There are several transportation options in Vientiane, so you have some choices. Not all have set fares and therefore you’ll have to bargain sometimes. Especially taxis and tuk tuks are open to negotiating and they’ll usually start with a much higher price than the one they actually expect you to pay. That means it isn’t rude to make a counteroffer – they already expect you to do that. Just don’t act like a clueless and rich tourist, and you should be fine. Let’s take a closer look at the types of transportation and some popular routes starting from Vientiane.
Different modes of transportation
The infrastructure in Vientiane is not the best, but you have some choices when it comes to transportation.
Tuk tuks
Tuk Tuks are three-wheeled motorized vehicles and a popular mode of transportation, especially around Southeast Asia. If you want to explore Vientiane, they are the best choice. You’ll find two types of tuk tuks in Vientiane: The first are the tuk tuks that usually take one guest or a group of guests (who belong together) with them. The second type is more like a bus. Although they are generally much cheaper, the vehicle waits until it is full of guests. Then the guests are dropped off at different places. Just tell the driver where you want to go. However, be aware that in some rare cases, it can take half an hour or even an hour to get going. That’s why we prefer the normal tuk tuks. But it’s entirely up to you. Both are viable choices.
Taxi cabs
Taxi cabs aren’t too common in Vientiane. We really didn’t see many of them, even though we spent quite some time in the city. Most are older taxis or vehicles that aren’t really identifiable as taxis. This is partly because many are former taxi drivers from Thailand who are already retired. So, you should not necessarily expect a taximeter. And even if they have one, it’s normal to bargain about the price, especially if you’re a tourist. Nevertheless, they usually have fixed prices for certain routes. Especially for longer trips, it may happen that you’re offered a fixed price directly. In such cases, you probably don’t even have to bargain about the price, but it’s okay if you do. Well, if you take a taxi from the airport, the price is always fixed. So, don’t try to bargain. That would be really rude and won’t help you at all.
Motorbike taxis
Not only in Laos, but actually everywhere in Southeast Asia, you can find motorbike taxis. If you’ve ever been to Thailand, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Well, motorbike taxis are not as common in Laos as they’re in Thailand. Even in Vientiane you won’t see as many of them. Nevertheless they’re a great option for short drives. Just don’t expect them to be cheaper than tuk tuks or taxis. They’re faster tho. That’s because they can use shortcuts and avoid traffic jams.
Rental cars, rental motorbikes and rental bicycles
If you don’t want to rely on anyone else, you can rent a vehicle. Just be aware of the harsh situation on the streets. Most people here drive very crazy, and road accidents are very common in Laos. Not to mention the bad condition of the roads. However, it can be worth considering renting a vehicle. There are some cheap options for that, and it’s definitely not a bad way to explore the city. But be careful. Even experienced motorcyclists who have traveled the world with their motorcycles have been killed in Southeast Asia. Don’t give your life for the adrenaline kick. Better safe than sorry. But one thing is certain: Driving in Southeast Asia (especially by motorbike) is an unforgettable experience.
Buses
The cheapest mode of transportation in Vientiane, but it isn’t as easy to use as you might think, especially if you’re not a local. There’s a simple reason for this. Firstly, there are no clear signs at the bus stations, and the designated bus stops are hard to identify. You might walk right past one without even noticing it. Also, don’t expect timetables or route maps; they are quite rare. You’ll need to navigate without them. However, there’s a positive side. To catch a bus, you don’t need to be at a designated stop. You can simply flag them down anywhere along the route. It’s perfectly acceptable. Just signal the bus driver by extending your hand and waving, and you should be fine. We’ve never encountered a driver who didn’t stop.
Bus stations
There are two main bus stations in Vientiane: the Central Bus Station and the Northern Bus Terminal. The Central Bus Station is your first choice if you want to travel within Vientiane. But if you want to go to another city, you’ll have to go to the Northern Bus Station. You can even find international buses to Vietnam here. A big advantage of these bus stations is that you can simply go to the ticket counters to easily find the right bus. However, if you only want to travel around in Vientiane, you should also know the other bus stations. That’s why we provided a link at the start of the page with all the bus routes and their times. If you still have orientation issues, just leave a comment and we’ll help you as soon as possible.
Airport shuttle bus service
By the way, if you’re at Vientiane Wattay Airport, you should know there’s a shuttle bus service available. It’s a great way to save some money. The bus takes you to the Central Bus Station, where you’ll find connections to other bus stations. Additionally, the shuttle stops at several well-known hotels. If yours is on the route or nearby, you can get off earlier. In most cases, you don’t even need to go to the Central Bus Station. Just tell the driver your hotel, and they’ll drop you off at the best stop. Of course, we also have the shuttle bus timetables for you.
Vientiane to Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng doesn’t have an airport, and if you’ve been there, you’ll understand why. This means you have only two options to get there: taking a bus or a van. Keep in mind that vans are often referred to as buses, so don’t let that confuse you. It’s important to start your journey early, as transportation stops at 4 PM. After that, your only option would be private transport, which can be expensive. We wouldn’t recommend this, especially at night, as poor lighting and road conditions make the trip unsafe. To travel to Vang Vieng, head to the Northern Bus Terminal. Buses and vans operate between 8 AM and 4 PM, so plan accordingly.
Vang Vieng is approximately 160 kilometers from Vientiane. Due to the condition of the roads, you should expect a 4 hour drive. This duration will also be shown in most schedules. However, that does not mean it’s always 4 hours. From experience, we can say that it is between 3 and 5 hours. It always depends on the weather conditions and the driving style of the driver. Personally, we didn’t like the driver who needed only 3 hours. His driving was quite risky. For the ticket, you should count on 60.000 to 120.000 kip per person. The price depends on different factors, including the time of your departure. However, the trip isn’t expensive.
Vientiane to Phonsavan
If you’re traveling by van or bus, you can prepare for a long drive. However, you also have the opportunity to fly. There are two flights per day, and they only take about 30–45 minutes. The flights depart from Wattay International Airport, and you’ll arrive at Xieng Khouang Airport. Below, you can find a schedule for both flights. The prices may vary, and we recommend you book in advance. Unfortunately, flying isn’t always that cheap, at least if you book on the same day. Then, you’ll usually have to pay 150 to 300 US dollars per person. But if you book in advance, you may get a ticket for about 50 to 100 US dollars, which is much cheaper.
02:40 pm ➡️ 03:10 pm - ✈ - Lao Airlines 401
Well, the cheapest option is definitely a bus. You’ll only have to pay around 200.000 to 250.000 kip. However, you should prepare yourself for a long drive. To Phonsavan, it takes about 10 hours. That’s why we highly recommend overnight buses. That way, you can just sleep most of the time. If you are traveling with a group, there is another option that could be interesting for you. It’s also possible to rent private vans that will bring you to Phonsavan. They usually will offer a price around 200 US dollars. But you can still negotiate the price. Most drivers are also satisfied with 150 US dollars. Less is unrealistic. Well, with a private van, you may arrive in Phonsavan in about 6 to 7 hours. That’s a lot faster than by bus.
Vientiane to Champasak
Vientiane and Champasak are far apart. In fact, it’s more than 600 kilometers. If you go by bus you have to expect a long drive. Usually it’ll take about 12 hours to arrive at your destination. With the night bus, it is often a bit faster. However, it’ll be about 11 hours here as well. Besides, the ride is not that cheap. You should expect prices up to 600.000 kip. Usually it’s cheaper, especially if you decide to take a night bus.
02:50 pm ➡️ 04:10 pm - ✈ - Lao Skyway 216
04:00 pm ➡️ 05:15 pm - ✈ - Lao Airlines 303
If you don’t like long rides you can also fly. But that option usually is really expensive. If you aren’t lucky enough to find a cheap ticket, you’ll have to pay a lot. 100 to 200 US dollars are not uncommon. Well, if you book too late, the price may be twice as high (or even more). This is the main reason why most tourists choose a bus. At least there are three daily flights, so you have some flexibility. In addition, a flight usually doesn’t take more than one and a half hours.
Vientiane to Si Phan Don
The trip to Si Pha Don is a bit more turbulent than to most other places in Laos. That’s because you also have to take a ferry to get to the riverine archipelago. But don’t worry. In fact, the journey is quite cheap despite the high distance. At least if you travel by bus. For bus and ferry you usually pay a maximum of 300.000 kip. However, the journey really takes a long time. On average 13 to 16 hours.
02:50 pm ➡️ 04:20 pm - ✈ - Lao Skyway 216
04:00 pm ➡️ 05:15 pm - ✈ - Lao Airlines 303
If you want to arrive faster, the only choice you got, is a flight. Still, you’ll have to take a bus and the ferry afterwards. The flight time itself is not more than one and a half hours. Nevertheless, you’ll need at least seven and a half hours for the entire journey. This is only about half as long, but you pay much more. By the way, there is no airport in Si Pha Don, therefore you’ll have to go to the airport in Pakse first. You should budget at least 100 to 200 US dollars for a flight.
Vientiane to Vieng Xai
You should absolutely look that you book a good trip. Otherwise, the journey from Vientiane to Vieng Xai can easily take up to 30 hours.That’s because you usually have to take a lot of buses and vans and they all leave at different times. That’s why it can be a good choice to rent a private van. It shouldn’t be more than 300 US dollars and if you’re traveling in a group it can save you huge amounts of money. Depending on the driver you should arrive in Vieng Xai in about 10 to 12 hours. Still, these option isn’t the cheapest one. If you don’t have enough money, you better take the buses and vans. After all, you only have to pay 80 US dollars for the whole journey. But keep in mind that this is the price per person. If you’re traveling in a group a private driver could be the better choice.
Well, if you take a flight to Sam Nuea it wouldn’t even be that expensive and afterwards you would just have to take a taxi or tuk tuk for about 30 minutes to one hour. Like this the travel time wouldn’t be more than two and a half hours. Provided, of course, that you are booking everything correctly. You usually won’t have to pay more than 150 US dollars for the whole journey. With a little luck, it’s only about 100 US dollars. But it can also be significantly more expensive. So book in time. In addition, there is only a single flight and it may be overbooked.
Vientiane to Pakse
The travel distance from Vientiane to Pakse is about 700 kilometres. If you take a bus you’ll only have to pay around 200.000 to 300.000 kip. The journey is quite affordable. But the travel time isn’t short with at least 10 hours. Not to mention that it almost always are 11 to 12 hours anyway. If you don’t want a long bus ride, you can book a flight as well. As you can see below, there are three direct flights every day.
02:50 pm ➡️ 04:20 pm - ✈ - Lao Skyway 216
04:00 pm ➡️ 05:15 am - ✈ - Lao Airlines 303
The flight departure from Wattay International Airport and arrive at Pakse International Airport. The average flight time is about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This option is self-explanatory more expensive. Theoretically, you can already find a flight for around 75 US dollars, but for that you need extreme luck and have to book long before that. Usually it will be around 100 to 150 US dollars.