Bus to Vientiane

[EricTh]

Is there a direct bus from Chiang Mai to Vientiane? If not, is there one to Nong Khai?

 

Which bus company do you recommend that is reasonably priced and comfortable.

 

 

Edited May 26, 2017 by EricTh

[JoePai]

Fly from CNX to Udon then catch a bus from Udon to Vientiane

[Rotweiler]

You take the bus to Nong Khai and take a songtau to the border or walk - the bus station is close to the border post.

[EricTh]

1 hour ago, Rotweiler said:

You take the bus to Nong Khai and take a songtau to the border or walk - the bus station is close to the border post.

 

What is the bus company's name that travels direct to Nong Khai from Chiang Mai?

[Rotweiler]

https://tickets.co.th/en/search?from_id=6327&to_id=9062&on=2017-05-30&passengers=1

 

or a dozen others obtinaing by doing a web search.

 

I prefer Nakhonchai Air personally.  Again, a search will get you timetables and prices.  While most appear to be direct buses, you may have to change buses in Khon Kaen.

 

Good trip.

 

[Rotweiler]

you still have difficulty arranging the trip, drip in at your nearest travel agency.  They will be happy to book the bus trip for you, usually with only a small yup-charge.

[howard ashoul]

You can't take bus from Chiang Mai directly to Vientanie. Because to board this bus you would have to have Laos visa already (they wont sell you ticket without visa). But you will be applying for visa on arrival, right? So no direct bus.

 

You can take bus to Nong Khai, then taxi to border, then bus over the bridge, then taxi to Vientanie.

[sanemax]

50 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

What is the bus company's name that travels direct to Nong Khai from Chiang Mai?

There is a bus company that leaves from CM Arcade terminal 1 that goes direct to Nong Khai once per day, in the evening for 900 Baht or you can get a more frequent bus to Udon thani for 600 Baht and get a mini bus from there to NK for 50 baht .

  There are (was ?) also direct minibuses from CM to NK, but its a cramped dangerous journey, not recommended

[EricTh]

thanks for all the suggestions. I will check it out at Arcade later.

[sanemax]

1 minute ago, EricTh said:

thanks for all the suggestions. I will check it out at Arcade later.

Also, if you get to Udon Thanni , there is a train to Vientiane , although you have to change train at the border .

   Its a nice little train journey , its the BKK / NK train 

But theres only a few everyday , theres one in the morning and if you get to UD on the night bus , you can walk to the train station and get the early morning train, the good thing about getting the train is that Thai immigration stamp you out on the train platform , you get the connecting train across the border bridge and Laos immigration stamp you in in Vientiane , by passing all other border controls .

    Although Vientiane train station is 22 Kilometers from the actual city

[EricTh]

Just now, sanemax said:

Also, if you get to Udon Thanni , there is a train to Vientiane , although you have to change train at the border .

   Its a nice little train journey , its the BKK / NK train 

But theres only a few everyday , theres one in the morning and if you get to UD on the night bus , you can walk to the train station and get the early morning train, the good thing about getting the train is that Thai immigration stamp you out on the train platform , you get the connecting train across the border bridge and Laos immigration stamp you in in Vientiane , by passing all other border controls .

    Although Vientiane train station is 22 Kilometers from the actual city

 

Thanks. 

 

By the way, any good budget comfortable hotel to recommend in Vientiane?

[sanemax]

28 minutes ago, EricTh said:

 

Thanks. 

 

By the way, any good budget comfortable hotel to recommend in Vientiane?

If you just need somewhere to get your head down for the night , basic with shower toilet and Wi-fi , cant go much wrong here , for 280 Baht a night

https://www.travelfish.org/accommodation_profile/laos/vientiane_and_surrounds/vientiane/vientiane/all/1114