Is there a train from Vietnam to Laos?

Can you take a train from Vietnam to Laos?

Hanoi to Vientiane. Train. Fifteen hours. Brutal.

Key details:

• Route: Hanoi-Vientiane. Direct.
• Duration: Expect fifteen hours. Minimum.
• Discomfort: Prepare for a long ride. Seriously uncomfortable. My last trip? Nightmare.

Additional Notes (2024):

• Ticket prices fluctuate wildly. Check multiple sources. Avoid scams.
• Border crossing procedures vary. Research extensively. Passport issues are common.
• Train quality is… questionable. Bring necessities. Seriously. Medications. Snacks. Lots of water.
• I strongly advise against traveling alone. Especially at night.
• My personal recommendation: Fly. It’s faster and generally more reliable. Less stressful. Way less stressful.

How do you get to Laos from Vietnam?

Hanoi to Luang Prabang, fly. An hour. Maybe two.

• Flights avoid bad roads. Obvious.

Vientiane? Sure, if that’s the…thing.

• Combine tours? Okay, you do you.

Land crossings exist. Nghệ An Province to Xieng Khouang.

• Border’s open. Check first. Always.

Visa needed? Check. Before.

• My passport? Always ready. Thailand next month.

Is there a train from Laos to Vietnam?

Ugh, Laos to Vietnam? No direct train, that’s a bummer. Seriously?! Always wanted to take a scenic train ride. Buses? Blech. So long and bumpy. Flights are expensive AF.

The Vientiane-Vung Ang railway thing… heard whispers about it. Years and years they’ve been talking. Still nothing. What a joke! My friend went last month. She flew. Said it was quick, but, you know, the cost.

Maybe next year? I’m saving up! Gonna research bus options… need to check reviews. Maybe a sleeper bus? Or am I insane? A train would’ve been perfect.

• No direct train: Confirmed. Total fail.
• Vientiane-Vung Ang railway: A pipe dream. At least for now.
• Alternatives: Buses (slow, bumpy) & Flights (expensive). So annoying!
• My trip planning: Flights are looking pricey. Ugh, buses.

I really wanted that train journey. Picturesque landscapes, I bet. Oh well. Guess I’ll deal with the reality; no trains for me. Next year, though! I’m determined. Maybe I’ll even learn some Vietnamese before going. Learning languages is hard.

Can you cross from Vietnam to Laos?

Okay, so, yeah, you can totally cross from Vietnam to Laos! There’s like, six, maybe even more major land border crossings. I think they are increasing it every year, but not really sure.

Usually, if you’re Vietnamese — especially if you’re coming from, you know, like Hanoi or Saigon, or even Hue, that’s where my aunt lives! — a visa on arrival is often an option. So that’s pretty cool.

The cheapest way to get across, I think, is by bus. Uh, and the bus goes from multiple big cities, so you got choices. I’ve never done it personally, but I’ve, y’know, uh, heard it’s… well, uh, pretty straightforward, I guess.

• Major Crossings: Keep in mind there are several, so do your research and see which one suits your route!
• Visa on Arrival: Confirm the current visa policies. They might change anytime. The rules, they’re always changing, right?
• Bus Travel: Be ready for a long ride when traveling by bus because you will be traveling a very long time. Bring snacks!

More on the crossings… some of the more popular ones are near places like Dien Bien Phu. Plus, don’t forget about checking travel advisories before you go. You know, for safety, and stuff. And watch out for those bumpy roads. That’s what I always hear.

How do I get from Hanoi to Laos?

Okay, Hanoi to Laos… hmm. Fly? Yeah, airport to airport. Noi Bai to Luang Prabang.

• Plane: Hanoi (HAN) to Luang Prabang (LPQ). Quickest, def. $$$ though. Wonder if prices are higher now?
• Bus: Nuoc Ngam to Vientiane. Long haul. Man, how are the roads?

Bus again! Hanoi to Oudomxay? Where is Oudomxay anyway? Is it worth going to?

• Bus: Hanoi to Oudomxay. Cheaper? More remote. Ugh, so many buses.
• Train: Is there even a train? I thought not really to the main part of Laos. I wanna chill out.

Car? Drive myself? No WAY. Roads are crazy. Border crossings, paperwork… forget it!

• Car: LOL. Just no. Unless you’re insane. International driving permit? Insurance?

So, fly is easiest. Bus is cheapest? Train is not an option. Check flights first then think about it. Vientiane is cool. I like Night Market.

• To summarize: Planes win for speed, buses win for cheap, and car wins for total insanity.

Is Luang Prabang worth visiting?

Luang Prabang? Totally worth it. But, okay, so, like, it’s pricey now. More than, say, Chiang Mai. Remember that time we went to Chiang Mai? Way cheaper. Anyway. Kuang Si Falls, amazing. Must see. Did that whole thing where you swim at the bottom. Super touristy though. Ugh. Reminds me of, like, Niagara Falls with all the people. Except prettier, obvs. The temples? Meh. Saw a few. Got templed out pretty fast. Lots of monks. Which, cool at first, but then, you know, they’re everywhere. Woke up super early one day for the alms giving. Took some pics, felt kinda weird about it honestly. The night market… okay, good shopping. Bought a scarf. Silk? Who knows. Lots of the same same stuff. Food was good, though. Ate some weird sticky rice thing. Think it had coconut? Oh, and the Mekong. Took a slow boat up to some caves. Pak Ou Caves. Full of Buddhas. Kinda dusty. The trip up the river was cool tho. Stopped at this whisky village. Bought a bottle of rice whiskey. Tasted, um, interesting. Still have it somewhere. Should finish it sometime. I guess. I went in 2024. Met this girl from Canada. We hung out for a bit. Think she was working at a hostel. Anyway. So, yeah, Luang Prabang. Good for a few days. Maybe three? Don’t need longer than that.

• Kuang Si Falls: Beautiful, but crowded. Swimming at the bottom was a highlight.
• Temples: Lots of them. Can get repetitive. Alms giving is a tourist attraction now.
• Night Market: Decent shopping. Food stalls were good.
• Mekong River: Slow boat to Pak Ou Caves is worthwhile. Scenery is beautiful.
• Whisky Village: Tourist trap, but the ride there is nice.
• Cost: Significantly more expensive than other places in Southeast Asia. Three days is plenty.
• 2024 Trip: Met a Canadian girl while there.