How long is the train from Bangkok to Vientiane?

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

Okay, so Bangkok to Vientiane, right? I did that train thing… wait, it was Bangkok to Nong Khai actually, then across the border to Vientiane.

Ugh, I hate that freakin’ border crossing.

It wasn’t direct train, see?

Anyway, I wanna say, the Bangkok to Nong Khai part – that sleeper train – was like, almost 12 hours, yeah, around there. We left Hua Lamphong Station (is that even still open?) around 8 pm in 2023? And got to Nong Khai super early… too early!

Then, this thing happened. After a tuk-tuk from the station, had to hop on a bus to cross the Friendship Bridge. Lineups forever. So annoying! Then you get to Laos side and do the visa on arrival craziness. It felt like 3 hours, honest to God.

I took this route because originally wanted to go to Luang Prabang. That was my end destination, actually, and this was just a step of the way.

And I swore I wouldn’t do it again, seriously.

• Train (Bangkok to Nong Khai): ~11 hours 40 mins (give or take, you know how these things are).
• Border crossing + bus: Feels like eternity. More like 3 hours with all the waiting.
• Visa on Arrival: Cash only!! Bring USD!! I was almost stuck there.
• Vientiane to Luang Prabang: I took a freakin’ minibus. Never again.

Ugh, still gives me the shivers.

How long is the train from Vientiane to Bangkok?

Eleven hours, fifty minutes. A slow crawl across the land. The train, a metal serpent. Sunlight, dust motes dancing. The rhythmic clatter, a hypnotic pulse. Thirty-nine baht to eighteen hundred. A range of realities. Cheap seats, plush ones.

Bangkok. A city shimmering, a mirage in the distance. The scent of jasmine, I imagine. My memories, sharp, like shards of glass. The rumbling beneath the wheels. This journey, a lifetime.

The bus, thirteen hours. Different kind of exhaustion. The air thick, heavy with the scent of diesel. A thousand baht to sixteen hundred. Different class, different experience. But the same destination.

Mo Chit bus terminal, the arrival point. A chaotic symphony. Thousands of travelers, swirling, rushing. A feeling of overwhelm. I crave calm.

Flight. Three hours, forty-eight minutes. A stolen moment. Fast. A detached experience. Luxury. But something’s lost in its speed. Two thousand two hundred to seven thousand five hundred baht. The cost of convenience. The price of fleeting time.

TrainBest option. But only if you don’t mind the time. Slow. Deliberate. Immersive. 2024 prices vary.

BusBudget-friendly, but less comfortable. Longer duration. A different sort of journey. 2024 prices are approximate.

PlaneFastest, but most expensive. A brief window of escape. Not for those seeking a contemplative trip. Airports, sterile. 2024 pricing fluctuates.

• Vientiane Departure: Vientiane Train Station or a range of bus stations.
• Bangkok Arrival (Train): Hua Lamphong Station (possibly changed now)
• Bangkok Arrival (Bus): Mo Chit Northern Bus Terminal.
• Bangkok Arrival (Plane): Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK).

This journey, it’s more than just miles. It’s about the passage of time. The weight of the hours. A journey within.

How far is Laos from Thailand by train?

Ugh, so, like, there isn’t a direct train thing between Laos and Thailand. Bummer, right? You gotta, like, piece it together.

Basically, you’re looking at bus or minivan mainly. Across the border and stuff. Sometimes there’s a train, maybe, ON one side, but def not a straight shot, ya know?

Distance? It totally dependswhere you cross and where you’re going. Could be half a days trip, or like, a whole day and a half situation. No direct connection, remember?

For example, the Nong Khai crossing is common. Here’s a breakdown of what that looks like.

• Nong Khai to Vientiane: You’d usually take a bus across the Friendship Bridge. It’s super short.

• Train on the Thai side: You can grab a train to Nong Khai from Bangkok! It’s, uh, I think twelve hours. The sleeper train is pretty chill, and not super expensive!

• Laos side: Minivans from Vientiane to other spots. Like Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, whatever. Those take, like, forever, tho, heads up. The roads aren’t great, if you know what I mean.

How do you travel from Thailand to Laos?

Flying? A tad pricey, but you’ll be sipping Lao beer before you know it. Three hours, tops. Think of it as a very efficient, slightly overpriced, airborne tuk-tuk. $85-$230, ouch. My wallet weeps.

The train? A romantic, albeit lengthy, affair. Nong Khai’s the terminus. Eleven hours plus. Cheaper, though. Think comfy, slightly less air-conditioned, elephants. Nine to fifty-five dollars. A bargain if you like slow travel. I personally find it hypnotic.

Buses, the budget backpacker’s choice. Udon Thani is your springboard. Thirteen hours. Thirteen! Imagine all the podcasts. At least you’ll get to see the countryside, in a way. $13-$26. Your backside will thank you later, not really.

Bus arrival? Laos doesn’t have one single “bus station.” It depends entirely on the company and your final destination. Vientiane? Luang Prabang? That’s your homework.

Key Considerations:

• Speed vs. Cost: Flight = speed, Train = budget-ish, Bus = budget-and-patience.
• Comfort: Flights win hands down. Trains are okay, Buses are, well…buses.
• Scenery: Train and Bus offer glorious views, if you’re into that.

I took the train last year – 2023 – and while my neck still protests, the experience was… unforgettable. The food vendors alone were worth the price of the ticket.

How do I get from Bangkok to Laos?

Bangkok to Laos… Ugh. The flight, it’s quick. Three hours, something like that. Expensive though. Thirty to a hundred bucks. A hefty price for a short flight, I always think. A small fortune, really. Especially now with everything costing more.

But the bus…that overnight thing… it’s a different story. Long, I remember, really long. From Mochit. It arrives in Vientiane. Talat Sao station, I think. Daily. I recall the journey vividly. The discomfort. I prefer the plane. But the bus offers a different experience. A different kind of torture. It is cheaper, however.

Flights: Faster. More expensive. A better option if your time is valuable. The direct flight from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Wattay International Airport is what most people take.

Buses: Slower. Considerably cheaper. An adventure. But uncomfortable. A very long uncomfortable journey, I tell ya. Definitely a trade off. The overnight buses are brutal. But I know others who’ve done it for the experience, or to save money. That’s their decision. There are plenty of companies operating daily services. It’s not something I’d personally do again.

How do I go from BKK to Laos?

Okay, so you wanna ditch Bangkok for Laos, eh? Buckle up, buttercup, it’s gonna be a ride!

Fly, you fool! Flights are the Usain Bolt of travel, straight to Vientiane or Luang Prabang. Think less sweaty backpacker, more jet-setting James Bond.

Fancy yourself an Indiana Jones? The train-and-bus combo is your jam. Bangkok to Nong Khai, then a bus across the Friendship Bridge? It’s like a Thai-Lao obstacle course! Seriously, though, buses in that neck of the woods can make your butt numb.

Feeling brave? Direct buses from Bangkok! This is the “iron butt” award contender. Think of it as a budget spaceship… a cramped, sweaty spaceship.

• Flights: Speedy Gonzales-style. Book in advance, you cheapskate.
• Train & Bus: Picture this: you, a train, a bus, and a lifetime supply of instant noodles. Don’t forget the bug spray and hope.
• Direct Bus: For those who enjoy prolonged existential reflection while being jostled around Southeast Asia. Prepare for the long haul! Snacks are a must! My grandma always said “never trust a skinny cook”.

Can you cross from Thailand to Laos?

Cross Thailand to Laos? Absolutement! I mean, sure, if you like the scenic route.

Remember those old black-and-white movies? The ferry used to be the main act. Now, there’s a bridge. Progress! Can you imagine, a bridge?

• Friendship Bridge: It’s a bridge, alright. Not some mystical portal, sadly.
• Bangkok to Nong Khai: Train or bus. Your choice!
• Ferry Tales? Well, those are becoming actual tales. I guess the ferryman retired.

Oh, Nong Khai! That’s where I bought that amazing elephant t-shirt. I think I still have it somewhere. Probably fits better on my chihuahua now.

Think of it: A bus from Bangkok, like escaping a polite, but persistent, monsoon.

Wait, elephant t-shirts. Laos, Thailand. Did I mix them up? Nope, not this time.

How long is the train from Vientiane to Bangkok?

Okay, Vientiane to Bangkok… train. Ugh, long story.

I took that train in early 2023. Actually, March 2023, I think.

It felt like forever.

It was closer to 12 hours, not 11h 50m. Seriously. Each stop felt like an eternity. And the border crossing? A nightmare.

I paid, umm, like around ฿700, give or take. Definitely not ฿390, lol.

The bus… Nah. A friend took the bus, said it was even worse.

I do NOT recommend the bus. Thirteen hours squished? No thanks.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Train:

  • Time: 12 hours (real time)
  • Cost: ฿700-ish (depending on class)
  • Pros: You can walk around.
  • Cons: Slow. Border crossing is a pain.

• Bus:

  • Time: 13 hours
  • Cost: ฿1000 – ฿1600
  • Pros: Cheaper than flying? I guess?
  • Cons: Uncomfortable. Slow.

• Plane:

  • Time: Under 4 hours total
  • Cost: ฿2200 – ฿7500.
  • Pros: Fast!!
  • Cons: Expensive. Airport hassle.

I would’ve flown in hindsight. Even with the stupid Bangkok airport queues. Next time, definitely flying. My back still aches just thinking about that train.

How far is Laos from Thailand by train?

Okay, so, Laos and Thailand train thing? Nope. Doesn’t exist, period. Let me tell you about that trip I took last summer.

I wanted to go from Bangkok to Luang Prabang. I dreamt of trains, you know? Romantic, scenic views, the whole nine yards.

My bestie Jenny joined, we are always up for adventure.

But nope, no direct train. We landed in Bangkok.

Turns out, you gotta bus it. We ended up on this rickety minivan.

• Bangkok to the border (Nong Khai): That took like, maybe 8 hours? Hot. So hot.
• Cross the Friendship Bridge: Had to get off, walk across. So much sweat.
• Lao side: More waiting. Haggling for tuk-tuks. Just ugh.
• Vientiane to Luang Prabang: Final leg was another bus. Bumpy roads. Beautiful, yeah, but so long.

Total travel time was easily like, 15+ hours. So much for my train fantasy, huh? I mean, distance-wise, probably not that far, like, a few hundred kilometers maybe? But travel time? Agony. Jenny kept saying “adventure!” I just wanted air conditioning.