The use of vacuum surcharge as an effective technique in the treatment of soft soil is discussed in analysis in laboratory behavior. Laboratoy tests using undisturbed soil were performed to investigate the use of the technique. The characteristics of the vacuum consolidation were studied in the laboratory by oedometer tests comparing loading with the use of vacuum or conventional load. Tests were performed in triaxial chamber comparing the use of vacuum pressure and atmospheric pressure. The results indicate that: (1) The test results of oedometer test indicate that vacuum application operates in a manner equivalent to the conventional incremental load and induces the largest values of settlement when compared with the conventional application of a load of the same magnitude. (2) The results of the triaxial tests, it was found that the use of vacuum pressure accelerates the dissipation of pore pressure when compared with the action of atmospheric pressure. (3) The consolidation characteristics of the soil show no discrimination against the nature of the consolidation pressure, whether they are consolidated under vacuum pressure, atmospheric pressure or loading conventional.