About 625 kilometers northeast of Bangkok is the city of Nong Khai. Situated on the banks of the Mekong, Nong Khai is opposite Vientiane, the capital of Laos, and is a popular travel destination between Laos and Thailand. Many tourists pass through Nong Khai when leaving Thai territory, but few stop to enjoy the beauty of this city. If you’re thinking of traveling from Bangkok to Nong Khai, why not spend a day or two exploring the city? You will surely love its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful landscapes.
The main travel options from Bangkok to Nong Khai are bus and train. It takes time to cover the vast distance between the two cities by any means of transport. To go faster, you can consider plane, but flights land in Udon Thani city. In this guide, we’ve compiled the details of all these transportation options.
From Bangkok to Nong Khai by train
Hua Lamphong Railway Station in Bangkok. Accessible from the MRT. The metro station bears the same name.
The train is a popular means of transport from Bangkok to Nong Khai. As with most train travel in Thailand, the ticket is quite affordable for those on a budget. Thai Railways operates trains on this route and offers various departure times and transportation options.
Departing from Hua Lamphong in Bangkok, you can choose a day or night train. Daytime trains leave at 8.20am and have a scheduled duration of 9 hours and 25 minutes. This option has its pros and cons. The advantage is that in a day trip you can enjoy miles and miles of beautiful Thai landscapes that you wouldn’t have known otherwise. The train arrives in Nong Khai around 17:45, this is a good time to check in at the hotel and eat a good dinner. You can buy tickets for air-conditioned second-class seats on this train. By choosing a seat instead of a sleeping compartment, the ticket price is very affordable.
There are also two night trains that serve this route. Traveling at night, you won’t see much of the scenery, but you’ll reach Nong Khai in the morning, so you can enjoy a full day in the city. The downside is that the two night trains arrive very early. The one that leaves Bangkok at 6:35 PM arrives at Nong Khai at 4:15 AM, and the one scheduled for 8:00 PM arrives at its destination at 6:45 AM. Being this early, you may not be able to check into your hotel, and there may not be much to do in the city. But if you buy a ticket for a compartment with a bed, you will be able to rest and not waste hours of the day traveling, in addition to saving an overnight stay. Tickets for a bed in a compartment are more expensive than for a seat. Therefore, if you are going with the right money, it is best to explore all possible options.
By bus from Bangkok to Nong Khai
Chan Tourist Bus © nitinut380 / Shutterstock.com
While some train tickets are cheap, the bus from Bangkok to Nong Khai is even cheaper. Several bus options are available. Chan Tour has VIP buses that depart from their offices, near the Morchit bus terminal. These buses are equipped with air conditioning, snacks and food service, stewardess, bathrooms and TVs. There are three buses that depart in the morning, specifically at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00, arriving in Nong Khai in the late afternoon. The journey is scheduled to take almost 11 hours, though it may be shorter if there is not much traffic. Three other buses run at night. These departures are scheduled at 19:30, 20:30 and 21:45, arriving in Nong Khai the next morning. Although the duration is also scheduled for 11 hours, night buses tend to run faster, so they tend to arrive earlier than planned.
Bangkok Morchit Bus Station © Hafiz Johari / Shutterstock.com
From Bangkok’s Morchit Station, you can also travel by buses from other companies such as Sawadee Esan, Air Udon and Budsarakham Tour. If you are looking for the cheapest option, you should opt for the express bus, which is the cheapest. This service does not offer as much comfort as the VIP service, but it also has air conditioning, bathrooms, snacks and a hostess on board. VIP buses also have food and TVs, and you could say that their seats are a bit more comfortable. There are also morning and afternoon departures with these companies, so you can travel overnight if you prefer.
Flights from Bangkok to Nong Khai
Udon Thani Airport © amnat30 / Shutterstock.com
The third transport option is by plane. However, as we predicted earlier, the planes do not go to Nong Khai, but to Udon Thani, a larger nearby town. Such a distance is not a big problem, because the journey to Nong Khai takes only 1-1.5 hours. Cheap air-conditioned minibuses run from Udon Thani Airport and cost 300 baht per person.
There are several flights a day on this route, so it’s easy to find one that suits your plans. Prices are similar to those on the train from Bangkok to Nong Khai.
There are four airlines serving this route, and three of them fly from Don Mueang Airport. These are Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air while Thai Smile flies from Suvarnabhumi Airport. Where you are in Bangkok can influence your decision. The flight lasts only one hour.
Here are the available transportation options from Bangkok to Nong Khai, ranked from cheapest to most expensive.