The capital and largest city of Laos, Vientiane offers a very different atmosphere to the chaos of Bangkok. Relatively small, Vientiane is a pretty and peaceful city, full of fantastic temples and historic French villas. It’s an easy-to-walk city that gives visitors the opportunity to experience Asian culture from a different perspective.
At 646 kilometers from Bangkok by road, traveling between the two cities is relatively easy and there are various transportation options available. Read on for some of the most recommended ways to get from Bangkok to Vientiane.
Flights from Bangkok to Vientiane
Thai Airways plane at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok © Usanee / Shutterstock, Inc.
If money is not an issue, undoubtedly the fastest and most practical way is to fly from Bangkok to Vientiane. Flights between the two cities only take an hour, so if you’re flying out of Bangkok in the morning, you can visit Vientiane and return to the Thai capital for dinner. It is not an option that we recommend, especially since Vientiane is a very charming city where it is worth spending at least a few days. But if you go with the right timing, it can be a good option.
There are three airlines that fly from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport: Bangkok Airways, Lao Airlines and Thai Airways. In addition, Thai AirAsia offers flights from Don Mueang airport. Whichever airline you choose, you’ll arrive at Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport, which is just 3 kilometers from the city center. The city is quick and easy to get to by taxi and tuk-tuk as you can board them right out of the terminal. If you have already booked your accommodation in Vientiane, it is possible that the same hotel may offer an airport pickup service.
Travel by train from Bangkok to Vientiane
Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. It is easily accessible by MRT subway. The MRT station bears the same name.
Since 2009, it has been possible to travel by train from Bangkok to Vientiane thanks to the opening of a railway line crossing the Friendship Bridge, connecting Thailand with Laos via the Mekong River. It is not possible to cross an international border to take the entire journey on the same train, but it is still a simple and cheap journey.
You can take an overnight train that goes directly from Bangkok to Nong Khai (the last Thai city before the border), and from there a special international train to Thanaleng Terminal in Laos, which is about 13 kilometers from the heart of Vientiane. There you can take a van to the city center. The entire journey from Bangkok to Vientiane is comfortable, cheap and safe, and overnight sleeper trains allow you to rest before arriving in the city the next day. These trains take 10 to 12 hours to travel, but then you’ll have to add the waiting time for the train that brings you closer to Vientiane and the time to get downtown.
There are also sleeperless trains that run during the day and allow you to enjoy the scenery as you travel. If you insist with the ticket seller that you don’t want to buy a combo ticket, you can save some money if you decide to continue over the bridge on your own until you reach Laos.
Direct bus from Bangkok to Vientiane
Buses crossing the border in Nong Khai between Thailand and Laos © tateyama / Shutterstock, Inc.
Another option that is similar in price to the train, and sometimes even cheaper depending on the class you travel in, is the direct bus from Bangkok to Vientiane. This is a very practical alternative, because you don’t have to worry about changing the means of transport or finding a way to cross the border. However, please note that this route is operated directly by only one company, Transport Co Intl, which offers a service from Morchit Bus Station in Bangkok. There are other bus options (we talk about them below) but they are not direct.
The direct bus to Vientiane runs overnight, departing Bangkok at 8:00 PM and arriving at Talat Sao Bus Station in Vientiane at 7:00 AM the next day. Surely you think that the comfort of a bus is not comparable to the comfort of a sleeper train. Also, some buses which make the route look a bit old and don’t have many services on board but do stop along the way and have water and snacks and also serve lunch during the trip.
Considering that the prices of trains and buses are quite similar, the measure you choose will mainly depend on personal taste and availability.
As we mentioned, there are also buses from Bangkok to Vientiane that do not go direct, adding to the cost and duration of the trip. The direct bus from Transport Co Intl is the best option for your journey.
Tourist visa to enter Laos
When traveling from Bangkok to Vientiane, be aware that there is a border crossing on the way. Laos is a hospitable and friendly country, and for almost all nationalities it is possible to purchase a tourist visa (valid for 30 days) when crossing the border at a reasonable price. Have some passport photos ready to save some time when getting your visa.