Pakse's VIP Bus Terminal & Other Bus Schedules and Rates

This is boring stuff but we're posting this to provide information.

We have noted bus schedules and rates during our traipse around Pakse so we could share them with fellow travelers who need to have an idea about travel distances and duration of trips, bus schedules, and more importantly, rates of such trips from Pakse to domestic and foreign destinations. The bigger terminal is located south of Champasak Palace Hotel and hosts most domestic travels. The one posted above is the VIP Bus Terminal, a small parcel of land off Route 13. This is the destination and departure point of most VIP Bus Rides to and from Ubon Ratchthani in Thailand. There are 4 counters, two of them operational. There's a left luggage that charges 5,000 kip per bag - although it seems unwise to use it considering how unsealed it is. The doors from both sides are open and no one tends to the bags which are just placed down the floor.

Tuktuks and jumbos usually wait (for "victims") from this terminal that's mostly a "ghost place" between scheduled trips, unlike the bigger, main domestic terminal which is surrounded by a day market. The Kriang Krai Bus services the Ubon-Pakse-Ubon trips, but - like their Thai counterpart, don't allow reservations. You have to purchase them an hour or two before the departure - so it's wise to ask around before your schedule.

I am sharing the other schedules. Please note that items from these trips may have changed by the time you get to read this. My point here is, this information will give you an insight on the possibilities of travel to towns like Kratie in Cambodia, Hue in Vietnam, or Bangkok in Thailand just by merely taking a bus from Pakse. It will also give you an idea of how much it would cost you - more or less.

Finally, check that your passport's ready (the counters will require it when you purchase international rides) and have a safe and pleasurable trip.

This is the Eye in the Sky!

V.I.P. Bus Tickets from Pakse

Vientiane – 8 PM to 6 AM

Ubon (Thailand) – 8 AM, 3:30 PM

Hue (Vietnam) – 7 AM, 7 PM

Da Nang (Vietnam) – 7 AM, 7 PM

AC Minivans from Pakse (vans depart between 8AM to 10:30AM daily)

Don Khong – 55,000 kip

Don Det – 55,000 kip

Don Khone – 60,000 kip

VIP Bus from Pakse to Cambodian towns (departs 7AM and arrives in…)

Stung treng – 12PM, 160,000 kip

Kratie – 2PM, 180,000 kip

Banlung – 6PM, 200,000 kip

Kampong Cham – 5PM, 200,000 kip

Phnom Penh – 7PM, 220,000 kip

Siem Reap – 9:30PM, 280,000 kip

Champanakhone Travel - schedule and rate for travels from Pakse to:

Champasak – 45,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 9:30 AM

Ban Nakasang (for Don Det) – 55,000 kip, depart at 8AM, arrive at 10 AM

Don Khong (Big Island) – 55,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 10 AM

Attapue – 88,000 kip, depart 8 AM, arrive at 2:30 PM

Saravanh – 65,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 12:30PM

Savannakhet – 80,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 3:30 PM

Thakeak – 170,000 kip, depart at 8:30 AM, arrive at 1 AM

Vientiane – 170,000 kip, depart at 8:30 AM, arrive at 6:30 AM the next day

Vang Vieng – 250,000 kip, depart at 8:30 AM, arrive at 2:30 PM the next day

Luang Prabang – 360,000 kip, depart at 8:30 AM, arrive at 5:30 PM the next day

Champanakhone Travel, International route from Pakse:

Lao Bao – 180,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 3 PM

Dong ha – 200,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 7 PM

Hue – 200,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 8 PM

Danang – 200,000 kip, depart at 8 AM, arrive at 9 PM

VIP Bus to Thailand:

Ubon – 75,000 kip, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 3:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Bangkok bus – 240,000 kip, 3:30 PM to 6 AM

Bangkok by bus and train – 340,000 kip, 3:30 PM to 6 AM

VIP Bus to Cambodia :

Stung Treng – 120,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 11:30 AM

Kratie – 170,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 2:30 PM

Banlung – 200,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM

Kampong Cham – 200,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 5”30 PM

Phnom Penh – 220,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 7:30 PM

Siem Reap – 240,000 kip, 7:45 AM to 10 PM

Left Luggage room: see how easily things can disappear in such untended room.

Waiting hall

Bus Station, the backyard - where buses usually park and wait.

More schedule from Kriang Rai VIP Buses

More trips

Tuktuk waits beside the small canteen by the gate.

My bus from Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse

My bus from Pakse back to Ubon Ratchathani in Thailand. Now you have to remember the Bus Number because you need to write them at your Immigration Forms at the border.

One of the few beautiful sights found at the VIP Bus Terminal but people mostly ignore this bas relief.

Map of Laos and its contiguous areas care of Magellan Geographix and www.maps.com.