Bagan to Nanning overland: route, cost and stops
Bagan to Nanning, overland all the way, across 5 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 6 stops, 10 legs, 31h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagan → Mandalay | Rail | 2.3h | €5–€5 |
| Mandalay → Taunggyi | Rail | 2.4h | €5–€5 |
| Taunggyi → Mae Hong Son | Rail | 2.7h | €5–€5 |
| Mae Hong Son → Chiang Mai | Rail | 1.9h | €5–€5 |
| Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai | Rail | 2.3h | €5–€5 |
| Chiang Rai → Vang Vieng | Rail | 3.9h | €10–€10 |
| Vang Vieng → Luang Prabang | Rail | 1.8h | €5–€5 |
| Luang Prabang → Hanoi | Night train | 7.2h | €15–€35 |
| Hanoi → Haiphong | Rail | 1.5h | €5–€5 |
| Haiphong → Nanning | Coach | 5.1h | €5–€10 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €65 | €71 | €90 |
| Beds | €107 | €126 | €161 |
| Daily spending | €273 | €341 | €460 |
| Total per person | €520 | €621 | €806 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Bagan, Myanmar
Worth the time: Temple plain at sunrise, e-bike routes
Eating: Curry sets €2
Beds near the centre:
Arthawka B&B (real place) · hostelYaung Chi Oo · guest houseBagan Hotel · hotel
Markets and cheap eats:
Sarabha · seafoodMhwe Restaurant / beer station, ask for Yu · localYar Pyi Vegetarian Restaurant · local
Mandalay, Myanmar
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Worth the time: White temple, hill trekking
Eating: Khao soi €1.20
Beds near the centre:
Baan Mai Kradan Hostel · hostelKenta House · hostelเฮือนกาวิน · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Walking Saturday Night Market · marketMarket (fruit, vegetables, meat, etc) · marketตลาดศิริเนตร · market
Vang Vieng, Laos
Worth the time: Karst lagoons, tubing, caves
Eating: Riverside meals €3
Beds near the centre:
Pan's Place · hostelXay Luang Sy Guesthouse · hostelMoukdavanh Bungalow Guesthouse · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Old market · marketLocal market · marketThe Corner Hanoi Cafe & Restaurant · thai
Haiphong, Vietnam
Nanning, China
Beds near the centre:
Side Hostel · hostel青猫青年旅舍 · hostel邕江宾馆 · hotel
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar | after Mandalay | +1h | +€28 |
| Nam Định, Vietnam | after Vang Vieng | +1.2h | +€30 |
| Myingyan, Myanmar | after Bagan | +30m | +€26 |
| Lashio, Myanmar | after Mandalay | +54m | +€27 |
Common questions
How long does the Bagan to Nanning trip take?
Moving time is about 31h spread over 10 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 6 stops, the whole corridor works as a 14-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €621 per person for 14 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €71 of transport, €126 of beds and €341 of daily spending. The realistic range is €520 to €806 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 31h of travel and €621 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, China — 5 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Rail, Night train, Coach. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Bagan → Nanning