There are 6 ways to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) by plane, car, train, ferry, or bus
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly, drive
best- Fly from Wattay International Airport (VTE) to Louang Namtha Airport (LXG)VTE - LXG
- Drive from Louang Namtha Airport (LXG) to Chiang Khong
3h 41m฿3,204–4,451Bus via Lampang
cheapest- Take the bus from Vientiane Talat Sao Station to Udon Thani
- Take the bus from Udon Thani to Lampang876
- Take the bus from Lampang to Chiang Rai
18h 4m฿880–1,924Train, Local Speedboat, drive, Local Bus
- Take the train from Vientiane station to Luang Prabang station
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng
- Drive from Pakbeng to Chiang khong
- Take the bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Rai
12h 23m฿2,125–3,177Drive 556.4 km
- Drive from Vientiane to Chiang Rai556.4 km
9h 35m฿3,192–4,611Bus
- Take the bus from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office to Khon Kaen
- Take the bus from Khon Kaen to Chiang Rai
18h฿920–1,089Bus #2
- Take the bus from Nong Khai to Chaing Mai Arcade Bus Terminal
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang RaiChiang Mai
19h 6m฿1,319–1,719
Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) is to bus which costs ฿900 - ฿1100 and takes 18h.
The fastest way to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) is to fly and drive which takes 3h 41m and costs ฿3200 - ฿4500.
No, there is no direct bus from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State). However, there are services departing from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office and arriving at Chiang Rai via Khon Kaen. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 18h.
The distance between Vientiane and Chiang Rai (State) is 537 km. The road distance is 556.4 km.
The best way to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) without a car is to bus which takes 18h and costs ฿900 - ฿1100.
It takes approximately 3h 41m to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State), including transfers.
Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) bus services, operated by Lao-Thai International Bus, depart from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office station.
Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) bus services, operated by Lao-Thai International Bus, arrive at Khon Kaen station.
Yes, the driving distance between Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) is 556 km. It takes approximately 9h 35m to drive from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State).
There are 387+ hotels available in Chiang Rai (State).
What companies run services between Vientiane, Laos and Chiang Rai (State), Thailand?
You can take a bus from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office to Chiang Rai via Khon Kaen in around 18h.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- laoairlines.com
Flights from Wattay International Airport to Louang Namtha Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,200–2,900
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Vientiane station to Luang Prabang station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿550–1,000
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ฿550–580
- First Class
- ฿900–1,000
Bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h
- Frequency
- Every 30 minutes
- Estimated price
- ฿65
Bus from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office to Khon Kaen
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿320–340
- Phone
- +66 2 936 3256
- Website
- sombattour.com
Bus from Khon Kaen to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿600–750
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
Bus from Lampang to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 49m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/sombat-tour
- Website
- https://www.sombattour.com/
- Phone
- 1490
- borkorsor@transport.co.th
- Website
- tcl99web.transport.co.th
Bus from Vientiane Talat Sao Station to Udon Thani
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿80–600
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/transport-co
- Website
- https://tcl99web.transport.co.th/Home
- Phone
- +66 56 720 720
- info@phetprasert.com
- Website
- phetprasert.com
Bus from Udon Thani to Lampang
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿550–950
- Schedules at
- phetprasert.com
- 13
- ฿600–750
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- servicecenter@greenbusthailand.com
- Website
- greenbusthailand.com
Bus from Lampang to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿250–420
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/greenbus
- Website
- https://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- ฿200–600
- Book at
- https://12go.asia/en/operator/greenbus
- Website
- https://www.greenbusthailand.com/website/
- Phone
- 084-2626003
- Website
- easybook.com
Bus from Nong Khai to Chaing Mai Arcade Bus Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,097
- Book at
- easybook.com
- Website
- hobomaps.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿296
- Schedules at
- hobomaps.com
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