How to get from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng by bus

Known for its many beautiful Buddhist temples, this city was the royal capital of Laos until 1975 and is the ancient capital of Luang Prabang Province. A place full of spirituality and culture, a UNESCO-protected city, Luang Prabang is a must-visit!

After you have explored it, make a trip south to the small town of Wang Vieng. This is a popular destination for tourists. Here you can relax for a few days in bars and restaurants to continue exploring the country afterwards. See the surrounding limestone mountains and karsts, and go tubing or kayaking on the river before you leave!

Travel options from Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng

In a straight line, it is only about 110 kilometers (69 miles). But the scenic mountains that lie between the two towns mean that the actual road trip is more than 180 kilometers (114 miles). The distance, combined with the fact that the road loops through the mountains, means that it can be quite a long trip by bus or minibus, and you will probably read several stories of passengers getting sick from such a journey.

The two options for traveling between Luang Prabang and Wang Vieng are VIP bus and minibus if you want to venture out. But we don't recommend doing this for several reasons: road conditions can be challenging, so if you're used to driving on smooth paved roads back home, it will be a shock for you. Then there's the scenery - and if you're focused on driving all the time, you won't be able to admire the scenery out the window!

Bus from Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng

If you are planning to take a bus from Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you book a bus that is operated by one of the tour companies and not one of the local bus companies. Traveling on a local bus will add another couple of hours to an already long travel time. The ride will be much more hot, bumpy, and crowded than on a tour bus.

Naga Travel provides VIP bus services from Luang Prabang South Bus Station to Wang Vieng. Traveling with them may be a little more expensive than some of the other options, but there are several advantages of traveling by big bus compared to minibuses. You will have more room, there will be restrooms on board, which are very helpful in an emergency! There will be a stop along the way anyway: you can use the restroom and buy food, so don't worry about that.

The bus will probably take about an hour longer than the minibuses with a travel time of about 7 hours. One reason for this is that buses travel at more reasonable speeds, so if you get carsick, buses are usually a better option. With Naga Travel, you can leave Luang Prabang at 8am, arriving in Wang Vieng around 3pm.

From Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng by minivan

As you've probably already figured out from the bus description above, traveling by minibus is faster than traveling by bus, or at least it seems that way! In fact, minivans often run on their own schedule, so if you have a ticket for a certain time, don't expect to leave on schedule; you may have one or more hours to wait before you actually depart. This is not specific to the Luang Prabang-Vang Vieng route, it's just a feature of Laos and should be expected wherever you travel!

Nevertheless, once you are on the road, you will reach Wang Vieng faster by minibus than by bus, but the journey will not be good if you are prone to "sea sickness. The roads are winding and bumpy, and it's quite possible that your driver will carry on faster than the conditions allow. Vomiting in one or more passengers seems to be a fairly common sight, so you may have to stop several times for your fellow passengers who need some air.

Another disadvantage of minivans is that they can be quite cramped. You will have less room than in a bus, and if you sit in the back, you may find yourself sharing legroom with the luggage of the passenger in front.

Traveling by minibus from Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng has advantages. These are more frequent flights, so it will be easier for you to find a minibus seat that fits your schedule. Saving money is also important, as minivans are cheaper than VIP buses. And it's very convenient, too. Tickets can be purchased at your guest house or hotel.

Such a ticket will include tuk-tuk transportation from your place of stay to the bus station, so you don't have to worry about getting to the terminal yourself. Booking through your hotel is great for your convenience if you are not comfortable buying tickets yourself.

You can often still find tickets right on the day of departure, but we recommend buying tickets a little earlier to make sure you get a seat. You can buy tickets through your guesthouse or hotel, but for peace of mind, it's always advisable to buy them from a reputable travel company because you have more guarantees if something goes wrong.

Whether you travel by bus or minivan from Luang Prabang to Wang Vieng, don't forget to bring your camera to capture all the beautiful mountain scenery you see along the way!