Since their entry into circulation in December 2021, the trains have been traveling on both sides of the border but without crossing it due to restrictions linked to Covid-19.
From this Thursday, April 13, travelers can connect Laos and China by rail on the occasion of the opening of the international section of the Vientiane-Kunming line.
Nearly 1000 km separate the Laotian capital from the capital of Yunnan province in southern China.
For now, only one daily round trip is provided in each direction.
The total travel time of 10h30 is extended due to the double immigration control, one in Boten in Laos, the other in Mohan in China.
The stop lasts an hour and a half each time and travelers must get off the train with all their personal belongings.
The trains, capable of traveling up to 160 km/h, have a dining car and can carry up to 720 passengers divided between six second class cars and one first class.
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From €72 per ticket
To travel the entire line, count between €72 in second class and €115 in first class.
Reservations are made on the official website of Laos-China Railway, the LCR application or with the online travel agency 12Go Asia.
Once purchased online, tickets must be collected at the counter of the departure station upon presentation of your passport.
In two years, 10 million passengers have used the line, according to the Laos-China Railway Company, including 8.7 million on the Chinese section.
The route serves several places of tourist interest, such as the capital of Laos, Vientiane, or the city of Luang Prabang, the former royal capital built on a peninsula formed by the Mekong and the Nam Khan river.
At the other end of the line, Kunming, nicknamed the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its mild weather throughout the year, is particularly known for its Shilin Stone Forest.
The opening of this international link facilitates travel between the countries of Southeast Asia.
Now, for example, it is possible to connect Thailand to China with just one change in Vientiane.