The golden age of train travel in Laos has arrived. With the launch of the new Lao-China high-speed train in 2021, traveling around Laos is now easier than ever! With the train going at 160 km/hr, 4+ times a day, the Vientiane-Luang-Prabang route that would have taken 8+ hours by car now takes only 2 hours.
Traveling around Laos by train is awesome, but it is not without a few caveats. If you plan to visit Laos soon and want to take the train, here are the 10 things you should know before taking the Lao-China high-speed train.
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10 Important Things To Know Before Traveling by Train in Laos
- 1. Do Not Pack Aerosols and Sprays On Your Trip to Laos
- 2. Foreigners can only book through travel agencies
- 3. Book the Train Ticket At Least Day in Advance
- 4. The train stations are often far away from the city
- 5. Be at the Train Station an Hour Early
- 6. Do not throw away your ticket once you get on the train
- 7. Prepare snacks, water, and other essentials for the trip
- 8. You can't travel everywhere with trains
- 9. Traveling with Carry-On luggage is ideal
- 10. Negotiate the Taxi Hard When You Arrive
- Further Reading for Laos
10 Important Things To Know Before Traveling by Train in Laos
1. Do Not Pack Aerosols and Sprays On Your Trip to Laos
One of the first caveats I encountered when planning a train trip around Laos was their airport-level security screening process.
Unlike airplanes, where you can load your luggage onboard, you do not have that luxury when it comes to train travel. Moreover, due to the tight security screening process in place, you are prohibited from carrying the following items into stations or aboard trains:
- Weapons and ammunition of any kind.
- All kinds of explosives.
- Chemicals of any kind.
- Drugs of any kind.
- Sharp objects.
- Animals, both alive and dead.
- Food with strong odors or liquid consistency.
- Liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs).
The last bullet point is where most people get caught during the screening process. Any type of spray, whether it be deodorants, hair sprays, insect repellents, sunscreen sprays, or alcohol hand sprays, will all be thrown away.
They check vigorously for them, so don't expect to hide them somewhere and get away with it. I would recommend that you not pack them in the first place for this trip and buy them as you go. Alternatively, if you plan to return to where you departed, you can leave them with your accommodation and pick them up later. That's how I saved my entire bottle of sunscreen that I just bought 😂.
Water bottles will also be checked, but all you have to do is demonstrate that you can drink it, and you are good to go.
In case you are traveling with a drone like I do, I had no problem with them. The screening process went smoothly despite all my camera gear, so there is no need to worry about that.
All in all, DO NOT PACK any aerosols and sprays with you unless you want them to be among the piles and piles of thrown-away spray bottles in the trash cans.
2. Foreigners can only book through travel agencies
Buying a train ticket in Laos is still a little finicky, especially for foreigners, as they only allow people with a local ID card to purchase it.
The ticket booths are at the train station and are only open a few moments before departure time. You can only buy a ticket that departs from the station you are buying from, so don't expect to get a round-trip ticket here.
Tickets are also available only 3 days in advance, and credit cards are not accepted. There is an online booking app, but it is only for locals.
Then, how the hell do I buy the ticket, you asked? Well, at the moment, you can book it through travel agencies, which you will find plenty of in most cities. You can also ask your accommodation to book it for you. However, the most convenient way I found is to book it online via 12Go.com.
I booked the train tickets with them for the entire trip, and it all went smoothly with no hiccups. The ticket was arranged by RG Adventure via 12Go, and they confirmed the ticket only a few hours after I purchased it.
Depending on the departure point, you will receive an email with the e-ticket containing the QR code that you can use immediately, or they will deliver a physical ticket to your accommodation, which is extremely convenient.
Since they must buy the ticket for you, be sure to book it at least 24 hours in advance. In case they can't get the time you want, they also suggest alternatives and offer a full refund, which is very consumer-friendly.
The price is a tiny bit more expensive (we are talking a few dollars), but the convenience of booking it online and not having to waste time or worrying about it is definitely worth every dime. If you are planning to buy a ticket online, I highly recommend you book it through here.
3. Book the Train Ticket At Least Day in Advance
Rail travel is becoming increasingly popular daily in Laos, and popular routes like Vientiane-Luang Prabang and vice versa are often booked out quickly. So, to secure your seats, I highly recommend that you book at least 24 hours in advance.
A friend of mine tried to book a ticket for the Luang Prabang-Vang Vieng route in the evening the day before, but they could not do so as it was fully booked. On the other hand, I booked it in the morning and got one in time. So, book your ticket at least 24 hours in advance. You can book the ticket here.
4. The train stations are often far away from the city
Unlike train stations in Europe, the train station in Laos is often several kilometers away from the city center, so you must plan accordingly if you are traveling around Laos by train.
For example, the Luang Prabang and Vientiane train stations are more than 40 minutes away, so you have to account for that and get to the train station 1 hour before your departure time.
You will also have to account for the taxi's cost to get there. Usually, you can book a shared transfer from your accommodation, which will be cheaper than hiring a private taxi to get to the train station.
Here are ballpark numbers for the taxi price:
- From Luang Prabang's train station to the city, the shared minivan costs around 35,000 LAK.
- From Vang Vieng's train station to the city, a taxi would cost around 40,000 LAK.
- From Vientiane's train station to the city, the bus would cost 20,000 LAK whereas the shared minivan would cost 50,000 LAK.
5. Be at the Train Station an Hour Early
It is recommended that you be at the train station at least an hour before your departure time due to the security screening and the way the train is operated.
The security process is quite efficient, but the volume of people traveling at certain times can quickly overwhelm it and create a long queue in front of the station, so it is always a good idea to account for that.
The train here runs like Europe, but more orderly, as access to the platform is not available until a few minutes before the arrival time. Additionally, you must queue in front of the wagon you are in at the platform until it arrives.
Once the train arrives, you have only a few minutes to get inside before continuing its journey. The same goes for when you have to get off, with only a few minutes to disembark before the train leaves.
6. Do not throw away your ticket once you get on the train
Always keep the ticket on hand when traveling on the Lao-China high-speed train. They will check your ticket three times throughout the journey, and if you cannot present your ticket at one of the checkpoints, you will have to buy the ticket again.
The first two checkpoints are pretty standard. The moment you enter the terminal, your ticket will be checked, and once the platform is accessible, the ticket will be rechecked before you enter the train.
The last checkpoint is when many people were caught off guard. When you get off the train and exit the terminal, you will be rechecked to prevent people from getting off at the wrong station.
I saw a few people who threw their tickets away, and they had to repurchase the ticket at the exit, so do not throw away your ticket after you are onboard!
7. Prepare snacks, water, and other essentials for the trip
Despite launching in 2021, the railway system here still hasn't quite nailed its service yet. Most of the train stations only have one small shop where you can buy snacks and drinking water, and that is it.
There are free drinking water machines at the train station, but only hot water is available, probably for the instant noodles being sold at the one shop available.
While you are on the train, you can also buy a few drinks and snacks from the food cart, but the prices are a bit inflated, and there aren't many options available. It's best that you pack your own snacks and water before you take the train to Laos.
Also, pack a roll of tissue paper as the toilets, both at the station and on the train, often run out of tissue paper, and you won't find anywhere to buy it at the train station.
That said, this will only improve over time, as I saw a few cafes under construction at the train station. So, maybe in a year or two, we might have more options when it comes to food.
8. You can't travel everywhere with trains
The Lao-China Railway is over 422 km long, but it was built for logistical purposes, not for tourism. As a result, the railway only operates from the Chinese border in the north to Vientiane in the center.
If you want to go anywhere else like Nong Khiaw or the Plain of Jars in Phonsavan, you are going to have to rely on buses and minivans, and that can be quite an excruciatingly long journey, especially the more remote you go.
If you do not have much time in Laos, I highly recommend sticking to visiting places along the rail route. Thankfully, the three most popular tourist cities in Laos – Vientiane, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang – are all located along the train route. Therefore, you should be able to see the highlights of Laos by using only trains.
9. Traveling with Carry-On luggage is ideal
When traveling around Laos by train, it is best to either carry a backpack or a carry-on bag, as you can easily store these above your seat.
But if you are traveling with a big luggage, you will have to leave it in the storage rack located by the toilet, outside of the passenger car, and it is not ideal to have your belongings out of sight.
10. Negotiate the Taxi Hard When You Arrive
Last but not least, once you arrive at the train station, you can usually find shared minivans, taxis, and even buses waiting to take you to the city center, there's no need to organize an expensive transfer beforehand.
They are often waiting for you right outside the exit area, and you will have plenty of options. That said, do not accept the first price they tell you (unless it's the bus). Negotiate for a bit before buying, as you can usually drive the price down to almost the local level if you try hard.
I was in a shared minivan to go to Vientiane's city center, and none of the people in the car paid the same price. The locals paid 50,000 LAK, a Spanish couple paid 150,000 LAK for 2, an Aussie couple paid 150,000 LAK each, and I paid 100,000 LAK as a Thai. That is just how it is here, and we just have to make the best of it.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Laos
Looking for more information for your trip to Laos? Here is a selection of articles that might help you with your trip planning:
- Have more days to spend in Laos and want to thoroughly explore the country from north to south? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Laos Itinerary.
- For a complete Laos backpacking itinerary, check out: 7 Days Backpacking Laos Itinerary By Train.
- Looking for a complete travel guide to Southeast Asia? You should check out our 3-Month Backpacking Itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- Looking to spend some time in Vientiane, the capital city of Laos? Be sure to check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Vientiane.
- Vang Vieng, the adventure hub of Laos, has a lot to offer to those who are seeking adrenaline-rush activities. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Vang Vieng.
- Luang Prabang is definitely my favorite city in Laos, and it is a place not to be missed. Here are the 12 Best Things to Do in Luang Prabang.
- Want to travel from Thailand to Vientiane, Laos? Check this guide out: How to Get From Thailand to Vientiane, Laos & Vice Versa.
- Looking to cross the border from Thailand to Pakse in Southern Laos? Check out: How to Get From Bangkok/Ubon Ratchathani to Pakse, Laos, and Vice Versa.
- Want to cross the border from Mukdahan to Savannakhet in Laos and vice versa? Check out: How to Get From Bangkok/Mukdahan to Savannakhet, Laos & Vice Versa.
- Packing for a trip to visit a place as big as Southeast Asia is extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Southeast Asia - The Essential Packing List.
- Not convinced by my words about Southeast Asia? Here are 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia now.
- You can also watch my travel video about Southeast Asia here: Watch the "Asia Alive" travel video.
- You can see all my Laos-related articles on my Laos Travel Guide page.
- For more Southeast Asia-related articles, check out my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
8 Comments
The last bullet point says "liquids"? So we cant take any suncream, shampoo, hand sanitzier, toothpaste etc like you can on a plane in small bottles? If they are not spray bottles, will they be allowed?
When it says drugs, does it mean medication too like immodium etc?
I was able to take the usual toiletries like shampoo, shower cream, and toothpaste, all regular bottled sized, onto the train just fine. Just make sure they aren't in spray bottles.
That said, they do sometimes check water bottles and they will ask you to drink to prove its content.
For drugs, I believe they meant illegal drugs. They don't check as thoroughly as the aerosols though so you should be fine.
Hey mate took the train last night from LP to VV, just a couple updates for you.
You can buy the tickets in LP from the LCR ticket office, find it on google maps. Just need cash and your passport. Pretty sure there is one in Vientiane too.
To get from LP to the train station, there is a little mart shop type thing just across from the ticket office with a bus sign out front, go inside and the nice aunty will sell you shared minivan pickup for 40k.
Arriving at VV walked outside and there were tuktuk and a mini bus. Mini bus said only 30k to city centre and took us straight there.
I am still in Vang Vieng and have booked a minivan to Vientiane for 150k through my hotel. Everyone I asked have said it's better than the train between these 2 cities.
Thank you for the update! Yes, I also took the van from Vientiane to VV, and the train on the way back. The van is definitely more convenient as they can often pick you up right at the hotel, but it is rather crowded in the van. The train is a bit more comfortable, but you gotta travel quite far to the train station.
Hi thank you for these tips! Can I ask - aftershave and perfume will these be removed?
I don't think those will be allowed in. You might be able to get away at one port but might not at another. I wouldn't risk it, personally.
Hello! Thank you for all of this super helpful information about train travel in Laos. I just booked on 12Go for Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.
Could you please share how to book this minivan you mentioned between Vientiane and Vang Vieng? Did you also use 12Go or is it a different kind of minivan? Thanks!
Yes, you can get one organized from 12Go or through your accommodation. I got mine organized through my guesthouse in Vientiane and they picked me up right at the guest house. It's not very spacious though so be warned.