There are 8 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 to Louang Namtha Airport, drive
best- Fly from Wattay International Airport (VTE) to Louang Namtha Airport (LXG)plane VTE - LXG
- Drive from Louang Namtha Airport (LXG) to Chiang Khongcar
3h 41m฿3,543–5,010Bus via Khon Kaen
cheapest- Take the bus from Vientiane Phanthavong Tour Office to Khon Kaenbus
- Take the bus from Khon Kaen to Chiang Raibus
18h฿988–1,757Train, Local Speedboat, drive, bus
- Take the train from Vientiane station to Luang Prabang stationtrain
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbengferry
- Drive from Pakbeng to Chiang Khong Bordercar
- Take the bus from Chiang Khong Border to Chiang Rai Town Transferbus
13h 32m฿2,796–3,691Bus, train, ferry, Local Bus
- Take the bus from Vientiane Transfer to Amari Van Vieng Hotel Transferbus
- Take the train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Naluang Terminaltrain
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xaiferry
- Take the bus from Chiang khong to Chiang Raibus
16h 2m฿1,613–2,046Drive 556.6 km
- Drive from Vientiane to Chiang Raicar 556.6 km
9h 35m฿3,367–4,864Fly to Luang Prabang International Airport, ferry
- Fly from Wattay International Airport (VTE) to Luang Prabang International Airport (LPQ)plane VTE - LPQ
- Take the ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xaiferry
10h 37m฿3,167–11,186Bus
- Take the bus from Nong Khai to Chaing Mai Arcade Bus Terminalbus
- Take the bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1bus CoolMuang Coffee - Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
18h 31m฿2,033–2,388Bus #2
- Take the bus from Morning market Talat Sao to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3bus Morning market Talat Sao - Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3
- Take the bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Raibus Chiang Mai
22h 45m฿1,445–1,645
Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) is to bus via Khon Kaen which costs ฿950 - ฿1800 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 ฿3500 - ฿5000.
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 556.6 km.
The best way to get from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) without a car is to bus via Khon Kaen which takes 18h and costs ฿950 - ฿1800.
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 557 km. It takes approximately 9h 35m to drive from Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State).
Book your Vientiane to Chiang Rai (State) bus tickets online with 12go.asia.
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.
- Website
- laoairlines.com
Flights from Wattay International Airport to Louang Namtha Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,400–3,400
Flights from Wattay International Airport to Luang Prabang International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ฿2,400–3,700
- Phone
- 021-891888
- Website
- facebook.com
Train from Vientiane station to Luang Prabang station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 53m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿550–1,000
- Schedules at
- baolau.com
- Book at
- booking.baolau.com
- Second Class
- ฿560–590
- First Class
- ฿900–1,000
- Phone
- 856071212979
Train from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang Naluang Terminal
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- Frequency
- Every 2 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿500–850
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Phone
- +66 2 225 1025
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from Chiang Khong Border to Chiang Rai Town Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 12m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿910
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ฿840
- Website
- Pai Friendly Tour
- Phone
- +66 2 285 1085
- [email protected]
- Website
- 12go.co
Bus from Vientiane Transfer to Amari Van Vieng Hotel Transfer
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿475
- Book at
- Yortdoy Travel
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
- ฿330–360
- Phone
- +66 2 936 3256
- Website
- Sombat Tour
Bus from Khon Kaen to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 13h
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿650–1,324
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Sombat Tour
- Express
- ฿650–800
- VIP
- ฿1,030
- 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
- ฿1,400–1,700
- Book at
- 12go.asia
- Phone
- +66 2 321 1121
- [email protected]
- Website
- Mekong Transfer
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ฿750–800
- Schedules at
- Mekong Transfer
- Phone
- +66 42 081 899
- [email protected]
- Website
- RG Adventure
Bus from CoolMuang Coffee to Chiang Rai Bus Terminal 1
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿430–1,200
- Schedules at
- RG Adventure
- Phone
- 086 065 5466
- [email protected]
- Website
- Tara Tour and Travel
Bus from Morning market Talat Sao to Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3
- Ave. Duration
- 18h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿1,000–2,400
- Schedules at
- Tara Tour and Travel
- Phone
- +66 5326 6480
- [email protected]
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
Bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- Frequency
- Every 4 hours
- Estimated price
- ฿400–600
- Book at
- 12 Go
- Website
- Green Bus Thailand
- Website
- hobomaps.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Pakbeng
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿301
- Schedules at
- hobomaps.com
- Website
- asocialnomad.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿421
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Ferry from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 45m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ฿421
- Schedules at
- facebook.com
Want to know more about travelling around the world?
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Getting to Milan from the airport, Is ride-sharing platform BlaBlaCar right for you?, and Train travel in Spain: A guide to Renfe - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Booking & Getting There
There are 408+ hotels available in Chiang Rai (State).










