Fly on to Vientiane
Our pickRight for you if
You want to arrive the day after leaving, on a single ticket.
Not for you if
You'd like a few days in Thailand: the connection is short.
Flights from London to Vientiane
From London, Vientiane is one stop away: Bangkok with Thai Airways, Hanoi with Vietnam Airlines, or Guangzhou with China Southern. The fastest trip seen takes 14h 20m, via Bangkok. The Gulf airlines don't fly to Laos.
Photo by Christophe95 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Boarding pass · at least one stop
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Today's best fare
fare checked October 12, 2026; it changes with your dates
Compare on AviasalesAffiliate link · opens in a new tab
- Nonstop
- none from the UK
- Stops
- at least one
- Total travel time
- 14h 20m to 15h 10m via Bangkok
- Return fare
- from £469
- Arrival airport
- Wattay (VTE), 4 km from downtown
London to Vientiane via Bangkok: fly, or the night train?
Bangkok has far more flights from London than Laos does. From there, Vientiane is an hour's flight or a night on the train.
Night train from Bangkok
OverlandRight for you if
You want to cross the Mekong by rail: train 133 leaves Bangkok at 9:25 p.m. and reaches Khamsavath at 9:05 a.m.
Not for you if
You're short on time: the night on the train comes on top of the flight.
Tickets and times on 12Go Affiliate link
London to Vientiane: where to connect
Vientiane's international flights come from Asia: Bangkok, Hanoi, China, Seoul. From London, three airlines get you there with one stop.
Via Bangkok
Thai Airways
- London
- Bangkok
- Vientiane
Bangkok: 2 Heathrow nonstops a day, then 2 Thai Airways flights a day to Vientiane. 14h 20m to 15h 10m
Right for you if you want the shortest trip on one airline.
See flights on Aviasales Affiliate linkVia Hanoi
Vietnam Airlines
- London
- Hanoi
- Vientiane
Hanoi: 3 Heathrow nonstops a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, then a daily flight to Vientiane
Right for you if you're also visiting northern Vietnam.
See flights on Aviasales Affiliate linkVia Guangzhou
China Southern
- London
- Guangzhou
- Vientiane
Guangzhou, from Gatwick, then China Southern to Vientiane
Right for you if you're watching the price: it had the cheapest return seen, £469.
See flights on Aviasales Affiliate linkFrom Wattay Airport to downtown Vientiane
Wattay is in town, 4 km from the center. Fill in the Lao Digital Immigration Form (LDIF) online within 3 days before you arrive.
Official taxi
140,000 kip
Fixed fare, paid at the desk inside the terminal before you walk to the car. About 20 to 35 minutes depending on traffic.
Ride-hailing
≈ 70,000 kip
With the LOCA app, or inDrive, the ride downtown costs about half the official taxi. You need a data connection on arrival.
Shuttle, bus no. 44
40,000 kip
It runs to Talat Sao bus station via the hotels, every 1.5 to 2 hours, 8:10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. from the airport.
From Vientiane, down the Mekong
Below Vientiane, the Mekong forms the border with Thailand, past Thakhek and Nakhon Phanom.
Photo by Adriaan Castermans on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo by wayne77 on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Photo by GuillaumeG on Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
London to Vientiane flights: FAQ
Do Emirates or Qatar Airways fly to Laos?
No. With a Gulf airline, you'd fly to Bangkok and continue on a second ticket, by air or on the night train. Allow at least 3 hours between separate tickets.
Is Vietnam Airlines flying more from London this winter?
Its Heathrow frequencies are due to rise again from October 25, 2026, but the new numbers aren't published yet. In October, it flies to Hanoi three times a week and to Ho Chi Minh City twice.
Do British citizens need a visa for Laos?
Yes: the e-Visa costs $50 on the official portal, or get a visa on arrival, around $40 in cash. Everyone must fill in the Lao Digital Immigration Form online within 3 days before arrival.
Sources: routes, times and fares seen, Kayak UK and Google Flights (October 12, 2026); flights to Vientiane, Avionio and Google Flights (October 2026); Vietnam Airlines, Travel Weekly (March 2026); train from Bangkok, Seat61 (June 2026); Wattay, GeckoRoutes and KPL (2026); visa, official portal laoevisa.gov.la and Seat61 (June 2026). Updated October 12, 2026 by Pierre-Marie Coupry.