By bus the journey from Vientiane to Luang Namtha is scheduled to take 20 hours, however, because of the length of the journey there is a high probability that the actual journey time might be different.
Bus Times from Vientiane to Luang Namtha
There are currently 2 bus services a day from Vientiane to Luang Namtha available to book online.
| Vientiane | Luang Namtha | Ticket | Company |
| 08:30 | 04:30 | $44 USD | Family Service |
| 09:30 | 05:30 | $41 USD | Naluang |
Buy Tickets from Vientiane to Luang Namtha
Use the Search Box below to buy your tickets from Vientiane to Luang Namtha.
Vientiane Bus Station
Naluang bus services from Vientiane to Luang Namtha depart from Vientiane’s Northern Bus Terminal.
Luang Namtha Bus Station
Both Family Service and Naluang bus services from Vientiane to Luang Namtha terminate at Luang Namtha Bus Station.
About Travel to Luang Namtha
Luang Namtha is a medium sized town with around 50,000 permanent located close to the border with China, in the north western corner of Laos. Luang Namtha is a remote destination that takes considerable effort to reach, particularly if you travel by road, but one which is rewarding in terms of the local countryside and culture.
Luang Namtha Town
There is an old town and a new town in Luang Namtha. The bus station is located to the south of the new town, which where is where the best hotels and restaurants for foreign visitors are located, as well as the offices of trekking companies like Green Discovery.
The range of hotels and restaurants in Luang Namtha is small, but considerably better than what is on offer in many other similar sized towns in Laos. The largest hotel in the town is the Dokchampa Hotel. The Chanlaya Guesthouse and Boat Landing Guesthouse are also among the most comfortable and accessible accommodation options for foreign visitors.
Travel to China
Travellers with the right visa can cross into China from Luang Namtha. The border at Boten is a 1 hour journey away by bus. There are regular services to Boten from Luang Namtha Bus Station.
There are also bus services which travel onto Mengla in China, which is the first Chinese city after crossing over the border at Boten and a place where you can stay overnight and board connecting bus services. We recommend enquiring at the bus station for times and tickets the day before you plan to travel. Bus services to Mengla tend to depart from Luang Namtha before 09:00.
Luang Namtha is located in a very rural part of Northern LaosTrekking in Luang Namtha
Luang Namtha is one of the most popular areas in Laos for trekking. There several different types of trekking experience you can have in Luang Namtha.
Close to the town itself there are a number of waterfalls and small villages inhabited by a range of different ethnic groups, often collectively described as ‘hill tribes’. The villages of the Akha people are particularly interesting as many of their homes are traditionally built raised up on tall wooden pillars made from tree trunks.
For longer treks you can book a guided trip with one of the local trekking companies, of which there are several with sales offices in Luang Namtha New Town. The most popular destination is the Nam Ha National Protected Area, where treks of up to 3 days are available. The Nam Ha National Protected Area covers a large area (over 2,000 square kilometres) with mountainous terrain and dense jungle.
Cycling
Luang Namtha is a great area to explore on a bicycle. There are plenty of places to visit near the town. The best cycling route, however, is from Luang Namtha to the border with China at Boten. It’s a 120 km long trip on fairly quiet roads that passes through some of the most beautiful scenery in Laos.