The Laos-China Railway has transformed travel to Vang Vieng. Trains run from Vientiane in about an hour and from Luang Prabang in around 90 minutes — fast, air-conditioned, and cheap. The train station is about 5 kilometres north of town; tuk-tuks and minivans meet arrivals. Book tickets online through the Lao Railway app or at the station counter.
Buses still run from Vientiane's Northern Bus Terminal (about 4 hours on the new expressway) and from Luang Prabang. The bus is slower and cheaper than the train, but the expressway has removed most of the old mountain drama from the route. Some travellers still prefer the minivan services that connect the guesthouses directly, though they have a patchy safety record on the mountain sections.