Vientiane to Vang Vieng tickets

About the ride from Vientiane to Vang Vieng 

For the 158km (98 mile) journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, you only have one option - the bus. A slow but exciting journey over rudimentary roads, the route to the capital of Laos is way less developed than you might imagine.

Traveling to Vang Vieng from Vientiane offers a varied insight into two different types of Laotian life. While Vientiane is one of the most chilled-out capitals on the planet, Vang Vieng is one of the most exciting travel hubs in the whole of Southeast Asia. A contrasting cornucopia of non-stop fun, it offers crazy nightlife alongside even crazier outdoor adventures.

If you’ve spent time in Vientiane enjoying and absorbing the city’s chilled-out charm, you might be ready for something a little more exciting and engaging. 

If that’s the case, Vang Vieng is exactly what you need, and offers a huge change of pace, with mountain adventures, alcohol-fuelled tubing and the best nightlife in Laos. While Vientiane is sleepy and slow, Vang Vieng is the most exciting destination in the whole of Laos.

Relatively speaking, few tourists take the trip from Vientiane to Vang Vieng, because not many tourists visit Vientiane. But if you’re heading north from the charming capital of Laos, Vang Vieng is a brilliant choice for your next stop.

Whether you like partying, hiking, karsts or caving, Vang Vieng is full of heart-stopping adventures - and it’s a fantastic destination for those leaving Vientiane.

Getting to Vang Vieng from Vientiane is very easy and very affordable - and because there’s only one way to make the journey, you don’t have the stress of choosing between various transport options. You simply hop on the bus, get on your way, and look forward to exploring what might just be the most exciting destination in the whole of Laos.

 

What to see when traveling from Vientiane to Vang Vieng

The journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng is quite surprising. You might imagine that a road leading from the nation’s capital to one of its most popular tourist destinations is well-maintained and perfect for travel. 

You’d be wrong.

The transport infrastructure in Laos is very rudimentary, and this journey - despite its location - is no different.

The route to Vang Vieng from Vientiane is an occasionally stomach-testing ride of bumps, lumps and bends, with a veritable plethora of potholes. Though this can be annoying from a certain perspective, it’s also interesting, exciting and full of adventure. 

With any type of travel, the journey is part of the destination - and this journey is definitely an experience. 

Rugged, raw and packed with surprises, the initial stretches of flat land make way to majestic mountains, as you make your way to the limestone karsts of Vang Vieng. You’ll pass charming rural villages, basic roadside food stalls and roving animals, who are all seemingly ignorant as to the purpose of a road.

As you begin to approach Vang Vieng, you’ll notice that settlements become smaller, and the dirt roads become more frequent. 

The journey to Vang Vieng is packed with rudimentary facilities, and Vang Vieng itself is just as basic. Despite its popularity on the tourist trail, the town still feels very rustic and rural. A contradiction in many ways, Vang Vieng’s streets set thriving bars alongside the most basic of food stalls.

As you pull into the town, you might struggle to see why so many tourists fall in love with Vang Vieng. Upon leaving, it’ll no longer be a mystery, as you join the legions of travelers who adore its charm.

How to get from Vientiane to Vang Vieng

Taking a bus

For the majority of journeys in Southeast Asia, several different companies service the same route, leaving you with a great number of options for one trip.

But for the journey to Vang Vieng from Vientiane, only two bus companies offer their services, so your options are pretty limited.

Both journeys are pretty basic. They both offer AC and sufficiently comfortable seats, but that’s about all. Though the trips aren’t luxurious in any way, they’re perfectly serviceable, and offer excellent value. Some buses are slightly more comfortable than others. 

You will find no toilets on board the buses from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. Instead, the buses stop for short toilet breaks en-route. They also usually stop for a food break.

The bus journey from Vientiane to Vang Vieng can be a great way to chat with other travelers - perfect for making travel buddies for all the adventures you’ll have in Vang Vieng.