When you are traveling with kids, you want the transport from place A to place B to be as easy as possible. Add to that learning how a new culture works and what is an acceptable amount of bartering, transportation can become a really frustrating part of travel! Here I lay out how you can feel prepared before you start traveling around Vientiane and what your transport options are. If you are looking to know more about Vientiane, here is an overview post and here is a post about visiting with kids.
A few tips for feeling prepared:
- Know your conversion rate
Always have a set amount in your head to help you exchange quickly. Since I know Thai baht the best, I convert every 20,000 kip into 35 baht (Feb 2024). That way I can hear a price and do the multiplication quickly in my head. Especially when working with kip, a currency that always has a thousand added to the end. The kip fluctuates frequently so be sure to know what the current exchange rate is. I like this XE Exchange App.
- Know your distance
Be aware of how far you are traveling. If it is walkable, then you should be paying very little for your trip.
- Know a typical amount paid (Do your research!)
If a public bus can get you somewhere (say from city center to Thai-Lao Friendship bridge) for 18,000 kip, then if you put 4 people in a taxi, you can estimate 70,000 being a great price as it is less than paying for four people to take a bus.
If you download the Kokkok app, then you have a price set on there that you would need to pay. This gives you the lowest barter price for taking the tuktuk on the side of the road that is more convenient.
- Know the amount you are willing to pay based off the type of day you are having
If you are time crunched or your toddler is screaming, sometimes it’s just worth it to pay extra to get back to your accommodation faster. Think about what you think the lowest price would be to get from place A to place B, then set yourself up for how much you are willing to go up to in the bargaining process.
- Don’t pay in baht.
You may find drivers asking you to pay in baht and unless you need to exchange more kip, the price being asked in baht will always be significantly higher. Try to pay in Lao kip for the lowest price.
Using the Kokkok App while in Vientiane
Downloading the Kokkok app will save you a lot of stress when you are visiting Vientiane because it will give you a reference point for pricing of transportation whether you use the app or not.
However, I highly recommend using the app if you have the time to wait for your ride to show up. You have the choice of Tuktuk, Sedan, and SUV. The tuktuk price is the cheapest, followed by Sedan, then SUV. The price will be set for you when you put in your destination and the driver should expect that price in cash when you get out of the vehicle at the end of the ride. If the app doesn’t find a driver in a few minutes, it will cancel the ride and you need to request a driver again. You may need to decide if a larger vehicle is worth the price if no drivers are found for the type of vehicle you requested.
Different Transportation types:
Local Public Bus
The local public buses are new, green donated buses from Japan and have a set route around Vientiane proper. They have a set price per ride (from what I’ve heard it has continually changed post-covid, so ask around).
There are bus stops around Vientiane and each bus stop shows the route options to take. The buses have set working hours, so be aware and ask locals if the bus is running still in the evening.
Tuktuk
There are tuktuks all around Vientiane. They congregate in certain areas waiting for passengers. They are all very ready to bargain with you! If they know you are a tourist, they will charge very high prices. Use the tips above to save yourself some cash! They are also a category in the Kokkok app and will give you the cheapest price on the app to get from here to there. Not as cheap as the local bus, but with the app it is closer to the price a local would pay for a tuktuk ride. There are also EV tuktuks, which are electronic tuktuks. A much quieter drive around town!
*Family Tip – A tuktuk ride is SO much fun for kids. It’s like an attraction in itself. We have been able to fit 7 people into a tuktuk including our small children and it was such fun!
Taxi / Minivan
Taxis and minivans will be the most expensive way to travel around the city. You can hail them on the street or find a congregation of them outside of the malls. Again, I recommend the Kokkok app for ease of paying the cheapest price for a taxi or minivan.
I hope this guide to public transport in Vientiane will help alleviate some of the stress of getting around the city. Vientiane is a fun city to explore. Take your time, get off the beaten path, and enjoy!