Where does the high-speed train go in Laos?

Where does the train go in Laos?

Trains in Laos? They zoom between Vientiane and Boten, like a caffeinated snail on a sugar rush. Seriously, it's a scenic, albeit slow, route. Think of it as a leisurely trek, not a Formula 1 race.

Key stops? Picture this:

• Vientiane: The starting point. Think of it like the "We're off to see the wizard!" moment, but with less Dorothy and more sticky rice.
• Vang Vieng: Stunning karst mountains, I've heard. Haven't been myself, though my cousin’s friend’s dog's owner swore it was amazing.
• Luang Prabang: Supposedly incredibly charming, although I'm pretty sure my aunt's cat has better taste in vacation spots.
• Muang Xay & Luang Namtha: Remote areas, perfect for those seeking solitude. Or maybe just those who lost their way. You know, happens to the best of us.
• Boten: The end of the line. Consider it the grand finale, except instead of fireworks, you get to stare at the border crossing. Thrilling!

422km of track. That's like walking from my house to my grandma's, but multiplied by... a lot. I haven’t actually measured. I'm going with a very large number.

The whole railway thing is electrified, too. Electric trains, man. They're the future. Or at least, they were the future. Like, back in 2012. Still pretty cool, though. Right?

Honestly, the train journey probably involves more staring at rice paddies than anything else. My sister went last year and all her photos were basically just various shades of green. Seriously. The whole thing is a bit... beige. But in a good way. I guess.

Where does the train in bullet train go?

Okay, so Bullet Train… oh man, that movie. It made me think about my own trip to Japan.

I took the Shinkansen. Think it was, like, summer of 2023? Hot! I remember sweating buckets at the stations, but inside the train it was like ice-cold, brrr. I definitely caught a chill!

Anyway, where DO they go? Uh, everywhere it seems! My trip? From Tokyo to Osaka. It was super fast! Zoom!

• Main lines I remember:

  • Tokyo - Osaka (that was mine!)
  • Osaka - Hakata
  • Tokyo - Aomori

• Other lines (heard of them at least):

  • Hakata – Kagoshima
  • Tokyo – Niigata
  • Takasaki – Kanazawa
  • Aomori - Hokuto

• Then there are these mini-Shinkansen... never tried those! Something something Morioka to Akita and Fukushima to Shinjo. Whatever!

Yeah, that's what I remember. Bullet Train movie was wild though, LOL. The train was so small! Mine was massive! Much better.

Does Laos have a high speed train?

A high-speed train in Laos... yeah, there is one. Didn't think I'd see that in my lifetime.

It's a China-standard thing, built by them. EMU, they call it.

Runs at 160 km/hour. Not exactly supersonic, but it's faster than anything else around here.

Operated by some Laos-China company. Just another sign of the times, I guess.

• The Laos-China Railway: It exists. I always forget.
• Speed: 160 km/hour. Fast enough.
• Origin: Made in China. That much is obvious.
• Operator: Laos-China Railway Company. Joint venture, I assume. Probably a whole load of paperwork.
• Personal Thought: Saw it once, crossing a bridge near Vientiane. Surreal. Like a dream.

Is there a new train from Vientiane to Luang Prabang?

Nope, no new train. There's this fancy-pants Laos-China Railway, though. Think of it as a metal caterpillar munching its way through the Laotian landscape. Opened in 2021, it's all shiny and new, supposedly. Connects Vientiane to Luang Prabang. And China. Because, why not?

Key Features (or so they say):

• Standard gauge – fancy talk for "not ridiculously narrow."
• Connects to Kunming – prepare for a very long train ride.
• Opened in 2021 – ancient history, really. Like last week.

My uncle, bless his cotton socks, took it last year. Said it was like riding a very, very slow rollercoaster. Said the food was... interesting. He compared it to eating socks filled with questionable meat. Don't ask.

So yeah. Train exists. It's a thing. A really long, slightly smelly, occasionally terrifying thing. But hey, it gets you there. Eventually. My cousin's goldfish, Bubbles, has better acceleration.

Things to Note:

• Expect delays. Laotian time is… flexible. Think rubber bands and melted clocks.
• Pack snacks. Unless you enjoy sock-meat.
• Learn some basic Lao. Unless you enjoy intense staring contests with locals.
• Bring earplugs. The train's less a train and more a symphony of rattling and clanking.
• Check the schedule. It's about as reliable as my goldfish's memory (which is, precisely, zero).

Seriously though, check the official railway website. My uncle's opinions are… subjective. His sense of direction is also suspect; he once got lost in a shoe shop.

How fast is the bullet train in Laos?

160 km/hour. Yeah. That's... its speed.

It's faster than any bus I've been on in Laos, that's for sure. Reminds me of the trip to Vang Vieng. Never again.

• Built by Chinese companies, specifically.
• They call it an Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train.
• Laos-China Railway Company runs it.

The thought of that speed… well, it is manufactured, isn't it? Like everything else these days. It is a China-standard design, or so they say. I guess somebody has to build these things.

Is Vang Vieng worth going to?

Ugh, Vang Vieng. Okay, so 2023, right? I went. Heard so much, mostly old backpacker tales, you know? Worth it? Yeah, kinda. Sorta.

We landed in Vientiane, bleh, then minibus hell to Vang Vieng. Dusty, hot. Expected madness. Remember tubing pics from like, forever ago?

The town itself? Meh. Touristy, naturally. But the landscape? Insane. Seriously, limestone karsts jutting up everywhere. Didnt expect that beauty.

I mean, we kayaked. I flipped. Twice. River was surprisingly clean. Then Blue Lagoon 3? Less crowded. Swung off a rope swing like a dork. Loved it!

• Activities I did:
  • Kayaking (duh!)
  • Blue Lagoon hopping (1 and 3!)
  • Hiking (sweaty and rewarding view)
  • Eating way too much sticky rice

The real question: is it THAT party central anymore? Nope. Thankfully. More chill now, I think. Still backpackers, obviously. But families too? Saw some.

• Things that made me happy:
  • The landscape, for sure.
  • Cheap beerlao.
  • Finding a decent coffee.

Maybe, just maybe, don't go expecting some crazy party. Go for the nature. You’ll probably like it, especially if you don’t get Dengue fever lol.

• Would I go back? Ehh, maybe.