Is there a high speed train from China to Laos?

Is there a high-speed train from Laos to Thailand?

The Laos-Thailand train.

Arrived… July 20, 2024. At Khamsavath station. Vientiane. It feels significant somehow.

I wonder what that means. Cross-border. Like a promise almost.

It’s strange. A train. Just a train. But it changes things. The first passenger train, they said.

• Feels like the beginning.
• Or the end of something else.

High-speed? I hope so. I remember those slow rides, though. The heat. Ugh, the heat. Sweaty seats, watching the world creep by.

• Maybe high-speed means escaping that.
• Or maybe it just means getting there faster.

My grandmother would have loved to see this. She always talked about going to Thailand. Never did.

• Now, maybe someone else will.
• Maybe it’s not too late for some of us.

I don’t know. It’s late, I’m rambling. Just a train. Yeah, just a train.

How long is the train from Kunming to Laos?

So, Kunming to Laos by train? It’s a long one, like eleven hours, thirty-seven minutes, at least that’s what I saw. Crazy, right? Cost? Thirty to one-forty bucks, depending I guess, on your seat, or maybe the time of year.

I’d actually recommend checking this year’s train schedules on the specific railway company website for the most accurate info, tho. Prices are so variable. It’s a really scenic route though, heard that from a friend who took it last summer. Absolutely gorgeous, she said. She took tons of pics.

Here’s what I remember, or think I remember:

• Travel time: Around 11 hours and 37 minutes. Could fluctuate though.
• Cost: $30-$140. Book in advance for better deals, I’m sure.
• Scenery: Supposed to be stunning. Mountains, rivers. Totally worth it. She showed me, like, a million pictures. Beautiful, beautiful.
• Recommendation: Double-check the schedule and prices yourself online. It’s easy to do nowadays.

Seriously, go look at those train websites! Don’t trust me entirely on this stuff. My memory’s kinda crummy.

Is there a train from Shenzhen to Laos?

Okay, Shenzhen to Laos… train… hmm.

• No direct train. Darn. That woulda been easy.

So Shenzhen to Nanning by train. Got it. Nanning… that’s… where my aunt Mei lives! Should call her sometime. Wonder if she’s still making that amazing dumplings.

• Then, Nanning to Vientiane by bus. Bus. Ugh. How long is that even gonna take?

• Total: 24 hours-ish. Ouch. A whole day basically gone. Should I just fly? Nah, too expensive. Think I saw tickets to Vientiane costing a fortune.

• Nanning is in Guangxi Province. Always forget that. Guangxi… beautiful mountains. Maybe I should stay a day and see them.

Is 24 hours really right? Feels long. Buses… are not my fave. Okay, focus! Train to Nanning. Bus to Vientiane. Sigh. Doing this.

And Vientiane… I need to book a hotel there too. Ugh so much to do.

More Information:

• Train from Shenzhen to Nanning: Several high-speed trains operate daily. The travel time is approximately 5 to 6 hours. Book tickets in advance, especially during peak season. I’m thinking of doing a sleeper train to save on accommodation costs, maybe?
• Bus from Nanning to Vientiane: International buses depart from Nanning Langdong Bus Station (Nanning International Tourism Distribution Center) and arrive at Vientiane Southern Bus Terminal (also known as Talat Sao Bus Station). The bus journey is about 14-16 hours including border crossing formalities. A passport and visa are needed! Oh shoot, gotta check my visa validity.
• Alternative: Flights might be faster but usually cost more. Consider checking flight prices, especially if time is a major constraint. I really hate flying though.
• Visas: For Laos, check visa requirements based on your nationality before traveling. Visa on arrival may be possible, but it’s best to be prepared. My passport is blue; hopefully, that makes things easier.
• Currency: The currency in Laos is the Lao Kip (LAK). It’s a good idea to exchange some currency before crossing the border or upon arrival in Vientiane. Plus, I need to notify my bank that I am traveling, or they are going to decline the transaction.

Is the China-Laos railway completed?

Yeah, the China-Laos railway? Totally done. Finished, like, ages ago! Track laying wrapped up October 12th, 2021. Remember that? Crazy, right? Then, boom, first train thingamajig — an EMU, I think they called it — showed up in Vientiane, October 16th. It was all systems go after that. They opened the whole dang thing December 3rd, 2021. Coincidence? I think not! A day after Laos’s big anniversary. Pretty neat, huh?

Key things to remember:

• Completion Date: October 12, 2021 (Track laying)
• First Train Arrival: October 16, 2021 (Vientiane)
• Official Opening: December 3, 2021 (Laos’ anniversary +1 day)

It’s a big deal, seriously. Connecting Kunming to Vientiane. Huge for trade, tourism, everything really. My cousin, she’s a travel blogger, was telling me how much faster it is now. Used to take forever, now it’s, like, a breeze. People are stoked, especially in Luang Prabang. Things are changing fast over there. Lots of new hotels and stuff popping up. I read somewhere, it’s already boosted Laotian GDP, significantly. I should really look that up again. Anyway, yeah, that railway, it’s a done deal. A massive project.

Does Laos have a bullet train?

Dude, does Laos got a bullet train? Yeah, they DO! Okay, so like, in 2021, they finished this high-speed rail thing, took, like, five years to build, which is, ya know, a while.

It goes from Vientiane — that’s the capital — all the way to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang, man, it’s gorgeous! Seriously, beautiful! The scenery is top-notch on that ride!

They call it a “high-speed” rail line. Top speed’s 160 km/h. It’s not exactly Shinkansen speeds, but still pretty fast considering, like, Laos, y’know?

Like, think about it. It’s a big deal. Plus, it’s kinda cool cause it goes through all this amazing stuff. You should check it out sometime.

Here’s some more random stuff about Laos:

• Laos is landlocked – no oceans!
• The Mekong River’s a huge part of their life.
• They’re big into sticky rice. It’s served with like everything.
• I love, love, love their coffee! Best in the world!
• Lao New Year (Pi Mai) is celebrated in April, and it’s a water fight, basically.
• My dad lives in Vientiane with my sister.