Getting there and away

Air

Vientiane's Wattay International Airport is 3.5km west of town. There is a US$10 departure tax for international flights and a 5,000 kip departure tax for domestic flights.

At least five mainline carriers serve Wattay International Airport, including the national carrier Lao Airlines, AirAsia, THAI, China Eastern and Vietnam Airlines.

International destinations include:
Bangkok (THAI, Lao Airlines)
Chiang Mai (Lao Airlines)
Hanoi (Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines)
Ho Chi Minh City (Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines)
Kuala Lumpur (AirAsia)
Phnom Penh (Lao Airlines, Vietnam Airlines)
Siem Reap (Lao Airlines)
Kunming (Lao Airlines, China Eastern)

Domestic destinations include Luang Prabang, Pakse, Huay Xai, Udomxai, Luang Nam Tha, and Sayabouri. Flights to smaller places are cancelled if there are not enough passengers.

Lao Airlines Head Office
02 Pangkham Rd, Vientiane
T:(021) 212 050-054;(021) 212 727
F:(021) 212 065
http://www.laoairlines.com

Bus

Three major bus stations serve Vientiane.

The Central bus station behind Talat Sao caters to local provincial towns and is the main bus station for all government run services to other destinations in Laos. Tourists are often told to go to the other main bus stations out of town for long distance services, which is definitely the best option, but if you want to get on a bus here you can. Just be aware that these are the worst buses for long distance journeys. Many services also stop at the other bus stations anyway to pick up. Buses to Nong Khai and Udon Thani in Thailand also leave from here.

Locally, you can easily get to Wattay International Airport on bus #44 for 3,000 kip and both the Friendship Bridge and Buddha Park are served by bus #14 for 4,000 kip. Vang Vieng is about as far north as they go with buses departing every hour or so from 07:00 to 14:00. At 25,000 kip it is about half the price of the buses -- actually cramped minivans -- that are advertised and booked through guesthouses. The regular bus service will add about an hour to your trip and does not offer pickup from your lodging. You can also migrate south to Nong Khai or Udon Thani in Thailand with buses leaving about every two hours from 07:30 to 18:00 and costing 15,000 kip and 22,000 kip repectively. Heading even further south to Khon Kaen, there are two buses daily at 8:15 and 14:15 for 50,000kip.

Sample departures include:
Vang Vieng: seven departures daily between 07:00 and 14:00, 25,000kip, 4-5 hours.
Khon Kaen: departs at 08:15 and 14:15, 50,000 kip/180B, 4-5 hours.
Nong Khai: departs at 07:30, 09:30, 12:40, 14:30, 15:30, 18:00, 15,000 kip/55B, one hour.

The Northern bus station, 2km northwest of the centre (sometimes called the Luang Prabang bus station), is the main departure point for Luang Prabang and buses into China. Buses for Luang Prabang depart regularly from 7:00 to 19:30 -- about one every two hours. Express air-con buses depart three times -- 06:30, 09:00, and 19:30 for 100,000 kip and VIP service is offered only once at 8:00 for 115,000 kip. Four buses leave daily for the 10-hour trip to Phonsavan, but only the 7:30 and 19:00 have air-con and cost 100,000 kip. Regular buses to both destinations take about 10 to 11 hours but VIP buses are about two hours faster. This station also offers transport to destinations in southern China. Times and fares are posted in English.

Sample destinations include:
Luang Prabang (local bus): departs at 07:00, 09:30, 11:30, 14:00, 17:00, 90,000 kip.
Luang Prabang (Express): departs 06:30, 09:00, 19:30, 100,000 kip, ten hours.
Luang Prabang (VIP): departs 08:00, 115,000 kip, 8 hours.
Pakse (Express): departs at 20:30, 130,000 kip.
Pakse (VIP): departs at 19:00, 20:00, 110,000 kip
Savannakhet (VIP): departs at 20:00, 70,000 kip.

Service to China
Mengla, Ching Hung, Kunming: departs 14:00, 243,000 kip, 297,000 kip, 486,000 kip

VIP services to southern destinations in Laos depart from the northern bus station, but they also stop at the new Southern bus station, 8km north on Route 13 leading up from the Patuxai monument. This is now the main departure point for all destinations south of Vientiane. The Southern bus station has regular services to Tha Khaek, Savannakhet, Pakse, Salavan, Sekong and Attapeu, as well as all towns in between. The Southern bus station also provides limited service to Vietnam. Times and fares are posted in English.

Sample destinations include
Attapeu: departs at 09:30 and 17:00, costs 130,000 kip
Pakse (local bus): departs at 07:15, 10:00,12:30,13:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:00, 100,000 kip.
Pakse (Express): departs at 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, costs 130,000 kip.
Pakse (VIP): departs at 20:30, costs 150,000 kip.
Salavan (local bus): departs at 06:30, costs 100,000 kip.
Salavan (Express, via Pakse): departs at 07:15, 19:30, costs 110,000 kip.
Savannakhet (local bus): departs at 05:30, 06:30, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, costs 55,000 kip, takes 10 hours.
Savannakhet (VIP): departs at 05:15, 07:15, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, costs 70,000 kip, takes 8 hours.
Sekong (local bus): departs at 04:30, costs 100,000 kip.

Services to Vietnam
Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi: departs at 19:00, costs 160,000 kip, 170,000 kip, 200,000 kip.
Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City: departs at 19:00, costs 170,000 kip, 200,000 kip, 450,000 kip.

In addition to the standard non air-con buses there are also much better VIP and Express services which provide more comfort, many running overnight.

The Sabaidee Bus
The Sabaidee bus is a Thai-style VIP bus running between Vientiane and Bangkok with air-con, toilet, reclining seats and movies screened during the journey. Tickets are available at most guesthouses and travel agents around town. Leaves daily at 17:00 and arrives at Khao San Road at around 06:00.

Bus to Udon Thani
If you're flying out from Thailand's Udon Thani airport, a shuttle bus leaves from the Morning Market (Talaat Sao) to Udon Thani bus station. It costs 80B for the trip and once you're there you'll need to get a tuk tuk from the bus station to the airport. There are at least six departures a day between 07:30 and 16:30.

Private service to Vang Vieng
There is also another service that goes to Vang Vieng from the promenade on Fa Ngum Rd opposite Joe's guesthouse. It leaves at 10:30 and 14:30 each day, and costs 60,000 kip. Again, most of the guesthouses can provide information on the service.

Friendship Bridge and the crossing into Thailand
Arriving into Laos from Thailand, visas on arrival are issued at the Lao border crossing and are valid for 30 days. There are direct bus services between Nong Khai and Vientiane which provide all necessary transportation between the border posts and the town centres, but you can do it yourself if you want. The shuttle bus between the immigration posts is 20B and from the Lao side tuk tuks into Vientiane cost 50B/person. There are also taxis and minibus services for 300 and 350B respectively. The bridge is just a 10- to 15-minute walk from the Nong Khai train station, or a quick tuk tuk ride if you don't fancy carrying your bags.