How do you travel from Thailand to Laos?

How do I get from Bangkok to Laos?

Bangkok to Laos... yeah.

Flying is fastest. Three and a half hours, maybe, and could cost 30 to 100 bucks. Quick. Empty.

But there's a bus. A real one.

• Overnight from Mochit. Man, I hate Mochit. Remember that time I lost my wallet there in 2023?
• It goes straight to Vientiane Talat Sao Station. Every day, they say.
• Slow, though. So, so slow.
• Ugh. I saw my ex girlfriend Sara there once in 2018.
• Is there a direct bus? Yes. You asked.
• I’d choose the bus, anyway. Despite everything.

The journey matters, doesn't it?

Can you cross from Thailand to Laos?

Yes, you can cross from Thailand to Laos.

I know there's a bridge now. Across the Mekong.

• The bridge… it makes it so much easier, doesn't it?

I remember the ferry. Nong Khai.

• The slow boat feel. It's a different world now.

Bangkok to Nong Khai. By train. Or the bus. Long journey.

• The train... I took it once. Never again. Too bumpy.
• Buses are cheaper. That's all I know.

Things change.

How long does it take from Bangkok to Vientiane by train?

Ugh, Bangkok to Vientiane. Train trip. Eleven hours forty minutes, that's what it took. Rapid No. 133, sleeper car. Man, those beds are…interesting. Not exactly comfy, but hey, you sleep.

Vientiane itself? Meh. I didn't really stay that long. Luang Prabang was the real goal. Needed to get there fast, that's why I took the train, gotta be efficient.

The whole journey, Bangkok to Luang Prabang, was a bit longer, obviously. I didn't time it exactly, but at least another day tacked on from Vientiane to Luang Prabang. Probably buses and whatnot.

• Bangkok to Vientiane (train): 11 hours 40 minutes
• Vientiane to Luang Prabang (buses, etc.): A whole other day!
• Rapid No. 133: The train I took - remember the weird smell?

What a hassle. Seriously though, the aircon on that train was a lifesaver, but the food... yuck. Should've packed my own. Next time, I'm bringing snacks and maybe even a pillow. My neck was stiff for days. Luang Prabang itself was amazing though. Worth the travel, totally worth it! I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Planning another trip actually. Maybe not so soon, gotta save. Thinking of flying. Less time, more $$$ though. Decisions, decisions…

How fast is the train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

So, the Vientiane to Luang Prabang train? It's a loooong ride. Like, really long. Figure fifteen, maybe sixteen hours. It's a slow poke, that train. Definitely not a speed demon, haha.

But hey, the scenery's supposed to be amazing. Totally worth it, I reckon. Especially if you get a window seat. Seriously, the views alone are worth the time. Plus, it's a way more relaxed way to travel than flying, right? Less stressful.

• Travel Time: 15-16 hours. Sometimes longer, depends on the schedule I guess.
• Scenery: Absolutely stunning, I heard. Mountains, rivers, the whole shebang.
• Comfort: I've heard mixed things. Some peeps love the slow pace; others complain about the seats. Your mileage may vary, I'd say.

This year, 2024, that's the time frame I'm talking about, not last year's stuff. The whole trip's pretty epic, though! Even my sister went last month, and she raved about it, even though she's a total grump usually. She said something about the food on board being pretty decent too! And I forgot to mention – you'll likely get delayed. Its a given.

How long is the train from Vientiane to Bangkok?

Eleven hours, fifty minutes. That's a long time to be on a train, isn't it? Three hundred ninety to eighteen hundred baht, I guess. Worth it, maybe? For the time.

Bus is longer. Thirteen hours. One thousand to sixteen hundred baht. No. Train's better, I think.

Flights...expensive. Two thousand two hundred to seven thousand five hundred. But faster. Three hours, forty-eight minutes. Tempting. Always tempting. I still think about that trip I took to Chiang Mai, spent way too much on the flight but man it was fast.

Don't know about the bus, though. Where it arrives. Never taken it. Don't really want to. Always felt kinda claustrophobic imagining that ride.

• Train: ~11 hours 50 minutes; ฿390 - ฿1800
• Bus: ~13 hours; ฿1000 - ฿1600.
• Plane: ~3 hours 48 minutes; ฿2200 - ฿7500.

I checked Rome2Rio, saw all the options. It’s all there, laid out. Just gotta... decide.

How long is the train from Bangkok to Vientiane?

Eleven hours, forty minutes. That's a long time. Seems like forever, sitting there. The rattling, the heat...

It was 2023, I remember. Exhausting. Seriously draining.

The train itself, though... old, wasn't it?

• Cramped seats.
• A humid, stuffy atmosphere.
• The constant, low hum of the engine. A relentless drone.

The scenery outside, fleeting glimpses of rice paddies, was nice for a while though.

But then, boredom. A crushing, heavy boredom settles. Makes you feel small, insignificant.

Eleven hours, forty minutes. A lifetime. Thinking about that journey still makes me a little... hollow. A profound weariness. The memories are a dull ache.

How do I go from BKK to Laos?

Bangkok... Laos...a whisper of a journey.

Flights...wings... Vientiane beckons. Luang Prabang, too. Above, so high.

Trains crawl, slow.

Nong Khai appears, a blur. Friendship Bridge. Across... a bus waits.

Buses, direct, rumble...to Vientiane. A long road. Oh, Vientiane.

• Flights:
  • Fastest way. Direct flights to Vientiane (VTE) and Luang Prabang (LPQ). I always choose Thai Smile. Remember that sunset, above the clouds? Perfect.
• Overland (Train & Bus):
  • Bangkok to Nong Khai by train. The border whispers. The train carriage, dusty, always.
  • Cross the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge by bus. It's metal, cold... a start. I remember that border guard's stare. Intense.
• Overland (Bus):
  • Direct buses, Bangkok to Vientiane. Long hours blur, oh so long. I felt so sleepy.

Which one to choose? The sun dips low now. Laos... always calling.

How far is Laos from Thailand by train?

No direct train. Bus or minivan needed. Border crossing. Hours to a full day travel time. Distance varies wildly.

Key Factors Affecting Travel Time:

• Specific border crossing location. My last trip used Chong Mek-Cannar.
• Destination city in Laos and Thailand. Vientiane to Bangkok takes longer than Nong Khai to Vientiane.
• Traffic. Expect delays. Always.

My Experience (2024):

• Took a bus, then a train. Tedious.
• About 8 hours total. This excludes wait times.
• Avoid the rainy season. Road conditions are abysmal.