A vehicle door lock apparatus includes a latch, an operating member for performing a lock operation for rotating the latch to a lock position by being moved from a neutral position to a first position and an unlock operation for rotating the latch to an open position by being moved from the neutral position to a second position, a control unit for switching a moving direction of the operating member, an operated member for being operated along with the operating member moved to the second position, a restricting member for restricting a movement of the operated member in a predetermined position, and a detecting means for detecting the operated member being positioned adjacent to the predetermined position. The control unit enters a standby mode through a process of bringing the operating member to return to the first or second position side after the unlock operation or the lock operation is completed.