Vientiane to Hanoi tickets

	Distance 473 km (295.6 miles)
	Price range US$ 31-US$ 293
	Ride Duration Range 1h-1d 2h
	Earliest Departure 07:30
	Latest Departure 13:00
	Most Popular Operator KP 79 Transportation

Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.

Taking a bus from Vientiane to Hanoi

Fastest bus: 20h

Cheapest bus: US$ 31

The fastest: 20h

The cheapest: US$ 31

Pros

Bus stations in center

Cost effective

Easy contact with suppliers

Consistent travel duration

Free cancellations

Food/snacks/water provided

Cons

Border crossing preparations necessary

Few English speakers

Long journey

Once a day departure

Full day travel

POSSIBLE AMENITIES:

A/C

Wifi

Food

Charger

Blanket

Reclining Seats

The fastest: 1h

The cheapest: US$ 174

The available amenities for this trip are currently unavailable. For specific questions, please contact our customer service, available 24/7.

About the ride from Vientiane to Hanoi

Vientiane is a fun, laid back city to visit, but after a few days of exploring, you’ll see everything you should see. Don’t worry, though, your Asian adventure doesn’t have to end here. One bus ride away lies Vietnam, and its capital, Hanoi.

One of the most ancient capitals in the world will greet you with open arms, offering unique museums, ancient pagodas, tasty cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife.

When traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi, one of the best options is the sleeper bus. The ride lasts from 22 to 25 hours, with frequent stops for food and toilet breaks. Even though the bus stops often, you won’t be able to board the bus once it leaves Vientiane. Depending on the operator you choose for your journey, make sure to be ready on time for their pick up, or alternatively, be at the departure point half an hour before the scheduled departure time.

What to see when traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi

Taking a sleeping bus from Vientiane to Hanoi will take you on a 22-hour, 750 km (460 mile) drive across Laos and Vietnam. According to the schedule, the bus will make stops for food and to use the facilities every few hours, but it won’t be possible to hop off and explore beautiful spots along the way.

You’ll depart from Vientiane in the afternoon. As you leave the city, you’ll drive across rural Laos and, if you’re lucky enough, the sun won’t go down before you reach the beautiful conservation areas. Once the sun sets, you can use this time to rest, read, or even get some work done. It might be the perfect time to craft a blog post about your adventures in Thailand or Laos. For long overnight trips, it’s always useful to have some earbuds or noise-canceling headphones.

You’ll arrive at the Keoneua - Nampao (Lak Sao) border during the night. Make sure you have your passport and Vietnam visa ready. After the border crossing, you’ll be traveling across rural parts of Vietnam as you reach your final destination, Hanoi.

When you arrive into Hanoi, you can get a taxi to the city center if you’re in the mood for some sightseeing, or alternatively, you can go straight to your accommodation.

During your stay, you’ll learn that Hanoi is a very diverse and vibrant city; one that you can spend many days exploring. Start off with the Hanoi Old Quarter, where you can enjoy long walks in the narrow streets packed with traders, shops, and street food joints. While you’re there, don’t forget to visit some of Hanoi’s most significant temples and landmarks such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, The Perfume Pagoda, and the Temple of Literature.

Hanoi is also packed with museums and cultural sights. Other attractions to check out include the Hanoi Opera House, Water Puppet Theatre, and Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. Once you get tired of Hanoi’s hustle and bustle, there are many national parks that are just a few hours away from the city where you can unwind and get in touch with nature.

How to get from Vientiane to Hanoi

Taking a bus

Taking a sleeping bus is the most popular and convenient way to travel from Vientiane to Hanoi. The journey lasts somewhere between 22 and 25 hours. All buses are equipped for a comfortable and safe trip, with necessary amenities such as reclining seats, air conditioning, and toilets onboard. Depending on the operator you choose, you might be provided with additional snacks, a blanket, and drinking water. However, it’s always a good idea to bring some food and drinks with you, especially for longer trips like this one.

Crossing the border from Laos to Vietnam

The bus will pass the border crossing, Keoneua – Nampao (Lak Sao) international border. In order to pass the border, your passport must be valid for the next 6 months, and you must have the Vietnam/Laos Visa in advance.

In Hanoi, you’ll arrive at the Nuoc Ngam (International) Bus Station. This station is 7km outside of the city center. The fastest and cheapest way to reach the center from the bus station is by taxi. However, always agree a fixed price agreement with the taxi driver beforehand, and never accept the rides where the price is calculated on the meter. The taxi should cost between $5 and $7.

Companies Operating from Vientiane to Hanoi

Soutchai Travel

US$ 49

(80)

Family Service

1d 2h

US$ 41

(16)

Our travelers reviews about the ride from Vientiane to Hanoi

4.22

Based on 504 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from Vientiane to Hanoi

Asha K.

03.04.2025

Huyen Chau

Holly G.

11.03.2025

Huyen Chau

Ann D.

29.12.2024

Huyen Chau

Muriel B.

16.12.2024

Huyen Chau

Lydia S.

25.11.2024

Huyen Chau

The trip was ok, if anything I’d recommend you taking travel sickness tablets to make you sleep the whole time! Pros: - The journey took exactly 24hr as described - water was provided - The bus looked the same as the images - There was a toilet on the bus even though Bookaway said there wasn’t - bonus! - the air con was good and you can control if you want it on/off in your cabin. Cons: - A lot of roads are being reconstructed when you get into Vietnam and are quite scary! - the bed and blanket are not the cleanest and have hairs on, so bring a jumper! - going through the border was horrible and nobody tells you what to do, nobody speaks English and the people are quite intimidating! - make sure you take ur shoes off when entering bus to avoid being shouted at - the driver will just randomly open your curtains sometimes so be careful if getting changed! Tips: - Take spare KIP with you as you’ll need it when going through the border. Some people get charged for Laos exit stamp and then entry stamp into Vietnam (different to visa). We only got charged 50k kip each when entering Vietnam but I’d take a 100-150k each just to be safe! As some girls had to ‘borrow’ money of people as they don’t take thai baht etc. - When you get to bus station in Vientiane go to check in desk ‘8’ and show them your booking to retrieve your ‘ticket’ (a hand-written piece of paper) if travelling as a pair/couple try and request you are seated next to each other sideways rather than the row behind or above/beneath. - take snacks as the stops for food are not the best - take plenty of water & tissues & hand-sanitiser - take earphones with a jack to plug into tv if you want to watch any of the films/tv they play - after crossing the border you have to walk up a hill and into Vietnam and then through border control in a building (see pictire) & when you enter go to the left. - when you exit keep walking and u have to scan your hand luggage and then keep walking and find the bus parked around the corner to the right! Personally if I was to do again I’d fly, but it wasn’t too bad if you want to save some money, but roads are scary and border is corrupt 😅 Good Luck!

Popular stations and stops in Vientiane and Hanoi

Departure stations in Vientiane

Vientiane - Hotel List

Vientiane - Any hotel

Vientiane Southern Bus Station

Arrival stations in Hanoi

Nuoc Ngam Bus Station

Questions & Answers for Traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi

What is the most popular transportation service from Vientiane to Hanoi?

The most popular transportation service from Vientiane to Hanoi is Flight by Lao Airlines

What is the distance between Vientiane to Hanoi?

You can expect a journey of around 473 km (Air) when traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi.

What is the fastest transportation service from Vientiane to Hanoi?

Flight by Lao Airlines is the fastest transportation from Vientiane to Hanoi, completing the journey in 1h.

What is the cheapest transport option from Vientiane and Hanoi?

For budget-conscious travelers, Bus by HTX 277 Bus is the most affordable option from Vientiane to Hanoi, costing around US$ 31.

Who are the service providers on this route?

When traveling from Vientiane to Hanoi, you can choose from several provider, such as

BUS: Family Service | Huyen Chau | Soutchai Travel | Grouptour - obsolete

FLIGHT: Lao Airlines | Vietnam Airlines