A guide to the Laos-China Railway from Vientiane to Boten, including tickets, train types, station guides, onboard amenities, and transport to stations. The Laos-China Railway is a semi-high-speed railway in Laos that operates from Vientiane to Boten, with main stations in Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Muang Xai. Here everything you need to know about […]
Vientiane Khamsavath Railway Station Guide
A guide to Vientiane Khamsavath railway station, including station amenities, tickets, and transport to and from the station. Vientiane Khamsavath railway station (also known as Khamsavath railway station and Vientiane-Tai railway station) is a railway station that connects Vientiane to Thailand’s Northeastern Line. The new station and railway extension from the border means that it’s […]
Udon Thani to Vientiane by train: cross the Mekong on this local international rail service
The Udon Thani to Vientiane train is a service connecting Northeast Thailand to the capital of Laos. This service began operations in July 2024 (along with the Bangkok to Vientiane overnight service) when the station at Vientiane Khamsavath was officially opened. This short service is a more pleasant way to cross the border compared to […]
Notes on Vientiane: Riding the new railway and the gravitational pull of China
I visited Vientiane not long after the borders reopened in May 2022. I was there to ride the new Laos-China Railway, which had been running since December 2021. The last time I was in Vientiane was via train from Bangkok, and the next time I visit will probably be when the line from Thailand is […]
Hotel Review: Mixok Inn, Vientiane – Laos
Hotel Name: Mixok Inn Address: 188 Sethathirate Road, Vientiane, Laos I stayed at the Mixok Inn in Vientiane, Laos. I booked online at the rate of $12 USD per night, and I booked for its price and location in Vientiane. I was looking for a cheap room within the old city area of Vientiane, so […]
Hotel Review: Vientiane Luxury Hotel, Vientiane – Laos
Hotel Name: Vientiane Luxury Hotel Address: No 070, Lane 8, Rue Phanompenh Road, Ban Anou, Chanthabouly Dist, Vientiane, Laos I stayed at the Vientiane Luxury Hotel in Vientiane, Laos. I booked online at the rate of $13.86 USD per night, and I booked it for its price and location in Laos. Despite its name, the […]
Cafes in Vientiane, Laos
During my trip to Vientiane I did the rounds of the best cafes in the city. It had been nearly seven years since my last visit to Vientiane so I was curious to see how much has changed. There is now a good selection of cafes to work from here, so whether you are on […]
How to get from Bangkok to Vientiane by train
I like to travel by train in Southeast Asia if it’s a reasonable alternative to flying. For the trip from Bangkok to Vientiane, getting the train is a comfortable and economic way to go. First off I will say that the train doesn’t actually go to Vientiane; it stops at a station about 16km away. […]
Flight Review: Lao Airlines – Vientiane to Ho Chi Minh City
Flight: Lao Airlines QV 515 From: Vientiane (VTE) To: Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) Via: Pakse (PKZ) I flew with Lao Airlines from Vientiane to Ho Chi Minh City. I compared flights with Skyscanner to find what my options were. At the time of my travel there was no non-stop flight between the two cities. […]
Hotel Review: iHouse-New Hotel, Vientiane – Laos
Hotel Name: iHouse-New Hotel Address: 72/6 Pangkham Road, Vientiane, Laos I stayed at the iHouse-New Hotel in Vientiane, Laos. I booked online at the rate of $13.50USD per night, and I selected it out for its location in the city. Laos is a small city so you can’t really go wrong with hotel location if […]