km from the centre, about 15 minutes by taxi, roughly US$7 to 8 at the official counter. Laos has had steep kip inflation through 2026 (bus fares alone were running over 40 percent higher year on year in mid-2026), so local tuk tuk and taxi kip prices here are a starting point for negotiation, not a fixed rate; the USD figures are steadier.

## Routes

| Route | Border crossing | Duration | Bookable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane to Vang Vieng | Domestic | approx 4 hrs by road | Yes |
| Vientiane to Luang Prabang | Domestic | approx 10 hrs by road | Yes |
| Vientiane to Pakse | Domestic | approx 10 hrs, usually overnight | Yes |
| Vientiane to Thakhek | Domestic | approx 8–9 hrs | Yes |
| Vientiane to Luang Prabang | Domestic | 1 h 46 m – 2 h 21 m | Yes |
| Vientiane to Vang Vieng | Domestic | about 1 hr | Yes |

## Common questions

### Which bus terminal do I need in Vientiane?

Depends on direction, not on which side of town you are. The Northern Bus Terminal (T2 Road, over 10 km out) serves Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and everywhere north. The Southern Bus Terminal (Dong Dok, about 11 km out) serves Thakhek, Savannakhet, Pakse and international buses to Vietnam and Cambodia. The Central Bus Station (Talat Sao), beside the Morning Market downtown, handles city buses and a few nearby domestic routes.

### Why is the Southern Bus Terminal not in the south of the city?

Because it is named for the destinations it serves, southern Laos, not for its own location. Dong Dok sits north-east of downtown, off Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue past the Patuxai monument. Tell your driver "Dong Dok" rather than "southern", since the literal translation confuses even some tuk tuk drivers who are new to the city.

### How do I get between the terminals and downtown?

Local bus 29 runs to the Southern Terminal (Dong Dok) roughly every 10 to 20 minutes, for a few thousand kip. Otherwise, a tuk tuk from either bus terminal into the centre is the normal option; agree the fare before you get in. Kip prices for local rides have been moving up quickly through 2026, so treat any fare here as a starting point for negotiation, not a fixed price.

### How far is the railway station?

Khamsavath station is 9 to 13 km from the centre, further out than any of the bus terminals. It is also, unusually, listed as an international checkpoint in its own right on the Lao immigration register, with visa on arrival and eVisa both shown as available, since it handles the through train to Kunming. Budget 20 to 30 minutes to get there.

### How do I get from Wattay Airport to town?

About 5.5 km, roughly 15 minutes. An official taxi from the counter inside the terminal is paid by coupon before you leave the building, roughly US$7 to 8 depending on sedan or van; USD is a steadier reference than the kip price right now, given how fast local kip fares have been rising through 2026. A tuk tuk costs less, but you generally have to walk out to the main road to find one rather than hail one at arrivals.

## Sources

- [Lao Department of Immigration](https://immigration.gov.la): checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
- [Travelfish: how to get to Vientiane](https://www.travelfish.org/transport/laos/vientiane_and_surrounds/vientiane/vientiane/all): bus terminal names, locations and the local connecting bus
- [Gecko Routes: Vientiane airport transfers](https://www.geckoroutes.com/laos/vientiane-airport/): Wattay airport-to-town transport and fares

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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._