Phnom Penh to Vientiane by bus
Vientiane lies 754 km (469 mi) north of Phnom Penh, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
A coach takes about 13 h 47 min including stops, over roughly 920 km (572 mi) of road.
| Phnom Penh | Vientiane | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Cambodia | Laos |
| Population | 1.6 million | 840,940 |
| Elevation | 20 m (66 ft) | 174 m (571 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+7 (Asia/Phnom_Penh) | UTC+7 (Asia/Vientiane) |
What changes when you arrive in Vientiane
Crossing from Cambodia into Laos: money changes from the Riels to the Kip (LAK); sockets are Euro, NEMA 1-15, NEMA 5-15, Schuko, Type E; the dialling code becomes +856; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648833 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648876.
Where to book buses from Phnom Penh to Vientiane
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Vientiane
Our booking partner lists 298 places to stay in Vientiane. Of the 256 with a star rating, the largest group is 3-star (138), and 19 are five-star. Across 102 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.1 out of 10. Guests have left 38,161 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in Vientiane
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Vientiane from Phnom Penh?
754 km (469 mi) in a straight line, north of Phnom Penh; by road roughly 920 km (572 mi).
How long does it take to get from Phnom Penh to Vientiane by bus?
About 13 h 47 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Phnom Penh and Vientiane?
No, both are on the same offset at the moment.
What currency do I need in Vientiane?
The Kip (LAK).
Where can I stay in Vientiane?
Our booking partner lists 298 places to stay in Vientiane, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.