Getting from Vietnam to Laos is popular way that many tourists plan. Nowadays, traveling from Vietnam to Laos can be done by air, train and road. However, to make sure to move conveniently at a suitable price, you should not skip some tips in this article.
1. By plane:
Air routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh have Vietnam Airlines and Lao Airlines to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, but the ticket fee is really high. It costs about $123 per ticket. So with a cheap travel trip at a cheap price, the choice of passenger car bed is very reasonable, affordable and you can enjoy beautiful view on the road.
2. By train:
There are no direct trains to Laos, however we can take advantage of the railway system in Vietnam to go down travel time by bus.
– From Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC):
You can buy train tickets to Da Nang, Hue, or Vinh and from these locations you can buy bus tickets straight through Laos by road (refer to the information in the road below).
+ From HCMC to Danang
+ From HCMC to Hue
+ From HCMC to Vinh
– From Hanoi:
The nearest way is travelling to Vinh, then drive to Ha Tinh and then to Laos via Cau Treo International Border Gate. There is buses daily depart from Hanoi city.
3. By passenger car:
In addition, you can go by road and cross the border of Vietnam – Laos. There are currently seven main international border gates, open from 07:00 am to 05:00 pm daily:
– Sop Hun -Tay Trang (Dien Bien Phu) border crossing: There are daily buses from Dien Bien Phu to Muang Khua departing at 05:30 am.
– Na Meo – Nam Xoi (Thanh Hoa) border crossing
– Nam Can Border Gate in Nghe An – Nam Khan: This border is very popular for road travelers. From Vinh, there is a bus to Phonsavan (about 403 km and takes 12 hours by car) departing at 6 am on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
The ticket price is about $6.5. Furthermore, there are buses to Luang Prabang (about 690 km) departing at 6:00 am on Wednesday and Sunday. It costs about $14.
– Cau Treo Border crossing (Ha Tinh) – The Nam Phao: This border gate is another option of the road travelers. Cau Treo border crossing is not far from Vinh city (about 100 km).
– Na Phao – Cha Lo Border Crossing Point (Quang Binh)
– Lao Bao Border Gate (Quang Tri) – Den Savanh Lao Border: This is the first border gate between Laos and Vietnam opening to international visitors. It is very popular for a long time, but now, there are various gates that tourists can go through. Therefore, it is no longer a popular gate for tourists as before, although it is still a gateway for us to Laos.
– The Bo Y border (Kon Tum) – Phou Keua: At Ngoc Hoi, you can take the car through the Bo Y border, from here you can catch the car Attapeu.
4. By bus:
In addition, you can take the bus, the main bus routes through the two main gate is Lao Bao – Den Savanh & Cau Treo – Nam Phao with the car from the big cities such as Ho Chi Minh city (HCMC), Da Nang, Hue, Quang Tri, Vinh, Hanoi and to Pakse, Savannakhet, Vientiane and Luang Prabang.
– From HCMC:
HCMC – Vientiane: This is not the kind of passenger car with beds, which is like a passenger car, but they are mainly for the people who go shopping.
Some bus companies in HCMC:
• Binh Minh:
9/8 Phan Huy Ich, Ward 14, Go Vap District (near Quang Trung)
Phone number:
0989.475.787
Mr. Son: 0918.714.679
Mr. Phuoc: 0918.770.397
Ms. Trang (in Laos): 0085.6208.446.699
• Minh Vu:
Phone number: 020.999.118.38 /020.564.245.55 /020.55130.550/ 84.989.961.239
Departs at 5 am from Monday to Saturday and Sunday
– From Danang:
Every day there is a bus to Laos, starting at 8 am daily, according to Da Nang – Hue – Dong Ha – Lao Bao route (road 9)
Bus operators from Da Nang:
• Yen Hai:
From Danang, departing at 08:00 am every week and from Vientiane to 06:00 pm every Wednesday.
Vehicle number: UN-2711 & UN-5679.
Phone number: 0937.479.647 /0168.378.1314/ 0905.37.8637
Phone number in Laos: 0206.96.77.97/ 0205.03.04.05/ 0207.47.02.47
• Huong Son:
The bus departs from Danang at 8:00 am every Friday and from Vientiane on Sunday at 06:00 pm.
Vehicle number: UN-3789.
Phone number: 0511.3652.227 /0194.081.105/0905.677.700
Phone number in Laos: (00856) 205.694378
– From Hue:
Every day there are three bus trips to Laos but do not think there are many trips that are good. Arrive in Vientiane at 4:00 pm the following day (including time to travel about 23 hours and wait time at the border). This trip will go to Cau Treo Border Gate and to Vientiane (Hue – Dong Ha – Ha Tinh – Cau Treo – Vientiane/ Road 8).
Some trustworthy travel agencies:
• Anh Tri Tourist Office:
No. 14 Hung Vuong Street, Hue City
Phone number: 054.3845.372 /054.3801.675 /0919.511.044
• Hương Binh Tourist Company:
No. 42 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hue city
Phone number: 054.383.1101 or 0905.303.575
• Hanh Cafe/Ha Phuong Tourist Company:
No. 62 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hue city
Phone number: 054.3837.279 or 054.3837.289
• Sinh Cafe (Hue Branch Office):
Kios number 04, 12 Hung Vuong, Hue city
Phone number: 054.3845.022 or 054.3826.867
• Diep Tran Tourist Co/Trekking Travel (Office in Hue):
No. 66 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Hue
Phone number: 54.3829.839 /054.3830.684 / 0914.193.624
– From Vinh:
There are two bus trips per week. Ticket price may vary from time to time depending on the car operator. The bus departs from Vinh at 6:00 on Wednesday and Thursday and from Luang Prabang on Thursday and Sunday every week.
– From Hanoi:
Moving from Hanoi is easier, as it is closer to Laos. Therefore, from Hanoi, there is a wide range of bus operators.
• Hanoi – Vientiane: $15.5 – $17.5, about 850 km, through Cau Treo border crossing (Vinh). Time goes from 06:30 pm to 04:00 pm the next day.
• Hanoi – Savannakhet: about 900 km. Time goes from 06:30 pm to 06:00 pm the next day. There are three places to catch the bus:
+ Camel Company: 3A Nguyen Gia Thieu (near the Lao Embassy)
+ Passenger car company 14: 35B Nguyen Huy Tuong
+ Nuoc ngam bus station
The cheapest way is to take the local bus, which means you pick up the car to the gate then pick up motorbike taxi from the Vietnam border – Laos border, then from Laos border, pick up the bus to the provinces of Laos. However, this method is quite difficult and sometimes it takes our time, because we cannot know the exact departure time of the car here.
5. By self-drive car:
Traveling from Vietnam to Laos is now quite simple. In addition to the popular means of air or passenger car, many Vietnamese tourists choose to drive their own car, which is cheap, active. In addition, we can have a lot of interesting experiences.
– What to do before leaving:
Firstly, you need to go to the Department of Communications and Public Works to carry out the procedures of Vietnam-Laos traffic (in Hanoi, Cao Ba Quat or Tran Phu street in Ha Dong district). On entry or exit, the customs must submit or produce the following documents:
+ An application for a license for the Viet Nam-Laos Transit Authority for means certified by the People’s Committee of the commune or ward where the individual has registered his/her residence
+ Certificate of vehicle registration (must be the owner or company car, otherwise the owner must ask the person signing car registration)
+ Certificate of technical safety and environmental protection
+ Driving license
+ Certificate of civil liability of the motor vehicle owner
+ Write the name of the border gate, write down all the border gates, if you write correctly, you just write about 4 border gate, for example in Vietnam, write down the bridge: Cau Treo, Lao Bao, Nam Can, Cha Lo,…
– Other notes:
+ You should buy insurance for your car, about 30,000 Kip right at the border. Laos is compulsory to buy civil insurance as in Vietnam, and you must obey the traffic law.
+ In Laos, the street is quite quiet, no hiccup, you should know how to participate in traffic without the use of horns, only use when necessary
+ Be careful with your vehicle, avoid using strangers or near the vehicle. Currently in Laos and border areas, the situation of opiate trading is quite complicated. Bad guys can take advantage of your means to accidentally turn you into a carrier of the forbidden goods.
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