Every day there are a lot of travelers making the well known 2-day-1- night slow boat journey to Luang Prabang from Houay Xai at the border with Thailand. For various reasons, this means of transport is especially common within the backpacking community, however, not all of travelers completely like it. Indochina tours Laos
Apparently the scenery along the Mekong River is incredibly charming and that would have been the only motive that might have pushed some people on that boat, unfortunately it maybe not enough to make you join the masses and witness what all the hype is about for yourselves.
Bus is an alternative to slow boat to Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang bus station-source: internet
Luang Prabang’s bus situation in can get a little confusing. In Luang Prabang, there are two main bus stations, one serving destinations to the south and the other serving destinations to the north. Being the transport generally preferred by travelers, minivans leave from a separate station near Luang Prabang southern station, technically augmenting the number of bus stations to three.
Ticket price
Bus departures are subject to random changes to point of departure and time, and to get to the bus station, this is combined with the ever-rising fee meaning that, arranging transport through a tour agency or your guesthouse and paying a small commission usually equals out unless you are a diehard do-it-yourselfer or in a group.
Bus is an alternative to slow boat -source: internet
The price of the ticket booked through a third party will include transportation to the correct bus station and pick-up service from your guesthouse. The prices of minivans quoted at the minivan station are inclusive of hotel pick-up service and if you are making your own way to the station, a discount is not provided.
Arrive as early as possible as transport, particularly minivans, is often filled to capacity and then some. Arriving early means that you will have a better seat option and will not end up squished in the front right next to the driver. If you do not want to sit there until departure time, to reserve your seat, leave a bag of non-valuable belongings on it.
Use Kiew Lot Sai Nuan station for traffic to and from the north (Northern Bus Terminal T: (071) 252 729)
Northern Bus Station -source: internet
- Huay Xai (local): departs at 5.30pm, takes 13-15 hours and costs 120,000 kip.
- Huay Xai (VIP): departs at 7pm, takes 12-15 hours and costs 145,000 kip.
- Udomxai (local): departs at 09am, 12:00pm, 4pm, 30pm, takes 5-6 hours and costs 55,000 kip.
- Sam Neua: departs at 5.30pm, costs 140,000 kip, takes 14-16 hours
- Luang Nam Tha (local): departs at 09am, 30pm, takes 9-10 hours and costs 90,000 kip.
- Phongsali: departs at 5.30pm, takes 14-16 hours and costs 130,000 kip
- Nong Kiaow: departs at 09am, 11am, 1pm, takes 3 hours and costs 40,000 kip.
Sleeping bus from Vientiane to Luang Prabang -source: internet
Use Naluang station for traffic to and from the South (Southern Bus Terminal T: (071) 232 066)
- Vang Vieng (Express): departs at 09.30am, takes 6-7 hours and costs 105,000 kip.
- Vang Vieng (VIP): departs at 12:30pm, takes 6-7 hours and costs 130,000 kip.
- Vientiane (Express) & Vang Vieng: departs at 06.30am, 07.30am, 08.30am, 11am, 2pm, 30pm, 6.30, takes 8-10 hours and costs 110,000 kip.
- Vientiane (VIP) & Vang Vieng: departs at 08am, 09am and 7.30pm, takes 8 hours and costs 130,000 kip.
- Xieng Khuang/Phonsavan (express): departs at 08.30am, takes 10 hours and costs 95,000 kip.
Minibuses (Naluang Mini Bus station: (071) 212 979)
Some of those buses are regular tourists buses, others are minivans. tours in Laos
Bus from Vietnam to Luang Prabang -source: internet
- Chiang Mai: departs at 6pm, takes 18 hours and costs 265,000 kip
- Hanoi: departs at 6pm, takes 24 hours and costs 350,000 kip
- Vientiane: departs at 08am, takes 9 hours and costs 155,000 kip
Based on best case scenarios, the above trip times are estimates. Delays are frequently caused by landslides and other hiccups, particularly during the wet season.
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