Rail Thailand - Laos

Mainly photos only

D1 : Singapore - Bangkok - NongKhai

D2 : NongKhai - Vientiane

D3 : Vientiane - Luang Prabang

D4 - 5 : Luang Prabang

D6 : Luang Prabang - Kunming

D7 : Kunming, China

Day 1: Singapore - Bangkok - Nongkhai

We started our rail journey from Bangkok to Kunming with a very early morning flight to Bangkok 😴.

We would be taking the Bangkok to NongKhai train in the evening. We had booked into Ibis (again) so that we can take a shower, a place for our luggage and to rest before the train ride. We had lunch at MBK foodcourt, walked through Central, and shopped for snack in BigC.

Krung Thep Aphiwat Train Station

We took the BTS and subway to the train station about two hours prior departure (super kiasu).

We walked around the station and settled down for dinner in the food court. Then we queued at the departure gate (quite excited ) to start the trip (adventure 😚).

Train No. 25

The train scheduled to arrive at Nong Khai at 5:44am and then we had the option to take a bus/car or train 133 into Vientiane. <<Why didn't we book the direct train 133 from Bangkok to Vientiane? There is no first class cabin for two and we have taken the second class train before>>

The cabin is compact and clean with a small table, two bunk bed (upper and lower) at one side and a small wash basin at the other side. There is also a colour monitor with train information and tiolet availability (!). The cafe lady dropped by to take order for the dinner (we did not order). The train departed punctually, and the journey began.

Day 2 Nong Khai - Vientiane

The cabin's air-con was cold and I had a 'quite-okay' sleep as I was tired from having to wake up very early for the flight the day before.

<<HT offered to sleep on the upper bunk since I had taken the upper bunk when we took the Besar Panjang - Bangkok. She had a lousy sleep with the even-colder aircon blowing from the ceiling.... >>

We arrived at NongKhai in the early morning. We had wanted to only decide on the mode of transport to Vientiane when we arrived, suddenly I decided to wait for more than an hour for train 133.

<<The reason for the train? I do not want to 'regret' that there's a tiny section of the rail journey being 'replaced' with a van/bus/car !!! 😏>>

Crossing the Nong Thai - Laos border

We bought the train ticket for Train 133 Rapid.

After Rapid 133 pulled into the station, we queued and cleared the Thai immigration. We then boarded the train to cross the Mekong River and into Laos.

Vientiane

After about half hour on the train, we reached Khamsavath Station. We queued to clear immigration (for visa-free), and finally 'Hello Vientiane, Laos'.

We took the bus to the central bus station, and then a tuk tuk to the hotel.

<<As we were unable to change Kipp in Bangkok, I changed it at the Currency counter at the train station>>

Walking - we walked to the Arc, the morning market, That Dam Stupa (stipa in bell shape), Wat Sisaket and others. We strolled along Rue Setthathilath Road for lunch at Khop Chai Due and coffee break.

Patuxay - Arc de Triomphe,

Temples/Wats - We visited Wat Sisaket, and passed by several other temples.

We were amused by the power cable that zig-zag atop the poles.

We had dinner at Kualao Restaurant, walked to Sithane Road by the Mekong River. We were shocked by high water level of the Mekong River after sighting the submerged amusement parks rides, trees and other structures. It suddenly rained very heavily while we were walking back to the hotel.

Food - I like the Laos food that I ate. I was specially delighted to try fried crickets. Although it did look rather intimidating but it was crunchy and tasty.