Vientiane is the capital city of Laos. It is the largest city in Laos and serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. There are several ways to get to Vientiane, depending on your location and travel preferences.

By Air

Within Laos

Vientiane's Wattay International Airport (VTE) is 3.5km west of the city. To get to Vientiane by air within Laos, you can take a domestic flight from other major cities in Laos such as Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet, and Xieng Khouang. There are several airlines that operate domestic flights in Laos, including Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, and Bangkok Airways. You can book domestic flights online or through travel agencies in Laos. The flight duration varies depending on the origin of your flight, but generally, it takes less than 2 hours to reach Vientiane from other major cities in Laos. Wattay International Airport has all the facilities and services that you would expect from an international airport, including shops, restaurants, currency exchange, ATMs, and car rental services. Once you arrive at the airport, you can take a taxi or shuttle bus to reach the city center or your hotel.

Lao Airlines Ticketing and Reservations

Tel: (021) 513 250, 513 243-46 Website: http://www.laoairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines Laos Branch

Tel: (021) 217 562; Website: http://www.vietnamairlines.com

From Other Countries

Several international carriers serve Wattay International Airport, including national airline Lao Airlines, AirAsia, THAI, China Eastern and Vietnam Airlines. International destinations include:

Destination	Airlines
Bangkok (Thailand)	THAI, Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines
Chiang Mai (Thailand) (via Luang Prabang)	Lao Airlines
Hanoi (Vietnam)	Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)	Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
Vinh (Vietnam)	Vietnam Airlines
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	AirAsia
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)	Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines
Siem Reap  (Cambodia) (via Pakse)	Lao Airlines
Seoul (Korea)	Jin Air, Lao Airlines
Singapore	Lao Airlines
Changzhou (China)	Lao Airlines
Guangzhou (China)	Lao Airlines
Nanning (China)	China Eastern
Kunming (China)	Lao Airlines, China Eastern

By Bus

There are three bus stations in Vientiane: the Central Bus Station, the Northern Bus Terminal and the Southern Bus Terminal.

Central Bus Station

Situated adjacent to the morning market, the Central Bus Station, also known as Khou Din station or Talat Sao, serves as a lively transportation hub that offers bus services to both the city and its surrounding municipalities, as well as to a select number of destinations in Laos and northern Thailand. Buses in central bus station usually runs to destinations within Vientiane Province, and some more distant destinations, and some destinations in neighboring countries. The destinations include:

Destination	Departure Times	Duration	Cost
Kasi	08:30	-	-
Vang Vieng	07:00, 09:30, 13:00	-	-
Savannakhet	05:00, 06:00, 07:00	-	-
Pakse	13:00, 14:00, 15:00	-	-
Attapeu	09:30, 17:00	-	-
Tha Khaek	06:00, 11:30, 12:00	-	-
Nong Khai	07:30, 09:30, 12:40, 14:30, 15:30, 18:00	1 hour	15,000 kip
Udon Thani	08:00, 09:00, 10:30, 11:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:30, 18:00	2-3 hours	22,000 kip
Khon Kaen	08:15, 14:45	4-5 hours	50,000 kip
Bangkok	18:00	12 hours	248,000 kip

 

Northern Bus Station

Located 8 km northwest of the city center, Northern bus station is the primary hub for buses departing to Luang Prabang and other destinations in the north, as well as to southern China.

Destination	Departure Time	Type	Travel Time	Price (kip)
Luang Prabang	06:30, 07:30, 08:30, 11:00, 13:30, 16:00, 18:00	Air-con	10 hours	110,000
Luang Prabang	08:00, 09:00, 19:30	VIP	10 hours	130,000
Luang Prabang	20:00, 20:30	VIP sleeper	11 hours	150,000
Luang Prabang	07:00, 09:00, 19:00	Air-con minivan	8 hours	150,000
Luang Nam Tha	08:30, 17:00	Air-con	-	200,000
Udomxai	06:45, 13:45, 17:00	Air-con	-	170,000
Udomxai	16:00	VIP sleeper	-	190,000
Bokeo (Huay Xai)	17:30	Air-con	-	230,000
Bokeo (Huay Xai)	10:00	VIP sleeper	-	250,000
Sayaboury	09:00, 16:00, 18:30	-	-	110,000 - 130,000
Parklai	07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 11:00	-	-	100,000
Xiengkhuang (Phonsavan)	06:30, 07:30, 09:30, 16:00, 18:40	Air-con	10 hours	110,000
Xiengkhuang (Phonsavan)	20:00	VIP sleeper	10 hours	150,000
Phongsali	07:15	Air-con	-	210,000
Phongsali	18:00	Sleeper	-	230,000
Sam Neua	07:00, 09:30, 12:00, 17:00	Air-con	-	170,000 - 190,000
Sam Neua	14:00	Sleeper	-	210,000
Kunming (China)	14:00, 18:30	-	32 hours	729,000
Meungla (China)	11:00	-	-	284,000
Bangkok (Thailand)	17:00	VIP Bus	12 hours	248,000
Nakhon Ratchasima (Thailand)	17:00	VIP Bus	4 hours	149,000

Tips

• If you purchase your ticket from a travel agency or guesthouse in Vientiane, you will have to pay a higher price, but the ticket will include pickup from your accommodation and a shuttle service to the bus station or departure point.
• Some VIP bus companies that operate in well-known tourist destinations such as Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang may even pick up passengers from the city centre and skip the bus station entirely.
• Buses and large minivans that are headed towards Luang Prabang depart frequently throughout the day, with at least one departing every couple of hours.
• Air-conditioned buses are comfortable, while VIP buses offer some additional space, a snack, and bottled water.
• Most tourists prefer taking the overnight air-conditioned sleeper bus to save both time and money on accommodation. However, it's important to note that sleeper buses usually consist of a single bed shared between two people. Therefore, if you're travelling solo, you'll have to share a bed with a stranger. They do try to pair you up with someone of the same sex, but tall people may find the beds a bit short.

Southern Bus Station

The primary location for departure to all destinations in southern Laos and international services to Vietnam and Cambodia is the Southern Bus Station, situated 11 km to the north of the downtown core. The terminal is conveniently located on Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue, which is a direct route from the Patuxai monument.

Destination	Bus Type	Departure Time	Travel Time	Price
Attapeu	Local	09:30, 17:00		140,000 kip
Attapeu	VIP	20:30		200,000 kip
Pakse	Local	10:00, 12:30, 13:00-16:00	12 hours	110,000 kip
Pakse	Express	18:00, 19:00, 20:00	10 hours	140,000 kip
Pakse	VIP	20:30, 21:00	12 hours	170,000 kip
Salavan	Local	16:30		120,000 kip
Salavan	Express	19:00, 19:30		150,000 kip
Savannakhet	Local	05:30, 6:00, 06:30-09:00	10 hours	100,000 kip
Savannakhet	VIP	20:30	8 hours	120,000 kip
Sekong	Local	04:30		120,000 kip
Thakhek		04:00, 05:00, 06:00, 12:00, 13:00	5 hours	60,000 kip
Vinh (Vietnam)		19:00	16 hours	US$20
Hanoi (Vietnam)		19:00, 19:30, 20:00	22 hours	US$25
Hue (Vietnam)		19:30	12 hours	US$20
Danang (Vietnam)		18:30, 19:00, 20:00	16 hours	US$25
Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam)		19:30		US$60
Quang Nam (Vietnam)		19:30		US$26
Quang Binh (Vietnam)		19:30		US$20
Phnom Penh (Cambodia)	Sleeper	20:30	24 hours	US$45
Siem Reap (Cambodia)	Sleeper	20:30	25 hours	US$50
Bangkok (Thailand)	VIP	18:00	12 hours	200,000 kip (to airport)
				200,000 kip (to Morchit Bus Station)
	VIP Sleeper			250,000 kip (to Morchit Bus Station)
	VIP Sleeper Direct			270,000 kip (to Morchit Bus Station
Vang Vieng	minivan	10:00, 14:00	3 hours	60,000 kip

Tips

• Book a seat for the minivan to Vang Vieng through your guesthouse or a travel agency.
• Traveling to Vang Vieng by minivan is an hour faster than the bus but it can be quite cramped.

By Train

From China

In December 2021, a newly constructed railway line connecting Kunming, China to Vientiane was operating. The railway line runs through several cities including Pu'er, Jinghong, Mengla and crosses the Chinese border at Mohan/Boten. On the Laotian side, the railway serves various destinations including Luang Namtha, Muang Xay, Muang Nga, Luang Prabang, Muang Kasi, Vang Vieng, Phonhong and Vientiane.

Train Schedule (Vientiane – Luang Prabang – Boten)

Train Number	Depart	Arrival	Duration	Intermediate Stations
C82 (Fast Train)	Vientiane (07:30)	Boten (11:02)	3 hours 28 minutes	Vang Vieng(123km, 08:25-08:29);Luang Prabang(238km, 09:23-09:31); Muang Xay(339km, 10:17-10:21); Na Teuy(393km, 10:47-10:51)
K12 (Ordinary Train)	Vientiane (08:00)	Boten (13:10)	5 hours 10 minutes	Phonhong(64km, 08:39-08:43);Vang Vieng(123km, 09:20-09:24); Kasi(167km, 09:53-09:57) Luang Prabang(238km, 10:43-10:49); Muang Nga(293km, 11:22-11:26) Muang Xay(339km, 11:55-12:01); Na Moh(378km, 12:27-12:38); Na Teuy(393km, 12:51-12:55)
C92 (Fast Train)	Vientiane (09:20)	Luang Prabang (11:13)	1 hour 7 minutes	Vang Vieng (123km, 10:15-10:19)
C86 (Fast Train)	Vientiane (10:10)	Muang Xay (13:45)	3 hour 35 minutes	Phonhong (64km, 10:41-10:45);Vang Vieng(123km, 11:13-11:17); Luang Prabang(238km, 12:25-12:31)
C84 (Fast Train)	Vientiane (15:05)	Luang Prabang (17:10)	2 hour 5 minutes	Vang Vieng (16:11-16:15)

Train Schedule(Boten – Luang Prabang – Vientiane)

Train Number	Depart	Arrival	Duration	Intermediate Stations
C81 (Fast Train)	Boten (12:15)	Vientiane (15:52)	3 hours 37 minutes	Na Teuy(13km, 12:24-12:28);Muang Xai(67km, 12:54-12:58); Luang Prabang(168km, 13:45-13:53); Vang Vieng(283km, 14:45-14:49)
K11 (Ordinary Train)	Boten (14:00)	Vientiane (19:15)	5 hours 15 minutes	Na Teuy(13km, 14:11-14:15);Na Moh(28km, 14:28-14:32); Muang Xay(67km, 14:58-15:02); Muang Nga(113km, 15:31-15:35); Luang Prabang(168km, 16:10-16:16); Kasi(239km, 17:11-17:15); Vang Vieng(283km, 17:44-17:48); Phonhong(342km, 18:25-18:29)
C91 (Fast Train)	Luang Prabang (11:40)	Vientiane (13:40)	2 hours	Vang Vieng(12:32-12:36)
C85 (Fast Train)	Muang Xay (14:25)	Vientiane (17:48)	3 hours 23 minutes	Luang Prabang(15:13-15:19);Vang Vieng(16:39-16:43); Phonhong(17:11-17:15)
C83 (Fast Train)	Luang Prabang (18:20)	Vientiane (20:20)	2 hours	Vang Vieng(19:12-19:16)

From Thailand

A bridge connecting the Thai town of Nong Khai to Thanaleng near Vientiane spans the Mekong River. The bridge is serviced by two shuttle services in each direction per day, with one specifically timed to connect with night trains from Bangkok. When crossing the border by train, visitors can obtain a visa on arrival. Although the train station is located in an isolated area, shuttle buses are available to transport passengers to their desired destination. However, the train is not considered an attractive option for travel. An extension of the Kunming-Vientiane railway line is currently under construction, and upon its completion in 2028, the line to Thanaleng will become obsolete.

By Boat

Although Vientiane is situated along the impressive Mekong River, the city appears to have a tense relationship with it. This is evident from the lack of bridges and docks across the river in Vientiane. In fact, a new levee is presently under construction which will separate the town from the river by 100 meters of parkland. Consequently, travel by boat from Vientiane on the Mekong is infrequent, sluggish, and costly, particularly when travelling upstream.

By Car

From Thailand

If you are traveling to Vientiane by car, the most common route is through Thailand, as Laos has no direct road connection with any other country. Here are the general steps you can take to get to Vientiane by car:

• Enter Thailand: Depending on where you are coming from, you will need to enter Thailand first. You may need to obtain a visa if your country requires it. The most common entry points to Thailand are Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok or one of the land border crossings with Laos.
• Cross the Border: Once you have entered Thailand, you will need to drive or take a shuttle bus to one of the land border crossings between Thailand and Laos. The most popular crossings are the Nong Khai–Vientiane Friendship Bridge or the Mukdahan–Savannakhet Friendship Bridge.
• Complete Immigration and Customs: After crossing the border, you will need to complete immigration and customs formalities for both Thailand and Laos. You will need to present your passport, vehicle registration documents, and any other required documents.
• Drive to Vientiane: Once you have completed the formalities, you can drive on to Vientiane. The distance from the border to Vientiane varies depending on which border crossing you used. For example, the distance from Nong Khai to Vientiane is approximately 20 kilometers, and the journey takes around 30 minutes.

It's important to note that driving in Laos can be challenging due to poor road conditions and driving standards. Be sure to drive carefully and follow local traffic laws to ensure a safe journey.

From China

Currently, there is no direct road connection between China and Laos, so getting to Vientiane by car from China requires a more complicated route. Here are the general steps you can take:

• Drive to Jinghong: You will need to drive to Jinghong, the capital city of Xishuangbanna Prefecture in China's Yunnan Province. From there, you can take the southern route to Laos.
• Enter Laos via Boten-Mohan Border Crossing: From Jinghong, drive south to the Boten-Mohan border crossing between China and Laos. This is the only official border crossing between the two countries, and it is located in the north of Laos.
• Complete Immigration and Customs: After crossing the border, you will need to complete immigration and customs formalities for both China and Laos. You will need to present your passport, vehicle registration documents, and any other required documents.
• Drive to Vientiane: Once you have completed the formalities, you can drive on to Vientiane. The distance from the Boten-Mohan border crossing to Vientiane is approximately 700 kilometers, and the journey takes around 15-20 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.

It's important to note that driving in Laos can be challenging due to poor road conditions and driving standards. Be sure to drive carefully and follow local traffic laws to ensure a safe journey. Additionally, you will need to obtain the necessary visas and permits to enter both China and Laos, which can be a complicated process. It's best to consult with the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate and Lao embassy or consulate for more information.

Within Laos

If you are already in Laos and want to travel to Vientiane by car, there are several options depending on your starting point. Here are some common routes:

• From Luang Prabang: To get to Vientiane from Luang Prabang, you can drive south on Route 13. The distance is approximately 350 kilometers, and the journey takes around 7-8 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.
• From Pakse: To get to Vientiane from Pakse, you can drive north on Route 13. The distance is approximately 700 kilometers, and the journey takes around 12-14 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.
• From Savannakhet: To get to Vientiane from Savannakhet, you can drive north on Route 13. The distance is approximately 470 kilometers, and the journey takes around 9-10 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.
• From Vang Vieng: To get to Vientiane from Vang Vieng, you can drive south on Route 13. The distance is approximately 150 kilometers, and the journey takes around 3-4 hours depending on road conditions and traffic.

It's important to note that driving in Laos can be challenging due to poor road conditions and driving standards. Be sure to drive carefully and follow local traffic laws to ensure a safe journey. Additionally, you will need to ensure that you have the proper documentation for your vehicle and any necessary permits or licenses to drive in Laos.