Dien Bien to Luang Prabang

By joint bus and train service the journey from Dien Bien to Luang Prabang is scheduled to take from 9 to 12 hours depending upon which service you take.

Bus Times from Dien Bien to Luang Prabang

There are currently 2 services a day from Dien Bien to Luang Prabang available to book online.

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Dien Bien Bus Stop

HT Travel services from Dien Bien to Luang Prabang depart from Dien Phu Bus Station.

Luang Prabang Final Stop

HT Travel services from Dien Bien to Luang Prabang terminate at Luang Prabang Railway Station.

About Travel to Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang was Laos’s former capital city and, until the establishment of a communist government in 1975, the home of the Laotian royal family.

Remote Location

Despite gaining UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 1995, relatively few leisure travellers started visiting Luang Prabang until 2013 when an upgrade of the local airport was completed and in 2014 with the completion of the first sealed road connecting Luang Prabang to current capital city, Vientiane.

The area around Luang Prabang is sparsely populated and often difficult to access except by river and partially sealed roads. This remoteness adds to the charm of the city. It’s part of its character.

History of Luang Prabang

Archaeological finds suggest human settlements have existed in and around Luang Prabang for at least 10,000 years. These small settlements are believed to have expanded into a town during the 7th Century with an influx of immigrants from China, particularly from the Tai ethnic group.

In 1353 a newly unified Kingdom of Laos was established, and Luang Prabang was designated as the first capital of that Kingdom. The capital was moved to the much less isolated Vientiane in 1563, however, Luang Prabang remained the home of the royal family. More than 600 years of royal patronage has facilitated the construction of a royal palace and dozens of temples, and these are the city’s major tourist attractions.

Hotels in Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang has over 300 hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, which is a considerable number compared to the city’s permanent population, which is around 50,000. The competition for customers has not, however, had the effect of keeping room rates low. Luang Prabang is probably the most expensive city in Laos in terms of tourist accommodation.

Unlike most other secondary cities in South East Asia, it’s virtually impossible to find anything but the most basic of private rooms for less than the equivalent of $20 USD a night. Beds in shared dormitories are available for $5 USD, however, for a private room in a 3 star standard hotel you need to pay at least $35 USD to $40 USD a night, and from $60 USD a night for a stay in a heritage building. For a stay in one of the city’s internationally branded hotels room rates can be as high $300 USD a night.

What to See in Luang Prabang

There are lots of places to visit in Luang Prabang, many of them temples, however the ten most interesting places to visit are generally considered to be:

• Wat Xieng Thong
• Haw Kham Royal Palace Museum
• Phou Si Hill
• Wat Visounarath
• UXO Lao Visitors Centre
• The Old Bridge
• Wat Mahathat
• Luang Prabang Night Market
• Wat Aham
• Wat Meun Na

Other Attractions in the Area

There are two major tourist attractions in the area around Luang Prabang which you can easily visit on a day trip from the city, Pak Ou Caves and Kuang Si Falls.

The Pak Ou Caves are located 28 km by road to the north west of Luang Prabang. Many visitors choose to travel there on one of the tour boats which depart from the centre of Luang Prabang. From Luang Prbang it takes 2 hours travelling upstream along the Mekong River to reach the caves and just 1 hour coming back.

There are two caves, each containing thousands of statues of the Lord Buddha. The caves have been used as a place of worship for several hundred years, and some of the statues left by the worshippers are believed to be over 300 years old.

The Kuang Si Falls are located 30 km by road to the south west of Luang Prabang. There are three sets of falls each with a pool beneath which you can swim in. On the way from the road to the falls there is also an animal sanctuary, Tat Kuang Si Bear Rescue Centre. The sanctuary is funded by charitable donations and the very small entry fee charged to visit the sanctuary.