Transportation in Laos. We can say a lot about it but, in general, it’s a little less well-regulated and a lot less comfortable than neighboring Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. There are a few important hacks that can save you a lot of time and money, though. We share these below.
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The buses in Laos
The buses in Laos are, most of the time, not very comfortable. You will often sit in a minivan, which can carry animals, bags of food and furniture in addition to people. So a real experience haha.
Still, you won’t escape having to catch a bus often. In fact, in South Laos you cannot choose any other means of transportation. The night bus from Pakse to Vientiane is notorious and known to be a hellish ride. This is because you ‘sleep’ here on a very cramped double mattress, and if you are a solo traveler you will have to share this bed with a stranger….
Many buses cannot be booked in advance. It is always best to ask your ho(s)tel when the buses leave and what time you should be at the bus station. This is where most accommodations in Laos can help you very much.
Train in Laos
Laos is an exception to most countries in Southeast Asia when it comes to trains. In fact, for several years, Laos has had high-speed trains. These were built by China, via the so-called Lao-China Railway. For travelers, this means easy, comfortable and very fast travel between Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane. From Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng, you are an hour away and from Vang Vieng to Vientiane also only an hour.
It is important to know a few things in advance about the train in Laos, though:
- The train leaves punctually. You need to be at the train station at least 20 minutes, and preferably a little longer in advance. If you are about to be late they won’t let you through at the entrance and you have to buy new tickets.
- You are not allowed to carry a pocket knife and flammable items (think deodorant and a spray can of sunscreen) on the train. Before you are admitted to the terminal you will have to put your luggage through a scan (the same as at an airport) and here these items are taken out and discarded. If you are lucky, like us, you have an officer who is not paying very close attention and does not check your bag properly so you can still take it.
- If you have an online train ticket: take a picture of the QR code. If the app or your mail does not load because you do not have internet then you will be stopped at the exit and will not be allowed to walk through. In fact, your ticket is checked 4 times: once when you enter the train station, once when you board the train, once on the train (where you often don’t have internet) and once when you want to leave the station.
Booking train tickets in Laos
There are several ways to book train tickets in Laos. Below we list all 3 possibilities.
1. Book online through 12GO.Asia
This is the easiest but also the most expensive option. Through 12GO. Asia, you can easily book your transportation in Laos anytime, anywhere. Be sure to enter the correct information (especially your passport number) because they check this extensively at the train station.
2. Buying tickets at a tour office
You can easily book tickets for any form of transportation in Laos at one of the many tour offices in the cities. The staff will inform you about the schedule of the trains and the different prices. This is an easy way to arrange your transportation in Laos.
3. Buying your own train tickets via the LCR Ticket App.
This is only possible if you have a Laos phone number. If you use a local SIM card, you have a Laos phone number and can use the app. You will need to create an account and then the steps will be self-explanatory. You can choose the date (tickets are online up to 3 days in advance) and the time you want to catch the train. After this, you can pay online with your credit card and see the QR code of the tickets in the app.
Again: make sure that if you book tickets through the app, that you take a screenshot of this. The app often has no service which otherwise prevents you from showing your tickets. This will cause you to have to wait until everyone has shown their ticket before they start looking you up in the system by your passport. Therefore, always take a screenshot of the QR code so you can easily show it.
The slow boat from Huay Xai to Luang Prabang (or vice versa)
This is a very special form of transportation in Laos: the famous slow boat. In 2 days you sail from Huay Xai (the border with Thailand and base for the Gibbon Experience) to Luang Prabang, or of course the other way around. This is a fantastic experience where you dream away while enjoying the views of the Mekong and Lao rural life. Read all about the crazy slowboat in Laos in this blog.
Flying to and from Laos
There are few flights to and from Laos. Not surprising when you consider that Laos is visited by most travelers as part of a longer trip through Southeast Asia. This is why flying to and from Laos is very expensive. We are not fans of flying anyway, so we recommend entering Laos by land and also traveling out by land.
From Thailand, for example, you can easily travel to Huay Xai via Chiang Rai. From Cambodia you can travel to the most southern tip of Laos, Don Det, and from Vietnam there are several border crossings to Thakhek, Savannakhet, Luang Prabang, Pakse and Vientiane, among others.
Learn more about Laos
Want more inspiration for your trip through Laos? Then check out our complete itinerary for Laos here or read all Laos articles here. Have fun!
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