Getting from Vientiane to Vang Vieng is now much simpler and faster than when I first made the trip. The opening of the highway and then the Laos-China railway line has completely changed the situation.
How to get from Vientiane to Vang Vieng today?
There are two main ways to get to Vang Vieng from the capital: the train, which is faster, or the minivan, which is generally cheaper and sometimes more convenient depending on where you are leaving from.
By train: the fastest option
The Laos-China railway line directly connects Vientiane to Vang Vieng. The train journey typically takes around an hour, with several departures throughout the day.
As a guide, available fares generally range from $12 to $17 for a second-class seat, and around $22 for some first-class offers. However, online fares may include booking fees or, depending on the chosen option, a transfer to the station.
The main point to consider is the location of the train stations: they are not in the city center. The train remains by far the fastest option once you're on board, but you must factor in the time needed to reach Vientiane station and then your accommodation upon arrival.
Another detail to consider: trains can be fully booked, especially during peak periods. It's therefore best to avoid relying on last-minute purchases if you have a specific itinerary.
By minivan: cheaper and often simpler
Minivans are still very common between Vientiane and Vang Vieng. Since the opening of the highway, the journey is no longer much like the one I describe below: generally, expect between 2 and 3 hours, depending on the service, stops and pick-up location.
Prices start at around $6 to $8 for the cheapest options. Several departures are offered throughout the day, from early morning until early evening. Some services also include hotel pickup, which can make up for the time saved by taking the train if you don't want to deal with transfers to and from train stations.
In practice, the choice is therefore quite simple: favour the train to save time, and the minivan if you are primarily looking for an economical journey or a more direct pick-up.
Compare schedules and book
As schedules and fares vary depending on the day and operator, you can directly compare the trains, minivans and other transfers available for your dates:
My journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng by minibus
At the time, the approximately 150 km separating Vientiane from Vang Vieng easily took four hours. The state of the road was largely to blame: degraded sections, dust and potholes accompanied a good part of the journey.
While there was sometimes a faint patch of tarmac, it was riddled with holes that were more like shell holes than potholes… So watch your backside 😉
A long journey… but not expensive!
For this trip, there were no large buses, just a minibus (the 12-seater kind). We felt a bit like a group of friends on a road trip, since it was full of young people heading to party in Vang Vieng . We stopped once for a bathroom break and a snack for those who wanted it.
The whole thing is still done at a very reasonable price, 60.000 kip or barely €5.50 (one way)... To book we went to a small agency in Vientiane not far from Anouvong Park , that's where the tourist area is with most of the restaurants and guesthouses.
Minibuses are considered "express" transport, you also have VIP buses, normally cheaper, and even local buses which are just converted pickups (like the "songthew" of Thailand) at only 40.000 kip.
The terminus will be in the parking lot of a rather posh hotel, I think they must be partners with the minibus we took… So we have to manage, while night has just fallen, to reach our hotel. Fortunately Vang Vieng is not very big…
We will find our hotel, the Popular View, quite easily via the map we had. After dropping off our stuff we will go to one of the many restaurants in the area to fill our bellies after this long journey, I will not fail to have a local beer, the Lao beer as I do in every country.
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