Welcome to my post-series called “Quick review”. These are not as long as regular posts, given that they are very specific and I don’t want to pretend to know more than I do by writing a 3000-word post based on that one time I took that one bus company’s bus. These posts simply express my own opinion based on my limited experience with a company. I hope my experience helps you decide whether or not that specific company is for you! In this “Quick review” I will review King of Bus from Laos.

Context

My boyfriend Christian and I took the night bus from Pakse to Vientiane in January 2020. The lady at our hostel booked us tickets with King Of Bus, apparently one of the best bus companies in Laos.

King of Bus review score: 7/10

The stations 6/10

The station in Pakse is more or a parking lot than a station. There are several buses leaving at the same time but you should find the right one rather easily. In Vientiane, the station is a typical big bus station. I didn’t love the station in Vientiane because there were lots of taxi and tuk-tuk drivers waiting for you outside. They were rather pushy and when you’ve slept three hours that’s not ideal.

Customer service 7/10

Unfortunately I can’t comment on this because we had no interactions with the staff. However, our luggage was handled well and boarding went smoothly.

Cleanliness 9/10

You have to take off your shoes when you get on the bus, so the floors are clean. Beds and blankets also seemed clean.

Comfort 9/10

The bus had beds as opposed to reclining seats. They were double beds but they’re definitely not the size of a regular double bed. I was sleeping next to Christian so being very close wasn’t a problem but if you’re traveling alone you might want to think of a plan B. If you’re fine sleeping next to a stranger go for it, but if not you might want to look into other ways of traveling between Pakse and Vientiane. There are flights but they’re more expensive.

Another way would be to meet some people at your hostel and arrange to take the same night bus – that way you wouldn’t be next to a total stranger. You could also book two beds, but I’ve heard that if the bus is full you might end up with someone next to you anyway.

Safety 6/10

I was a little scared before taking the bus because I had heard about so many accidents involving night buses. The driver did drive a little faster than I would have hoped, but unfortunately that’s something you have to get used to in Southeast Asia. We made it to our destination safely.

You might be concerned about safety if you’re sleeping next to a stranger, especially if you’re a woman. If you’re not 100% sure you’re safe, consider asking to sleep next to another woman. You could also, as mentioned above, take the bus with some new friends from a hostel.

Sleep quality 5/10

The beds were comfortable enough but I honestly didn’t sleep well (I had to take a five hour nap at our hotel in Vientiane). Between worrying (maybe a little too much) about how fast we were going and admiring the stars (in my defense, there was no light pollution and they were gorgeous), I must’ve slept three hours at most.

Aircon 7/10

The aircon was a little cold but definitely manageable. They provide you with blankets and if all else fails you can always spoon your bunkmate.

Additional information and advice

While I usually book through the Internet, we noticed that in Laos it was often less exensive to book in person. If you have the possibility of doing that, try not to book in advance.

The beds in the back are reserved for the monks. I don’t know if that’s very important to know because I doubt they will sell you those tickets if you’re not a monk. I just thought it was interesting.

Conclusion

I’ve been in more comfortable buses but honestly King of Bus is a solid option in Laos. It’s one of the best bus lines of the country, the buses are modern and relatively comfortable, and if you’re not a light sleeper you could actually sleep pretty well. I definitely recommend them and would use their services again.

Have you taken the night bus in Laos? Did my article help you? I would love to hear about it in the comments!

Find more articles about Laos here