Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
station (20 baht). A number of tour agencies and guesthouses in Vientiane offer train tickets,
which include transport across the border to the train station.
BY BUS
In addition to public buses and local sawngthaews, which depart from stations across town,
there are countless “VIP” services running from Vientiane to popular destinations such as
Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Phonsavan. These tourist services can be booked through
most downtown guesthouses and hostels, which also offer sleeper services to destinations in
Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and China.
CentralBusStation(TalatSao)
Public buses to destinations around Vientiane use the com-
pact main bus station, next to the Morning Market (Talat Sao Malls) on Khou Vieng Road,
about 1500m from Nam Phou fountain. From here, it's only a short tuk-tuk ride to all the
central hotels and guesthouses.
Destinations
Buddha Park (every 15min; 40min); Friendship Bridge (every 15min; 30min);
Kasi (1 daily; 6hr); Thalat (hourly; 2hr); Vang Vieng (7 daily; 4hr).
SouthernBusStation
Buses to and from the south tend to use the southern bus station, about
9km northeast of the centre on Route 13; when leaving, it's a good idea to book tickets a day
ahead with your guesthouse - though you'll pay a small premium for the convenience. Daily
buses for Hanoi leave from the southern bus station at 7pm, and should arrive 24 hours later;
expect to pay around 230,000K for the long, uncomfortable journey. There are also daily
buses to Vinh, Hue and Da Nang at the same time, but buses to Ho Chi Minh City only run
on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays; departure times change frequently, so check before
you travel.
From the southern bus station, a shared tuk-tuk into town costs 20,000K per person, and
drivers will usually drop you right outside your guesthouse.
Destinations
Attapeu (3 daily; 16hr); Don Khong, Si Phan Don (1 daily; 17hr); Paksan
(every 30min; 1-2hr); Pakse (15 daily; 8-13hr); Phonsavan (4 daily; 8-10hr); Savannakhet
(9 daily; 8hr); Thakhek (5 daily; 5hr); Xekong (1 daily; 15hr).
Northern Bus Station
Most buses to and from towns in the north and northeast (such as
Luang Prabang, Phonsavan and Sam Neua) use the northern bus station, around 9km northw-
est of the city close to the junction with Route 13. Note that depending on your final destina-
tion, you may have to go first to Luang Prabang and find buses onward from Luang Prabang's
northern bus station. Shared tuk-tuks from the northern bus station to the centre cost around
10,000K.
Destinations
Bokeo (3 daily; 30hr); Kenthao (1 daily; 7hr); Luang Namtha (2 daily; 24hr);
Luang Prabang (11 daily; 9-11hr); Oudomxai (4 daily; 12-17hr); Paklai (1 daily; 6hr);