Some of the new buses that will be put into service in Vientiane.

Vientiane to trial BRT bus service in August, route expansion planned 

Vientiane authorities have announced a three-month trial run of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in the city centre, set to start at the end of August. Plans are already in place to extend the route to Wattay International Airport and the Laos-China Railway.
Construction of bus lanes and stations is currently 71.64 percent complete, Vientiane Mayor Dr Athsaphangthong Siphandone told the ongoing Ordinary Session of the Vientiane People’s Council on July 7.
City authorities are gearing up for the trial run, aiming to have 90 percent of the necessary infrastructure in place by the end of July, with full-scale operation of the new bus service anticipated in early 2026, he said.
Construction will continue to extend BRT routes to Wattay International Airport and the Laos-China railway station.
This expansion is targeted for completion by the end of 2026, in line with the agreement between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and the Asian Development Bank, the mayor said.
The 55 new buses that will be put into service will operate daily from 6am to 10pm and will integrate seamlessly with the city’s existing bus network.
There will be 27 boarding and disembarking stations, with six main stations located in busy areas such as the National University of Laos, Phonkheng, Patuxay, the Morning Market, Inpeng temple, and Chao Fa Ngum.
Real-time bus arrival information will be displayed at each station and inside buses. Payment can be made using smartcards, which will be available at all BRT stations, the Friendship Bridge, Wattay International Airport, railway station, and participating convenience stores.
The project is funded and supported by the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and domestic sources.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update July 8, 2025)