How long is the bus from Vietnam to Laos?

3 weeks ago 63 views

The bus trip from Vietnam to Laos can take 20+ hours, costing $30–$50. The road distance varies from 470 km (292 mi) to 1,130 km (700 mi). A direct flight is much faster at 1–2 hours, but pricier ($60–$350).

Comments 0 like

You might want to ask? View more

Vietnam to Laos bus travel time: How many hours/days for the trip?

Okay, so Vietnam to Laos, right? Flight’s a breeze, one to two hours tops. Cost me around $80 last time, December 2022, from Hanoi to Luang Prabang. But that’s flying.

Bus? Whoa, that’s a different story. Twenty hours, easily. More like twenty-four once, remember that crazy trip in August 2023? Paid about $45, packed like sardines, but the scenery was amazing, kind of.

The distance varies wildly, depending on your route, obviously. Somewhere between 470 and 1130 kilometers. Brutal.

Really depends on where you’re going in Laos. I’ve found the bus journeys are cheap but time-consuming. Flights are faster but way more expensive. Choose wisely.

How far is Laos from Vietnam by bus?

Seven hundred and twenty-five kilometers. Forty-fifty miles. Hanoi to Vientiane.

It’s a long way to go.

Twenty hours, more or less. The border… so slow. Sleep. Always sleeper buses. I hate sleeper buses, the air is stale. Reminds me of that trip after… after everything with Sarah.

Why did I even agree to that?

Key Travel Route: Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos.
Distance: 725 kilometers (450 miles).
Travel Time: 20-24 hours.
Common Bus Type: Sleeper bus.
Border Crossing: Significant delays are possible.
Sarah: I don’t want to think about this anymore.

How long does it take to get from Hanoi to Laos?

Hanoi to Laos? 752 km.

Drive time? Roughly 11 hours.

Not a Sunday drive.

Distance: 752 km. A damn long haul.
Drive Time: 11 hours. More or less. Deal with it.
Alternative: Flights exist. Think about it.
Border crossings a hassle. Be prepared. Visas, paperwork, delays guaranteed.
Road quality? Questionable. Prepare for bumps. And worse.

Honestly, flying cuts the crap. My sister, Lena, she flew last summer. Said driving was hell. I’d listen to her. She’s seen things.

What separates Laos from Vietnam?

Okay, Laos and Vietnam… what separates them? Hmm.

Annamite Mountains. Yeah, that’s the big one. A natural wall, basically. Geography, bam! Mountains are tall and stuff, right? I saw some pictures once.

Oh yeah, history! Frenchies messed with both countries, but they still ended up different somehow.

Mountains are a barrier.
Shared colonial past.
Different paths now.

Economically, Vietnam’s doing… better? Than Laos. Something like that. Open markets, ding ding ding! Money.

Vietnam: More open markets.
Laos: Less open?
Socialist states, but… different.

They’re both socialist, whatever. But Vietnam’s all about that growth now. Laos is… slower. It’s like watching my grandpa and Usain Bolt race. Lol. Vietnam is growing faster.

Expanded Points:

Annamite Mountains: They’re not just some hills! They run for a long way. Think serious rugged terrain. Some peaks are super high, over 8,000 feet, I think. Must be a pain to cross if you aren’t a bird.
Shared Colonial Past: French Indochina was a thing. But even then, local cultures held on tight. Different kingdoms, different languages… it’s more complicated than just “France was there.”
Economic Differences: Vietnam jumped headfirst into reforms. Laos is more cautious, maybe? Different levels of foreign investment, different industries leading the way. It’s not a competition, but…you know.

How to travel from Hanoi to Luang Prabang?

Alright, so you wanna ditch Hanoi for Luang Prabang? Buckle up, buttercup! There are a few ways to get there, each with its own level of… well, adventure, let’s call it.

Fly! Think jet-setting superstar. It’s fastest at around 4 hours, quicker than my aunt Mildred at a bingo night. Cost? $110-$250. Pricey, yeah, but you save 15 hours. Plus, peanuts!

The bus is a marathon. 19 hours! $36! You will know the true meaning of “hangry.” This ride is like a slumber party with strangers and questionable snacks, except you can’t leave.

Flying, detailed:

Time is money! Four hours is peanuts. Relatively speaking, anyway.
Comfort? Reclining seats, tiny TVs showing the same three movies on repeat. My neighbor’s goldfish has a more exciting life.
Price: Can vary a lot! Like, from “I found a penny!” to “I need to sell a kidney!” So, ya know, shop around.

Bus, the “scenic” route:

Time? 19 hours. You could watch the entire “Lord of the Rings” trilogy… twice.
Comfort? Imagine sleeping in a tin can full of sweaty socks, the sound of road noise, babies crying, and people snoring, mixed into one symphony, except it’s not very musical.
Price? $36 is tempting, like a dollar-store lollipop. Just be warned, the sugar rush might not last the entire journey. My bladder shudders just thinking about it.

Unexpected Option:

Hitchhiking: Don’t even think about it. Just… don’t. Unless you’re a ninja. And fluent in Laotian.
Motorbike: If you enjoy pain, and have a death wish, sure go for it. It’s more than 1000 km.
Train: Sorry! No train from Hanoi to Luang Prabang.

Ultimately, it depends on how much you like peanuts. And how much you hate buses, the question is, do you like peanuts or are you more like a bus person? Me? I’m taking a plane! My hemorrhoids are a bit tender.

#Bustravel #Traveltime #Vietnamlaos

Travel How long is the bus from Vietnam to Laos?