Udon Thani to Vientiane — International Bus ฿155, Airport Vans, Train via Nong Khai, Border Steps (September 2026)
Udon Thani airport is the cheap way into Laos: low-cost flights from Bangkok, then the Naluang international bus (07:00 and 09:00, ฿155, 2 hours to Talat Sao) or an airport van straight to Vientiane (฿470–700). The morning train from Udon crosses the bridge to Khamsavath for ฿117–333. Visa, bridge and what each option costs.
Quick answer: fly Bangkok → Udon Thani on a low-cost carrier, then either the Naluang international bus from Udon's bus terminal 1 to Vientiane Talat Sao (07:00, 09:00 and later, ฿155, 2 hours including the border) or a van from the airport through to the city (RG Adventure, ฿470–700, 2–3 hours, pick-up at arrivals). It undercuts a direct Bangkok–Vientiane flight by ฿1,500–3,000. E-visa first, or US$40 cash.
The route in numbers
| Udon Thani → Vientiane | checked September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Distance | 55 km to the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, 20 km beyond to the centre |
| International bus (Naluang) | Udon bus terminal 1 → Talat Sao, Vientiane · 07:00, 09:00, then through the day · ฿155 · 2 h with the border |
| Airport van (RG Adventure) | arrivals hall → Vientiane · 07:30 (฿468), 08:30 (฿621), 12:30 (฿706) · 2–3 h |
| Train | Udon Thani → Khamsavath · 06:11 (sleeper train, air-con class ฿333) · 06:39 (third class, ฿117) · both arrive 09:05 |
| Flights Bangkok → Udon | Thai AirAsia, Nok Air, Thai Lion from Don Mueang · 1 h 5 min · ฿1,000–1,700 booked ahead (12Go lists ฿3,900–4,700 close to the date) |
| Visa | Lao e-visa or on arrival, about US$40 cash + $1 after 16:00 / weekends · exit tax 10,000 kip when leaving Laos overland |
Why Udon Thani
Vientiane's own airport has few low-cost flights and Bangkok–Vientiane fares start around ฿3,000. Udon Thani, 55 km from the border, has a dozen low-cost flights a day from Don Mueang at ฿1,000–1,700 when booked ahead, and the ground leg costs ฿155–700. For anyone not in a hurry it is the standard budget route into Laos, and the airport is set up for it: van counters in arrivals, and the bus terminal a 15-minute ride away.
Option 1: international bus
Naluang's Thai–Lao bus leaves Udon Thani bus terminal 1 (in town, Sai Uthit Road) at 07:00 and 09:00, with further departures through the day (12Go lists the 07:00 and 09:00 at ฿155). It stops at Nong Khai, crosses the bridge with everyone off for both immigration checks, and ends at Talat Sao bus station in central Vientiane about two hours after leaving. From the airport, a taxi or songthaew to terminal 1 is ฿100–150 and 15 minutes; allow an hour between landing and the bus.
Option 2: airport van through to Vientiane
RG Adventure and similar operators sell a van from Udon airport arrivals to Vientiane with the border included: 07:30 (฿468), 08:30 (฿621) and 12:30 (฿706) on the September listing, 2–3 hours, drop-off at Talat Sao or, on some tickets, your hotel. The higher fares are the hotel-drop and small-group versions. Simplest option with luggage or children.
Option 3: train
Udon Thani is on the Bangkok–Nong Khai line, and since 2024 the trains continue over the bridge to Vientiane Khamsavath. Two morning services: the through sleeper from Bangkok passes Udon at 06:11 (air-con classes from ฿333 for this short hop) and a third-class train leaves at 06:39 (฿117); both reach Khamsavath at 09:05 after the 40-minute immigration stop at Nong Khai. Khamsavath is 7 km from the centre — taxi 80,000–100,000 kip. Cheap and scenic, but the morning-only timing rarely suits an arriving flight.
The border, whichever way you go
- Thai exit at the bridge (bus and van) or on the Nong Khai platform (train).
- Lao entry: e-visa printout, or the on-arrival counter with a passport photo and about US$40 in dollars (baht accepted at a worse rate); $1 extra after 16:00 and at weekends. Twenty minutes normally, longer when a bus and a train arrive together.
- Bus and van passengers walk through both checkpoints with their bags and reboard on the far side.
Which one for you
- Landing at Udon before 08:00 → the 09:00 Naluang bus (cheapest with a comfortable margin).
- Landing later, or with bags → airport van.
- Coming up from Isan by train → stay on the train to Khamsavath.
- Returning → Talat Sao buses to Udon run through the day; the last useful one for an evening flight leaves mid-afternoon. Remember the 10,000 kip exit tax.
Flights
Compare fares across all airlines in one search (prices depend on the date; last-minute is the expensive way): Bangkok → Udon Thani
Where to stay
Compare hotels and guesthouses along this route (prices change by season; check the live price on the booking page): Vientiane · Udon Thani
Sources and last check
Checked 15 September 2026 against: 12Go listings for Udon Thani → Vientiane (Naluang bus times and fare, RG Adventure van times and fares, train times and fares, flight fares for a mid-September date); seat61.com's Laos page (updated 6 June 2026) for the border procedure, visa fees and exit tax. Airport-to-terminal taxi fares and advance flight fare ranges are traveller-reported figures, not official tariffs.