The Southern Bus Station in Vientiane| Southern Bus Station

The Southern Bus Station in Vientiane, Laos is located on 13th Southern Road, about 20-30 minutes from the town. Despite the name, the Station is not physically located south of Vientiane. Instead, all buses traveling to the south and neighboring countries such Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia depart from this terminal. One can take the local bus No. 29 for 2,000 kip from Vientiane Central Bus Station or take a Song Thaew at the station behind the University of Health Sciences next to the Central Bus Station on Khouvieng Road for 5,000-10,000 kip to reach the Station. A Tuk-Tuk to the terminal from town costs around 60,000 kip and by Taxi 90,000 kip. Generally, when a VIP or tourist bus is purchased, the price of the ticket includes free transfer to the Station.

Southern Bus Terminal 

The Southern Bus Terminal (Dong Dok) is the main departure point for all destinations in southern Laos and international services to Vietnam and Cambodia. It's located 11 km north of the downtown core, straight up Kaysone Phomvihane Avenue from Patuxai monument. Tuk tuks will ask for 50,000 kip to take you there. An alternative is to take the green and white city bus #29 from the Central Bus Station for 4,000 kip. Buying your bus ticket from a travel agency will cost more but again, it includes a transfer to the station. 

Sample destinations include:

Attapeu (local bus) departs 09:30, 17:00, costs 140,000 kip

Attapeu (VIP) departs 20:30, costs 200,000 kip

Pakse (local bus) departs 10:00,12:30,13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, takes 12 hours, 110,000 kip

Pakse (Express) departs at 18:00, 19:00, 20:00, takes 10 hours, costs 140,000 kip

Pakse (VIP) departs at 20:30, 21:00, takes 12 hours, costs 170,000 kip

Salavan (local bus) departs at 16:30, costs 120,000 kip

Salavan (express, via Pakse) departs at 19:00, 19:30, costs 150,000 kip.

Savannakhet (local bus) departs at 05:30, 6:00, 06:30, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, takes 10 hours, costs 100,000 kip

Savannakhet (VIP) departs at 20:30, takes 8 hours, costs 120,000 kip

Sekong (local bus) departs at 04:30, costs 120,000 kip

Thakhek departs at 04:00, 05:00, 06:00, 12:00, 13:00, takes 5 hours, costs 60,000 kip 

Services to Vietnam:

Vinh departs 19:00, takes 16 hours, costs US$20

Hanoi departs 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, takes 22 hours, costs US$25

Hue departs 19:30, takes 12 hours, costs US$20

Danang departs 18:30, 19:00, 20:00, takes 16 hours, costs US$25

Ho Chi Minh City departs 19:30, costs US$60

Quang Nam departs at 19:30, costs US$26

Quang Binh departs at 19:30, costs US$20

Services to Cambodia

Phnom Penh (sleeper) departs at 20:30, takes 24 hours, costs US$45

Siem Reap (sleeper) departs at 20:30, takes 25 hours, costs US$50 

Bangkok VIP Bus 

Any guesthouse or travel agency can sell you a ticket on the overnight VIP bus or sleeper to Bangkok. The bus is quite comfortable with air-con, reclining seats, movies and WiFi, and the price includes a stop for supper. You'll be picked up at your guesthouse around 17:00, departure is at 18:00, a change buses at the border and you arrive in Bangkok around 06:00 the next morning. Agency price:

To Airport (VIP) takes 12 hours, costs 200,000 kip

To Morchit Bus Station, takes 12 hours, (VIP) costs 200,000 kip (VIP sleeper) costs 250,000 kip (VIP sleeper direct) costs 270,000 kip

Minibuses to Vang Vieng

Book a seat for the minivan to Vang Vieng through your guesthouse or a travel agency. The ticket includes pick-up from your guesthouse. Departs at 10:00, 14:00, takes 3 hours and costs 60,000 kip. Travelling to Vang Vieng by minivan is an hour faster than the bus but it can be quite cramped.