Getting to Nong Khai
Train, Bus, Flight, Car Rental & Crossing to Laos

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The good news for anyone heading to Nong Khai is that you have lots of options, and almost all of them land you close to the center. Nong Khai town isn't big, so from the train station or the bus terminal it's only a few kilometers into the riverside center. If you fly, you land in Udon Thani about 55 km away and it's just an hour's drive in. We've ordered these from the most popular down to the most budget-friendly, so pick whatever fits your time and money.

Quick rundown of each option

If you don't feel like reading the whole thing, here's the overview. The fastest is flying into Udon and transferring (roughly half a day in total). The way to save a travel day is the overnight sleeper train, where you wake up just as you arrive. The cheapest is the 3rd-class train or an intercity bus. And if you want to stop in a few towns along the way, drive yourself.

• Fly into Udon + transfer — fastest from Bangkok, a bit over an hour in the air plus around a 1-hour drive to Nong Khai. Good if you're short on time.
• Overnight sleeper train — board in the early evening at Bangkok (Krung Thep Aphiwat) and wake up at Nong Khai station. No sightseeing day lost.
• Daytime / 3rd-class train — cheapest, from around ฿283, and you get the scenery along both sides of the tracks, but it takes about 9–10 hours.
• Intercity bus — leaves from Mo Chit 2 and drops you right in Nong Khai, from around ฿515, with lots of night services.
• Drive yourself — the Mittraphap Highway runs through Korat, Khon Kaen and Udon, about 615 km. Good if you want to stop along the way.

Bangkok–Nong Khai by train

Nong Khai is the terminus of the northern Isan rail line. Trains leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Station (the new Bang Sue) and run through Ayutthaya, Saraburi, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani before ending at Nong Khai, about 615 km away, taking roughly 9–11 hours depending on the service. There are both daytime trains and overnight sleepers. Nong Khai station is only a few kilometers from the riverside center, and you can grab a local ride into town.

Intercity bus from Mo Chit

If you want to land right in central Nong Khai without transferring, the bus is the easy way. It leaves Mo Chit 2 bus terminal and drops you at the Nong Khai bus terminal in town, taking about 9–10 hours. There are both morning and overnight departures, and most people pick the night bus since it gets you in by morning.

• Nakhonchai Air — a name people know and trust, with comfortable rides, wide seats, and onboard service. It runs Bangkok–Nong Khai roughly three times a day; book online or through the app.
• Transport Co. (999) and partner operators — both 1st-class and VIP coaches, with tickets from around ฿515. Departures cluster in the morning and from early evening into the late night.
• Other operators such as Budsarakham Tour and Sawasdee Isan — extra options. Compare prices and schedules through online booking sites like Busonlineticket or ThaiRoute.
• Boarding at Mo Chit 2 — allow extra time to get to the terminal, since Mo Chit 2 is fairly far from central Bangkok. We'd suggest arriving about half an hour before departure.

Fly into Udon Thani, then transfer

Nong Khai has no airport of its own. The closest is Udon Thani Airport (UTH), about 55 km from Nong Khai town, roughly an hour's drive. The upside is that Udon has the most frequent flights from Bangkok (both Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi) of anywhere in the region, with several airlines flying multiple times a day, and the flight is a bit over an hour. Once you land, there are several ways to get on to Nong Khai.

• Airport–Nong Khai minivan — there's a minivan counter at Udon airport running straight into Nong Khai town or to the Friendship Bridge checkpoint, around ฿150–200 per person. Good for solo travelers or small groups.
• Udon–Nong Khai bus / public coach — the budget route, with tickets from around ฿70, but you have to ride into central Udon first before continuing. Good if you're not in a hurry and watching your budget.
• Taxi / airport transfer — ideal if you're a group or have a lot of luggage. A chartered run from the airport to Nong Khai is around ฿800–1,200 depending on negotiation, and it takes you straight to your hotel without another transfer.
• Airport car rental — pick up at Udon airport and drive yourself to Nong Khai. The most flexible if you also want to explore outside town. See the car-rental section below for pricing.

Driving yourself from Bangkok

Driving yourself suits anyone who wants to stop in several towns along the way or do a lot of sightseeing outside Nong Khai town. Take the Mittraphap Highway (Route 2) as your main road: from Bangkok through Saraburi, Korat, Khon Kaen and Udon Thani, then into Nong Khai — about 615 km in total. Taking it easy with rest stops, it's roughly 8–9 hours.

• The route — the Mittraphap Highway is four lanes the whole way, well signed and easy to drive, with plenty of gas stations and rest stops. Traffic gets a little heavier between Korat and Khon Kaen.
• Popular stops — grab a meal in Korat or Khon Kaen, or see the sights in Udon (Red Lotus Sea in winter, Kham Chanot) before reaching Nong Khai.
• In Nong Khai — there's parking at the riverside hotels and lots near Tha Sadet Market. The town isn't big, so circling for a spot isn't hard.
• Driving on to the riverside temples — if you're heading to Wat Pha Tak Suea or Wat Hin Mak Peng out toward Sangkhom/Si Chiang Mai districts, having your own car is by far the easiest. The road hugging the Mekong is winding, so allow extra time.

Renting a car or bike locally

If you arrive by flight, train or bus and want wheels for getting out of town, renting a car is what a lot of people do. Most rental companies are based on the Udon Thani side and offer free pickup and drop-off at Udon airport; some will even deliver to the Nong Khai checkpoint.

• Self-drive sedan — from around ฿500–700 per day, including first-class insurance, with free pickup at Udon airport. Good for getting around town and the surrounding area.
• Car with driver — sedan around ฿1,300–1,800 per day, van around ฿1,800–2,400 per day. Good if you're a group and don't want to drive yourselves.
• Motorbike in Nong Khai town — there are rental shops in town, around ฿200–300 per day, handy for zipping to Sala Kaew Ku, the Friendship Bridge and nearby spots.
• Documents you'll need — a driver's license and ID card; some shops ask for a deposit or credit card. Read the insurance and fuel terms (full-to-full pickup and return) carefully before you take the car.

Crossing the bridge to Vientiane

Part of Nong Khai's appeal is that you can pop over to Vientiane on the Laos side as a day trip, crossing at the first Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge checkpoint. It's about 27 km from the Nong Khai bus terminal to the Vientiane bus station, and counting the border formalities it takes around 2 hours. The one thing you can't go without is your passport, and you can't walk or ride a motorbike across the bridge yourself — you must take an authorized vehicle across.

• Cross-border bus (most popular) — international buses run from the Nong Khai bus terminal across the bridge to the Vientiane bus station, with fares around ฿55 on weekdays and ฿60 on holidays. There are several departures from morning to evening (roughly 7:30, 9:30, 12:40, 14:30, 15:30 and 18:00).
• Train across the Mekong — there's a short train that crosses the Mekong from Nong Khai station to the Laos side, and the cross-border fare is very cheap at around ฿20. You clear immigration at Nong Khai station before departure. It's an unusual and fun option.
• Passport — it must be valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages for stamps. Thai nationals don't need a visa for a short visit to Laos.
• Money and fees — the Laos side charges a small fee outside office hours and on holidays. Many places in Vientiane accept Thai baht, but carrying some kip or a card makes things easier. You can exchange money at the checkpoint or in town.

Which option is best — by travel style