Is there a bus from Luang Prabang to Hanoi?

How do I go to Luang Prabang from Hanoi?

Getting to Luang Prabang from Hanoi is surprisingly straightforward. Flights are your best bet; a quick, albeit pricey option.

Flights: Direct flights from Noi Bai (HAN) to Luang Prabang (LPQ) via Lao Airlines or Vietnam Airlines are your fastest choices. Expect a journey of around an hour to one hour and ten minutes. Costs in 2024 vary greatly, from roughly 7.5 million VND to over 8.5 million VND. Connecting flights offer budget alternatives, though travel time increases significantly — maybe up to 17 hours with some carriers! I personally found this frustrating during my trip last year. Seriously, 17 hours? Crazy. It’s a trade-off, of course, speed versus cost.

Ground Transportation: Less appealing, but potentially more scenic, are ground routes. Buses offer a budget-friendly option, though expect a long journey. This involves a likely bus change somewhere near Oudomxay. Driving yourself is an option too, a full day’s drive or more, covering roughly 700 kilometers. A long, arduous journey! I wouldn’t recommend this unless you’re seriously into long drives. My cousin tried this once… needless to say, he wasn’t thrilled. The bus from Hanoi’s SSB station to Luang Prabang is also possible, but specifics are hard to come by reliably, and the journey length is a huge unknown.

Choosing your method: Honestly, unless you really enjoy extensive bus rides or driving yourself into oblivion, flying is the obvious winner for convenience, though the cost is considerable. A factor to consider is the time you’re willing to sacrifice. You always weigh convenience against cost, right? That’s the eternal traveler’s dilemma.

• Flights: Quickest, most expensive.
• Buses: Cheapest, longest travel time. Often involve transfers.
• Driving: Longest, most strenuous option. Requires international driving permit.
• Train: Not a viable option directly.

How do I get from Laos to Hanoi?

Plane from Luang Prabang. Quickest. Like an hour, ten minutes. Costs though, over eight million kip. Two flights a day. Or from Vientiane. Six million kip-ish, little over an hour. Three flights outta there daily.

Bus to Hanoi from Vientiane’s Southern bus station. Slower, obvi. No idea how long that bus takes, but it’s a bus ride. To Hanoi’s Nuoc Ngam station, right?

Train… Vientiane to Oudomxay. Then… stuff. Then Hanoi I think. Lots of connections, probably. Not sure about that whole route tho. Car, possible too.

• Flights:
  • Luang Prabang (LPQ) to Hanoi (HAN): About 1 hour 10 min, 8,256,162 kip, 2 flights/day.
  • Vientiane (VTE) to Hanoi (HAN): Around 1 hour, over 6,325,127 kip, 3 flights/day. (Prices are, like, estimates. Check online.) My friend flew Vientiane last summer, it was a breeze.
• Bus: Vientiane Southern Bus Station to Hanoi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station. Long ride.
• Train: Vientiane to Oudomxay…then other stuff happens. Might need to figure out that connection thing.
• Car: Could be an option. Driving yourself tho, long drive. Never done that my self. Saw some peeps with rental cars in Luang Prabang though.

Remember those prices are kip! Kip. Not… Dong or baht haha. Last time I was there, Kip felt like Monopoly money. So many zeros.

Is there a bus from Hanoi to Laos?

Hanoi to Laos? Piece of cake! Direct buses, baby! Think comfy sleeper bus, not a clown car. 23 hours? Yeah, bring a good book. Or three. And snacks. Lots of snacks. I swear I once saw someone bring a small pet llama.

• Buses leave three times daily. Daily! Seriously, they’re like clockwork. More punctual than my goldfish.
• Ha Noi Nuoc Ngam Bus Station is your starting point. Find it. It’s there. Don’t get lost. It’s not rocket science. Unless your rocket science involves getting hopelessly lost in bus stations.
• Vientiane – Southern Bus Station is your destination. Prepare for culture shock. Or maybe just a mild case of bus-fatigue. My cousin once claimed he saw a unicorn. near that station.
• Expect the unexpected. This is not the Orient Express. Think more… rusty rollercoaster. But with better views. Probably.

My Uncle Tony took this bus last month; he came back with stories that’d make a sailor blush. He lost his hat, then found it again in a bowl of pho. I’m not making that up.

How much is bus from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh?

Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh… long trip. 35 hours?! Sleeper bus. Gotta be. Wonder if they have wifi. My phone battery won’t last. Need a power bank. 1,100,000 VND. Not too bad. Better than flying. Though flying is faster. Duh. But more expensive. Way more. Nuoc Ngam station… remember going there once. Years ago. Mien Dong… huge station. So many buses. Overwhelming. 750,000 VND. That’s the cheap seat. Worth it? Definitely need a sleeper. Neck pillow essential. Snacks. Lots of snacks. Movies downloaded. Book? Nah. Probably sleep most of the way. Should book soon. Prices might go up. Tet holiday coming. Everything gets pricier. Maybe a limousine bus? More legroom. Reclining seats. Gotta check that out. Hanoi… street food. Gonna miss it. Ho Chi Minh… more street food. Different kind. Exciting. 38 hours is a long time. Bathroom breaks. Hope they have decent ones. Travel sickness meds. Just in case. Mien Dong station… taxis everywhere. Grab bike maybe. Faster. Need to download the app again. Deleted it last time. Phone storage full. Again. So annoying. Need to delete some stuff. Ugh. Bus tickets… online booking. Easier. Passport ready. Check. Alright. Time to book.

• 750,000 VND to 1,100,000 VND – ticket price range.
• 35-38 hours – travel time.
• Nuoc Ngam Bus Station – Hanoi departure point.
• Mien Dong Bus Station – Ho Chi Minh arrival point.
• Limousine bus option – more expensive, but more comfortable.
• Consider Tet holiday pricing. Book in advance.
• Prepare for long journey: snacks, entertainment, meds.
• Transportation from Mien Dong: taxis, Grab bikes.
• Online booking available.
• Have passport ready.

How to get from Ho Chi Minh to Luang Prabang?

Flying’s fastest, six and a half hours. A quick, brutal jump. Expensive though, ninety-five to two-thirty dollars. Ouch. That’s what I remember from last year’s trip planning, anyway.

The bus? Thirty-four hours. Torturous. Seventy-nine to eighty-three dollars. Cheap, but my back still aches thinking about it.

Driving? Forget it. Fourteen hundred and fifty-five kilometers. Insane. No way. I wouldn’t even attempt that.

Flights: Specific flights, hmm… Thai AirAsia was, uh, eleven and a half hours with a layover. Expensive as hell. Over seven million Vietnamese Dong. Bangkok Airways was even longer, a day and two hours! Thirteen and a half million Dong. Highway robbery.

Things I learned:

• Flights are the best option, timewise. But pricey.
• Bus travel is cheap, but excruciatingly slow. Plan on a full day.
• Driving is impractical and likely illegal in parts. Don’t even think about it.
• Check current flight prices. Those 2023 prices might be outdated.
• Factor in visa requirements for both countries. Always check that before booking. I almost got caught out once. Big mistake.

My advice? Suck it up and fly. Save yourself the misery of a bus, and the impossibility of driving.

Can you get a train from Hanoi to Laos?

No. A train won’t get you there directly.

No direct Hanoi-Laos train exists. Plan accordingly. Take a train to Vinh or Dong Ha. Then? Bus.

• Train: Hanoi to Vinh/Dong Ha.

• Bus: Vinh/Dong Ha to Laos.

• Total Time: Budget 12-15 hours. Minimum. Pack snacks. Or don’t.

The land remembers. My uncle, Phong, always said that. He ran a pho stall on Ly Quoc Su. Small world. Trains can’t bridge everything. Funny, huh?

Is it worth going to Luang Prabang?

Luang Prabang? Worth it? Like a vintage Vespa – charming, but needs some coaxing. Splurge on a decent hotel. Trust me. Mosquitos are the unofficial welcoming committee. Kuang Si Falls? Instagram gold. But prepare for a selfie stick slalom course. Alms giving? Spiritual, sure. But also a bit of a tourist circus. Still, sunrise over the Mekong is magic. Pure magic. Like discovering a forgotten croissant in your picnic basket.

• Kuang Si Falls: Stunning. Seriously. Pack your swimsuit.
• Temples: Temple fatigue is real. Pace yourself. Like a fine wine, not a frat party keg stand.
• Mekong River: Cruises are…well, cruises. Consider kayaking. Unless upper body strength is not your forte.
• Night Market: Bargaining skills essential. Think of it as a friendly duel. May the best shopper win.
• Food: Delicious. Spicy. Sometimes…adventurous. (Fermented tea leaves? A personal journey.)

My trip? 2024. January. Blissfully mosquito-free. Stayed at the Belmond La Résidence Phou Vao. Worth every penny. Like sleeping in a cloud. A very stylish cloud. Skipped the organized tours. Rented a bicycle. Got gloriously lost. Found the best noodle soup of my life. At a place with no name. Just a woman and her wok. Magical. Like Luang Prabang itself. Just…go.