A guide to train travel in Laos, including domestic and international railways, maps, and how to buy tickets.

Laos train travel guide

Websites and tickets
Laos railways maps
Domestic railways
Vientiane-Boten
International railways
Vientiane-Kunming
Vientiane-Bangkok
Vientiane-Nong Khai

Websites and tickets

Official ticket website: www.lcrc.ltd

Baolau is the easiest way to buy tickets.

Here is my guide on how to buy tickets for the Laos-China Railway.

Laos railways maps

Map of Laos Railway

Map of Lao-China Railway – by HoboMaps.com

Domestic railways

Vientiane-Boten

Laos-China Railway travel guide – My guide to the Vientiane-Boten Railway (Laos China Railway), including tickets, train types, station guides, onboard amenities, and transport to stations.

International railways

Vientiane-Kunming

Vientiane – Kunming train services began on 13 April 2023. There is one service a day in each direction.

Train D888 departs Vientiane at 8:08 and arrives in Kunming South at 19:38 (1 hour ahead in China).
Train D887 departs Kunming South at 8:08 and arrives in Vientiane at 17:38 (1 hour behind China time).

Tickets: Buy Vientiane-Kunming train tickets.

Vientiane-Bangkok

The Vientiane-Bangkok service is an overnight train in each direction. There is a shuttle train between Vientiane Khamsavath Station and Nong Khai Station, and passengers then transfer to a sleeper train from Nong Khai to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal in Bangkok.

Tickets: Buy Bangkok-Vientiane train tickets.

Vientiane-Nong Khai

The Vientiane-Nong Khai service operates once a day in each direction. This service is used to return the sleeper service shuttle train to Thailand.