Welcome to my journey on the overnight bus from Hanoi, Vietnam to Vientiane, Laos! This was quite the trip, and we knew that going in. The bus ride is 22 hours so be prepared. My friend, Kayla, and I traveled Vietnam for 6 weeks, and her visa in Vietnam had run out. Last minute, we needed to figure out how we would get to Laos. The best option was for us to take the overnight bus. Throughout our journey to Laos, I documented every little part of the way so I could help others in a similar situation. Although it was long, I did find it comfortable and was pleased with the overall experience for the price. So, let’s get into it!
Booking Your Overnight Bus
We booked our bus through a local travel agent, Sister La Journeys in Hanoi. The cost was 950,000 ₫ (about US $36) per person. That aligns well with recent pricing. Current ticket prices for economy sleeper buses from Hanoi to Vientiane generally range from $30 to $40 (around 700,000–1,050,000 ₫). We booked through a travel agent as there are a lot more perks of what is included. Additionally, we were very adamant about having beds with curtains on our bus. The travel agent did a great job of listening to our needs and ensuring that we would be satisfied with our experience. You can book your tickets online at 12GO, but we learned that is more of a toss-up on what type of bus you get. Many of those buses are recliner chairs versus beds. Also, when you book with an agent, they ensure that you get transfers from your accommodation to the bus station.
Getting a Laos Visa
This is very important! Since 2020, you must obtain your Laos visa before crossing by land. We visited the Laos embassy in Hanoi prior to booking our bus ticket. It was super easy, and the staff were really kind. Our visas took about 24 hours. They cost about 1,100,000 ₫, which is approximately US $40. To apply, you must leave your passport there and bring a passport sized photo. In general, I recommend bringing passport sized photos when traveling regardless, as they are nice to have on hand if you’re in a pinch.
Recent updates confirm that the Visa on Arrival (VOA) or e-Visa is available and valid for 30 days. In short: getting your visa ahead of time is a must. Note that the visa will take 24 hours for them to process. The people at the office were super kind and really helpful. The visas were put in the passports and were not a separate document.
Getting to the Overnight Bus
Our travel agent arranged a pick-up for us from our accommodation. They picked us up by motorbike and dropped us off at a tourist bus stop. We waited there a while with two other people and then ended up sharing a taxi with two others to the main bus station. This was roughly a 30-minute drive. Once there, we worked together to locate our bus. As you see in the image, the bus number was 4555 and that was the license plate number. We arrived there fairly early, so we had to wait an hour to actually get on the bus, but we were grateful to be early rather than late. They put our luggage under the bus. Oddly enough, they also were transporting a variety of live animals that were in crates near our luggage. Regardless, we secured our spot in a double bed area toward the back of the bus.
First Impressions: On the Road
We boarded the bus at 5 pm. Although we’d been told the bus would depart at 6 pm, to our surprise, it left around 5:15 pm. My friend and I shared a bed together. The bus layout was simple: single beds on the right, doubles on the left. We thought it would be cramped since it was a “local bus,” but in reality, the beds were spacious, and came with two blankets, two pillows, working charging plugs, and ample leg room. A pleasant surprise!
There was no bathroom onboard, and our first stop came at 9 pm. Make sure you bring toilet paper. A few passengers relieved themselves at the roadside, so if you have an emergency, the driver will pull over. We did not stop as often as we had anticipated, but it was enough to not feel too uncomfortable.
Border Formalities: Vietnam Exit & Laos Entry
Around 10 pm, we received an entry border form for Laos, where we filled out passport and visa details. Most of the bus went quiet after that, everyone dozed off.
At 6:30 am, we were woken up for a stop that turned into a combined bathroom break and immigration check. We weren’t sure where to present our passports. There wasn’t any communication in English from the bus drivers so we felt fairly uninformed for most of the trip and the immigration process. Eventually, a fellow passenger who spoke a bit of English explained that we needed to enter an immigration building to receive our exit stamp from Vietnam. It was 6:50 am at the time and we were not allowed to enter until 7 am so we had to wait. You must pay 50,000 ₫ (about US $1.80) for the Vietnam exit stamp, bring cash for this!!
Then came a long walk into Laos. There we gave our form and passport to Laos immigration, who stamped us in. The stamp clearly indicated our permitted length of stay, which turned out to be 30 days, even though embassy documentation suggested 60 days. That’s the official length—30 days maximum— for VOA and e-Visas. Make sure to plan accordingly with the legal length you can stay.
After exiting the gate, another officer checked our stamp near a small stand, and then, just like that at 8 am, we were officially in Laos!!
Final Leg: To Vientiane
Right next to immigration was a tiny shop. We waited there for about 30 minutes before the bus returned and we continued toward Vientiane. Everyone was back on the bus around 8 am and then we were on the road again.
We had a lunch/bathroom stop at noon, but we did not get any food since we had snacks and no Lao kip. Pro tip: bring plenty of your own snacks and water, bathroom and food stops are infrequent.
Another short break came around 3 pm, when we were about two hours out from Vientiane. Bathroom breaks were rare so we always got off the bus. Some rest stops had toilet paper and some didn’t, so make sure you have some with you at every rest stop.
Arrival & Reflection
We arrived at around 4:30 pm (the next day), at the Southern Bus Terminal. The drop-off point was a bit farther from city center than we preferred, but we easily got a Loca Taxi (similar to Uber) into town.
Total trip length? 25.5 hours. It was LONG, but relaxing, budget-friendly, scenic, and full of character.
Is the Overnight Bus Worth it?
At the end of the day, whether you take an overnight bus is based on your priorities and how you prefer to travel. Even though the journey was long with limited restroom breaks, we made the most of it by journaling, reading, and just trying to enjoy the day. It’s a small space and an exhausting journey, but it’s also what you make of it. Personally, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with everything. I would definitely recommend booking with a travel agent and ensuring that your basic needs are met. Would I do this again? Probably not, but I am glad that my friend and I arrived to Vientiane, Laos safely and that we have this fun story to share!
