First question: which station is on your ticket?
For generations, Hua Lamphong was simply "Bangkok station", the grand domed hall at the edge of Chinatown where the long-distance trains left for the north, the north-east and the south. That changed when most long-distance services moved to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, the large new station in the north of the city. Hua Lamphong is still there and some trains still use it, but many travellers who book a van Pattaya to Hua Lamphong Station turn out to need the other one.
So please look at your ticket or booking confirmation before you send us the time. The two stations are far apart in Bangkok traffic, and going to the wrong one on the day is the one mistake that is hard to fix. If your ticket says Krung Thep Aphiwat or Bang Sue, see our van to Krung Thep Aphiwat page instead.
Building in a margin for a train that will not wait
The drive from Pattaya to central Bangkok is usually two to two and a half hours, and the old station sits in a part of the city where the last stretch can be slow. Trains leave on time whether the traffic cooperates or not, so we plan the departure from Pattaya with a comfortable buffer, more on weekday afternoons and before long holidays. Send us the train time and your pick-up address and we suggest when to leave. Sitting in the station with a coffee and half an hour to spare is far better than watching the clock from a traffic jam.
- Tell us the departure time on the ticket, not the time you would like to arrive
- Travelling with big bags or bicycles? Mention it so we send the right vehicle
- Keep printed or screenshot tickets handy in case your phone signal is weak
- Arriving back by train later? We can meet you at the station for the ride to Pattaya
The old hall, Chinatown and a fixed price
If your train does leave from here, arriving early is no hardship. The station building itself is one of Bangkok's best-known landmarks, the MRT stops right beside it, and the food streets of Chinatown are a short walk or ride away, a good place for a last meal before a long journey. Your driver drops you at the front of the station by the main hall, with your luggage.
Send your pick-up address, the number of people and how much luggage you have, and we confirm a fixed price for the whole vehicle in chat before the trip. Tolls and fuel are included, there is no deposit, and you pay the driver in cash after the ride. A Van Pattaya to Hua Lamphong Station pick-up for the return journey is priced in chat before you go, too.