Is there a high speed train from Laos to Thailand?

Can you get a train from Laos to Thailand?

Fly. 1h 50m. ฿3100 – ฿8000. Done.

Train? Nong Khai. 11h 26m. ฿360 – ฿1800. If you must.

Bus. 13h 40m. ฿1350 – ฿1360. Why bother?

• Flying is fastest. Think Bangkok Airways or Lao Airlines. Direct flights from Vientiane.
• Train involves crossing the Friendship Bridge. Nong Khai is the border town. Change trains there. Consider the sleeper.
• Bus: long. Really long. Think VIP bus, maybe. Border crossings. Ugh. Expect delays.
• Laos to Thailand…it’s not just a trip; it’s a state of mind. One I often regret, yet keep repeating.
• My grandma always said: “Better a bad flight than a good bus ride.” She never took a bus.
• Money. It solves almost everything. Almost.
• 2024 schedules, prices subject to whims, fuel costs.

Alternative routes?

• Maybe a slow boat down the Mekong. Change in Chiang Khong. Then a bus. Scenic. Slow. I hear it still exists.
• Border crossing at Huay Xai/Chiang Khong? Then a bus to Chiang Rai.
• Look into visa requirements. Overstaying isn’t fashionable.
• Consider local currencies. Baht is king in Thailand. Kips in Laos. Exchange rates fluctuate.
• Learn a few phrases. “Sabaidee,” “khop chai.” It helps. Even if they rip you off later.

Life’s just a series of border crossings. So true.

Is there a train from Thailand to Laos?

Bangkok to Vientiane? Train? Sort of. More like a train-and-bridge combo. Think of it as a charmingly awkward tango across the Mekong. You waltz out of Bangkok on steel rails, then pirouette across the Friendship Bridge (passport in hand, mind you). Ta-da! You’re in Laos.

• Bangkok to Nong Khai: Actual train. Pleasant enough. Like a metal caterpillar inching through Thai countryside.
• Nong Khai to Thanaleng (Laos): Bridge crossing. More of a shuffle than a tango, really. But hey, international travel!
• Thanaleng to Vientiane: Short hop. They used to have tuk-tuks circling like vultures, but the new Vientiane station makes it civilized. Almost.

My great aunt Mildred once took this trip. Packed enough cheese sandwiches for a polar expedition. Complained the whole time about the lack of air conditioning on the bridge. Mildred, bless her heart, was never one for adventure. Unlike me. I prefer teleportation. Haven’t quite mastered it yet. Still working on that teleportation device in my basement. My cat, Mr. Fluffernutter, isn’t convinced. He keeps giving me skeptical looks. Maybe he’s jealous. Probably wants his own teleporter to the food bowl. Anyway, Laos. Trains. Bridges. Cheese sandwiches. You get the idea.

Is there a bullet train in Laos?

Yes, a train exists. China-Laos Railway. Fast, ish.

Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train. Think sleek. Think China.

160 km/hour. Blur.

Laos-China Railway Company. Operates. Just another cog.

Pricing? It exists.

Timetable? Search it. I have no need. Travel is overrated. Existential dread waits everywhere, not just at the destination.

How do you cross from Laos to Thailand?

Okay, so like, in July 2023 I crossed from Laos to Thailand, yeah? It was HOT. I was near Huay Xai, that sleepy little Lao town.

The bus, packed with sweaty backpackers like me, dropped us… wham! … on the side of this dusty road. No warning! Kilometers from Chiang Khong in Thailand. Seriously.

“Tuk-tuk?” some guy yells. Of course. Everything’s a business.

Felt kinda scammed, tbh. But hey, what choice did I have? Paid him whatever (think it was like 100 Baht? dunno), hopped in, and bumped along to the border crossing.

The border was crowded. Long lines. Lots of forms. Ugh. Finally stamped out of Laos, walked across this… bridge. The Friendship Bridge. Pretty anticlimactic.

Thai side? More lines. More forms. More waiting. Then, freedom! Well, freedom and another tuk-tuk ride to find a hostel. Chiang Khong’s quiet, but a good place to crash after that mess.

Things to consider when crossing this border:

• Visas: Make sure your visa is sorted BEFORE you get there. Trust me.
• Transportation: Always haggle with tuk-tuk drivers. They will overcharge you.
• Money: Have both Lao Kip and Thai Baht. Makes life easier. And small bills!
• Patience: Seriously, you need a lot of it. Like, a LOT.
• Time of year: It’s HOT during the hot season. Pack light. Seriously light.
• Border Hours: Check the hours! I think its like 8 am – 6 pm, but double-check. Don’t wanna be stuck!
• Negotiate: Don’t be afraid to negotiate rates. They’re expecting it!
• Scams: Be aware of potential scams. Trust your gut!
• Bridge Fee: There’s a fee to cross the bridge. Have cash ready.
• Sim Card: Get a Thai Sim card right after crossing. Very Useful.

And yeah, I think that’s about it. Man, that was a long day.

Does Laos have a high speed train?

Laos train. Fast. Not high speed. 160 km/h. Built by China. Runs now. Consider the implications. Progress. Or something. Who decides?

• China-standard EMU train.
• Operated by Laos-China Railway Company.
• Operational in 2023. (Assuming current year)
• 160 km/h is not truly “high-speed” by international standards. High-speed generally starts at 200 km/h. Arbitrary, yes. Like most things.
• Significant for Laos. First modern railway. Connectivity matters. Changes landscapes. Literally. And figuratively. Maybe. Who knows.
• Geopolitics. Influence. Investment. Debt. The usual.
• Think about speed. Velocity. A blur. Meaningless without context. A train to where? A train for what?

Where does the high-speed train go in Laos?

Okay, Laos high-speed trains… hmm. Right. It goes… a long way. Over 400km, I’m sure. Like a bullet!

Six stations it hits. Vientiane, obvs. That’s the capital. Vang Vieng, party town, right? Or was that before 2010?

Luang Prabang for temples. I need to go back. Is it really that touristy now?

Muang Xay… Wait, where’s that even on the route? Northern Laos, surely?

Luang Namtha, yeah, near the border, maybe? Trekking stuff. Ugh, hate hiking.

Boten. That’s China border. Did I spell that right? Bo-ten? What a weird name. Six stops. Got it.

• Vientiane: The capital city of Laos, a major transport hub.
• Vang Vieng: Known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities; hopefully, the crazy tubing days are gone.
• Luang Prabang: A UNESCO World Heritage city, famous for temples and cultural sites.
• Muang Xay (Oudomxay): A key northern city and transport hub.
• Luang Namtha: In a province popular for ecotourism and trekking.
• Boten: Border town between Laos and China; important for cross-border trade.

How fast is the bullet train in Laos?

160 km/h. Laos. EMU train. Built by China. Fast. Wait…Laos has a bullet train? Wild. China-standard. Makes sense. Remember that trip to Kunming in 2022… so much faster now to get there. Laos-China Railway Company runs it. Wonder how much tickets are? Have to check that. 160 km/h though, not as fast as the Japanese ones. Still, pretty impressive for Laos. Imagine Vientiane to Boten…zoom. Need to book a trip soon. Definitely this year. Maybe November. Cooler then. Laos bullet train speed: 160 km/hOperated by: Laos-China Railway CompanyTechnology: China-standard EMU Bullet train. So cool.