NEW DIRECT ROUTE: Bangkok to Vientiane Train Review🇹🇭🇱🇦 [4k]

[@TigW007]

Wow, wow, wow. Your editing effort did not go unnoticed! I can’t imagine how many hours this took to put together

[@balloonchaser]

That's really nice of you to notice! Appreciate your comment really!

[@WalkingmanPattaya]

No food or drink OMG!! The size of the train stations is grandiose, good for those who like to walk 555 Another very informative video BC, Thank you, all useful tips to know!

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Ric. I think probably vendors did get on to sell food in Third Class, and they never made it as far as my carriage. Newbies error on my part! When I did finally get a coffee it tasted way better than it probably was! I thought Laos was definitely worth visiting.

[@lettravelkh]

Thank you for your informative video ❤

[@balloonchaser]

It's my absolute pleasure!

[@princesspeacock]

Thank you for the informative video with tips like free shower at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central station, bring food & water on train ride. Much appreciated! Planning to travel from Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - China by land and this is definitely a part of the journey I will take :)

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for your positive comment. Having a hot shower before a long train journey is a bit of luxury! I just did another train trip from Bangkok to Kuala lumpur and Singapore. Check out those videos, too! Your journey sounds great!

[@quiqueenri]

This is such an amazing and very informative video!!! Thank you!!

[@balloonchaser]

Hey! That's really kind of you to say so! 👍

[@geofferyrobertson6608]

well documented video mate ... well done

[@balloonchaser]

Cheers, Geoffrey, always appreciate positive feedback! 👍

[@amunra5330]

Wonderful to see this type of infrastructure in SE Asia.

[@balloonchaser]

The rail system is slowly getting better in Thailand, but the big step will be the introduction of high speed trains. Meanwhile, as we see here, the connectivity between countries is improving, too!

[@richardontube]

Always comprehensive and entertaining. Great job!

[@balloonchaser]

Very nice of you to say so, Richard. Thanks!

[@secretaryceo6025]

Great sharing. Will try this route in Jan 2025.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, I recommend booking early because it gets booked up well in advance. If you've already booked - have a great trip!

[@tomntej2316]

I want to try in Jan 25 too See you over here ....

[@balloonchaser]

@tomntej2316 Gentle reminder to everyone that the sleeper berths on this train get booked up well in advance. But an alternative is to catch a sleeper train from Bangkok to Nong Khai, and then switch to a seat on the Vientiane train for the last part of the journey.

[@user-retsailor]

Nice video; good information. Thank you.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks for the positive feedback. It's appreciated!

[@LePubPattaya]

Nice video.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks, Phil!

[@Goldfinger555]

Thanks - most interesting. I’m heading to Laos in October for a bike tour so I’l be closely watching your upcoming videos. But I’ll be flying to Vientiane and out of Luang Prabang. You are a real trooper to take these slow trains which reinforces my desire to fly. Lol!

[@balloonchaser]

Cheers. The train between Vientiane and Luang Prabang us s loy more modern then the one that caresses the Thai border!

[@BushmanUKoriginal]

Another excellent video, nicely done. First bushman in Laos coming up……

[@balloonchaser]

I think that would be really fun. Although the Police did look fairly serious!

[@OrielVillaruel]

Thank you for this!!!!! ❤❤❤

[@balloonchaser]

My absolute pleasure 👍

[@zpygym6770]

Thanks for the information.

[@balloonchaser]

Always a pleasure!

[@MalMilligan]

Aother excellent vlog. I have a multi-entry retirement visa now so I should start taking advantage of it with side trips. In 31 years traveling to Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia... I never went to Laos. After seeing this, it most likely will be my next trip. I'll talk with True 5G about "roaming" next. Thanks !!

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks, Mal. Coincidentally I'd never been to Laos, either, but I saw enough on this brief trip to make me think I should go back and visit other parts of the country. Multiple entry permit is so useful for doing numerous short trips.

[@foolc8360]

Wow! Thanks for ur info! This new opening railway or route directly from Bangkok to Vientiane is just what i need! I am planning to go to Kunming, China. But am worried about the journey from Bangkok to Vientiane. Cos in the others video i had watched, they had so many transits! 😂

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks. I've been looking at Kunming also. I like the look of their short-term visa. Obviously, you still have to change stations in Vientiane, but the direct service from Bangkok definitely improves things!

[@foolc8360]

@@balloonchaser may I know, once the train arrived in Vientiane, is this the area where they called Luang Prabang? Or I still need to take train to Luang Prabang that goes to Boten?

[@balloonchaser]

@foolc8360 You need to take another train. The good news is that since the end of 2021, it's a 160 km/h train that links Vientiane & Luang Prabang, and it goes twice a day in less than 2 hours.

[@foolc8360]

@@balloonchaser tqvm for Ur info n reply! Really appreciate it! If U have any chance of visiting Brunei , feel free to ask me anything.

[@balloonchaser]

@@foolc8360 Many thanks for your support. Brunei, maybe one for the future! 👍

[@jim.pearsall]

Thanks! 👏🏻👍🏻

[@balloonchaser]

Pleasure, Jim!

[@sandgroper1980]

G'day BC , a very enjoyable production again covering all the points that need to be known and considered. Hope you enjoyed yourself in Laos mate 👍🏼🍻🇦🇺

[@balloonchaser]

Hi SG. Thanks for the compliment! It was a fun trip, but I'm back already. How's things going with you?

[@sandgroper1980]

@@balloonchaser All good with us thanks BC , we are off to BKK in a couple of hours but we have thoroughly enjoyed our month in Thailand and our 2 weeks in Pattaya. It was really great to meet you mate ! Thanks so much ! Will touch base again next time we are in LOS . Until then we'll continue to enjoy your videos 👍🏼🍻🇦🇺

[@balloonchaser]

@sandgroper1980 Wow, time flies, mate! Hopefully it will also move quickly until the next time you visit. Great to meet you too! Regards to your family!

[@freibert]

Hua Lamphong out of long distance service! Loved that station .. Interesting you can cross the Mekong by rail now //

[@balloonchaser]

Yes, it's a shame that there's not any long distance trains from Hua Lamphong anymore. But I guess we can't stand in the way of progress. Really was a beautiful place to start journeys!

[@ThaiLifeChronicles]

Super cool video. Ya when my wife and cross the boarder she takes forever LOL and I get right through super quick with my E-visa.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks for your positive comment! I'm told you can't use an e visa at this particular crossing, which is a shame. Hopefully, that will change!

[@mothoin]

Great blog, thanks again for sharing. I've been to laos a few times crossing the Friendship Bridge. Nice to know there's another option.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Patrick. Glad you enjoyed it. I think this rail option will become more popular as people find out about it. Certainly a useful alternative to other routes! Cheers!

[@mothoin]

@balloonchaser I think its aimed more at the Thai and Laos market. The farangs might prefer to fly to udon with the likes of Air Asia or Nok, maybe spend a night or 2 there then get the train to Nong Khai for 11 baht or a bus from Central for 50 and from there cross the bridge into Laos. Unless you're an expat or have lots of time on your hands then a 12 hour night train isn't worth the savings.

[@balloonchaser]

​@mothoin Many thanks, you're probably right about the target audience. You can't really justify the length of the trip with all those alternatives. Unless you treat the trip as being part of trip itself. Then it's nice to be able to travel directly from Bangkok. Slow Travel 2024 style!😊

[@mothoin]

@@balloonchaser yes, when you've all the time in the world then slow travel is the way to go

[@balloonchaser]

@@mothoin Absolutely right. Seems to becoming more and more popular. I'm certainly not in any hurry!

[@wadawads]

Very interesting and informative.. I need to visit Laos and Indonesia to complete se Asia.. oh and Singapore :-)

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks. I've got so many places I still want to visit. It's almost scary. But I'm going to make the effort!

[@jimmyboysmovies1972]

Bangkok, Thailand is getting so well connected now by train the new lines and upgrades will make it so easy to get around . The train looked decent . I will be honest BC not sure I could share a cabin 🫣. Great vlog as always are you gonna do some film in Laos 🇱🇦 ? Enjoy your trip

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Jimmy. I'm not really one for sharing either to be honest with you. I prefer trains with first class where you can book a room and close the door! Unfortunately no first class on this route yet. But a few minutes after boarding most people just rest on the bed behind the curtain and you don't see or hear from them until morning. I was on a very quick visit to try the train. Plans to go back and explore in near future!

[@maxineb9598]

​@@balloonchaserTry the trains in China ( and maybe ones in Vietnam used to be like it) where 2nd class sleepers were 3 bunks each side. Always a bugger having to throw yourself into the middle one only to end up feeling claustrophobic.

[@balloonchaser]

@maxineb9598 Wow, haven't seen ones like that. Not sure I'd like to be the meat in a bunk bed sandwich, but it certainly sounds different!

[@jimmyboysmovies1972]

@@balloonchaser 😂😂😂

[@davidbuckley9307]

Another good clip mate

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for the positive feedback, David!

[@davidbuckley9307]

@@balloonchaser Its great, im relocating in November, possibly to Pattaya. One of the main attractions to living in Thailand will be visiting other locations on a long weeked etc, Samui, Phuket, Hua Hinn etc. The alternatives to flying is great, overnight trains, buses etc. Your clips are really well put together. Thanks again

[@balloonchaser]

@davidbuckley9307 Many thanks for the compliment, David. I'm in Pattaya at the moment, but I spent 10 years living in Bangkok. To be honest, starting trips to all the places you've mentioned is much easier from Bangkok. So much so that I'm looking to move back there in the next few weeks!

[@davidbuckley9307]

@@balloonchaser Yeah, i could see why. I do love BKK and have thought about it. I will def start in Pattaya, hour and half away, BKK is always going to be a once possibly every couple of months weekend away. Keep them coming

[@balloonchaser]

@davidbuckley9307 Yes, David. Kind of the opposite of what I did at first. I had a place in Bangkok and then came to Pattaya some weekends, just to relax by the beach. As you say, it's not that far! For travelling Bangkok is the obvious starting place but you can always overnight in Bangkok and then start your next journey fresh the next day. It's all good, mate!

[@lousison7204]

This is very helpful! Thank you! 🙏🏻😊 Would you remember the time you arrived at Khamsavath station including the queue at Laos immigration? If it states that it will arrive at 09:05am so there’s an additional 20minutes for the queue then it finishes at approximately 9:30am? 🤔 Because I just booked an appointment at Embassy of Thailand in Vientianne between 9am-12nn, I’m calculating it if I will arrive on time plus I’ll book Indrive taxi that you recommended to go straight there that says on Google map that will take 18mins. by car. Let me know.. Thank you again 🙏🏻☺️

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks. In terms of timing it's difficult to be precise on any one day because there's so many variables and a lot is down to luck. The train should arrive at 9.05 as you said. However today it arrived at 9.28 (I just checked). Immigration can be quick if you are at the front of the line. One important thing is make sure you have a pen with you to fill out the forms. I wasted a good few minutes by not having one. The line for people paying 40 dollars moved quicker than the free entry for Asians. But probably allow 30 minutes, based on my experience. Hope this helps.

[@lousison7204]

@@balloonchaser I appreciate the quick response 🙏🏻 I’m Filipino (free visa upon entry) so it seems that it will take longer for me 😅 I’ll bring a pen then, thank you! ☺️ I’m still deciding if i’ll book the train a day earlier instead or same day of arrival with my appointment. Whew! But I’ll keep on checking their times of arrival to give me an idea… Thanks again and more power to your vlogs! 💫✨

[@balloonchaser]

@lousison7204 it's my pleasure to help. Yes, the thai train tracker will give you a good idea if the train is regularly late. It was on the day I went. I should also say, because I went in the first week of operation, the visa process wasn't straightforward. It might be better now as they're using the proper immigration desks. The queues will be better organised.

[@lousison7204]

@@balloonchaser Thai train tracker, it is! 😍 Will keep on monitoring 👀

[@smileofasia-travel]

Very informative video... well done... The question remains what happens when you disembark the train in Nong Khai to get your exit stamp and your visa on arrival for entering Laos. I imagine there are long waiting queues everytime... Does the train you came with from Bangkok actually wait for all passengers to sort out their paperwork and then continues to the new railway station in Vientiane... or do you embark on another shuttle train that will do the short shuttle across the Mekong river? Thanks to let us know...

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks for the positive feedback and your question. The train stops at Nong Khai, and everyone gets off. The train then moves down the platform, which is beyond the Thai immigration booths. As people are just exiting Thailand (for immigration purposes), at this point, the process was pretty quick. The train waits for everyone to get back on and then proceeds directly to the new station at Khamsavath Vientiane. This is where the immigration checks to enter Laos are done. For me, the process took a little longer. The lines weren't very well organised, BUT I went early on, and I'm told it's better now. So there's no need to get a shuttle service. Without meaning to complicate my answer some people do choose to get a first class sleeper from Bangkok to Nong Khai, probably because it's a newer train and has first class available. They then wait for the train I caught (a couple of hours?) and buy a Third Class seat for the final leg into Vientiane. Hope that makes sense.

[@thecryptostrategist2433]

I like that station. A massive step up from some of the older infrastructure. I would not use this service though as 12 hours on a train is a nightmare and it is not easy to sleep at all with all the motion going on and brightness - at least for me.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, David. The stations at both ends of this route look like they were constructed for the next 20 years plus. I know Bangkok will have the high speed trains eventually, but not sure what the plans for Vientiane stations are. I have to agree with you on sleeping. 4 people in my sleeping "room". 3 from different countries woke up saying how well they slept. Me questioning whether I actually slept at all!

[@charlesdowning5899]

Great video, very informative. Is the old train station still there or has it been torn down?

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Charlie. The line itself has been extended, so this is a new station closer to the centre of Vientiane. The old terminal station Thanaleng seems to be closed, although the train paused as the Thai driver and staff are replaced by Laos ones. Hope you are well!

[@fayetravels5403]

Great info! We will surely try this out!!

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks! I'm sure you'll enjoy it 👍

[@PeterBren]

I have done that trip many times. I used to leave the train at korat and have a night there. It would be horrendous to do it in one trip.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Peter. My reason for trying it was because they opened the line extension and new station at vientiane. And they added a sleeper carriage to the train that used to terminate at Nong Khai (I think!). For me it wasn't horrendous, but would have been better had they added a first class carruage and some more food! Breaking the journey might still be a good idea as well!

[@PREPFORIT]

Thanks again B.C !

[@balloonchaser]

Always a pleasure, PFI !

[@henryszlanta5350]

Thank you for information, 👍🙏

[@balloonchaser]

My pleasure, Henry. Hope it's useful.

[@dalesanton4336]

Thanks for the great informative content. I would just like to know around what time did you arrive at Kamsavath station? I have to make an appointment at the Thai embassy so I have to plan my schedule accordingly

[@balloonchaser]

My pleasure and thanks. I think it was around 09.30am when we arrived as we were a bit late.

[@GaryMon5050]

Hi mate Thanks for info great video .I are planning on going with my wife to Laos beginning Dec from Korat Nakhon Ratchasima to have a break and also get another visa on arrival I guess you were asleep when you passed through Korat 😆 did you get 60 day visa when you returned to Thailand ? cheers Gary and Mon 50/50

[@balloonchaser]

Hi Gary & and Mon, and thanks for your comment. I don't think this service stops at Korat, so that's my excuse for missing it. Although I have been there a few times. I'm sure you'll have a great trip if you go by train to Laos. For me, I'm on a one year visa, so as long as I remember to get a re-entry permit, I'm good for the remainder of my visa time!

[@patrick1992]

Its not anymore possible to book the ticket from Bangkok to Vientiane? I dont find any rout when i search the website or app? I checked now the 12go app there I find some normal searts every day and sleeper seats only on Sunday 😅

[@balloonchaser]

I'm guessing you are entering your starting station as "Bangkok" (which is logical), whereas you actually need to search from "Krung Thep Aphiwat." Hopefully, that will fix your issue.

[@patrick1992]

​​@@balloonchasernice to know thanks. Yes now I find the route on the d app but it seems to be booked out for the sleeper cabin 😅 The first free sleeper seat I find today 14.10.2024 is on the 02.01.2025. So you have to book minimum 1,5 months in advance if you want to get a sleeper cabin 😅

[@balloonchaser]

@patrick1992 Patrick, that's one thing that really frustrates me with the SRT. They can see the same as you can see. That the sleeper coach is booked out weeks in advance during high season. So why have only one single sleeper carriage on that train? Surely, they must be able to add another carriage or 2 to satisfy the demand and increase revenue? It's soooo frustrating! The only thing I'd say is that sometimes there are cancellations, and on some trains, they hold a few tickets back until the afternoon of departure. And there's also the waiting list option. But not ideal, to be honest.

[@jeffrussell488]

Another excellent presented production biff bang bosh straight to all the bullet points that the viewer wants to know 😊 saved me $40 too as the big LB I'm smashing is from Laos and just asked me the other day to take her on this journey. The $40 visa fee will give me a good excuse not to go and probably save me a beating from her, she's a strong lass 😂

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks for the positive feedback, Jeff. Always appreciate it. Visa seems a bit steep for a short visit, but actually valid for 30 days. Would like to have stayed longer tbh. Asians get in free but waited over 30 minutes in line. Laos does online visas, but they aren't accepted at this entry point for some reason. So there's another ready-made excuse if you need one!

[@vientianetv7384]

@@balloonchaser The visa to each country costs differently... to some countries it is free (all ASEAN countries and some countries...), to some countries the visa costs 20 dollars, 30 dollars, 40 dollars, but it seems that the most expensive visa is to Canada - 45 dollars...

[@balloonchaser]

@@vientianetv7384 Many thanks for the additional information. That's useful to know. Cheers!

[@farsep7067]

❤❤❤ Thanks

[@balloonchaser]

Always a pleasure 👍

[@curiouspov]

Great video! Where do you get the Laos visa though? :)

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks! Visa at Vientiane railway station. Don't forget to bring a pen to fill out the forms more quickly. And forty dollars it cost me paid in US currency :-)

[@curiouspov]

Perfect, thank you! 😊

[@tomntej2316]

🙏🙏 very much ❤️

[@balloonchaser]

My pleasure 👍

[@akritibindal8926]

Amazing video!! So informative! A quick question, do you know if people who already had a e-visa for Loas could enter directly? I know you took visa on arrival.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks! I don't know what should happen, but the person in front of me in the queue actually had an e-visa. He was told that e-visas can't be processed there, and he would need to enter by a different checkpoint. (How that might work wasn't explained). He was then he could buy a "visa on arrival" and enter at the railway station, so he got the same visa as I got. Whether that will change in the future, I don't know. But that's what I saw when I arrived.

[@keithwinters3031]

Great vid. Thanks. Very useful. What was the length of stay granted in Lao.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks, Keith. The visa on arrival gave me a 30 day permission to stay. I'd have loved to have been able to stay longer. I'll return!

[@user-zm9gc1kt8b]

The train does have a food carriage which you have to ask where it is.

[@balloonchaser]

Many thanks for the information. I probably just needed to walk further down the train then. 👍

[@bigbopper6311]

super job BC. guess the upper bunks are cheaper because farts, being lighter than air, rise.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, BB. Normally the upper bunk is cheaper because it doesn't have access to a window. But here, neither berth has a window. It's lucky you explained the real reason for the price difference to me!

[@bigbopper6311]

@@balloonchaser Always happy to help.

[@balloonchaser]

@bigbopper6311 With me being the occupant of the lower bunk, that was a huge clue, on reflection 😀

[@WanderlustReports]

Nice one, BC! But for 12 hours, I'll fly, and diectly to Luang Prabang, clearly more interesting than Vientiane.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Alain. My original plan was to go Luang Prabang business class on one of their super modern Laos China trains. Didn't make it thus trip, but will on the next one! The French influence around Vientiane is nice!

[@rogerstokes2646]

Good work again…was that an eSIM you used or a SIM card prior to your journey?

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Roger. I use a physical sim card in Thailand, and I added a 3 day roaming package (data only) for 199 baht from the MyAis app online. Worked fine!

[@peapaulofthailand6539]

Haven't yet made it to Laos, so it is an interesting option. From the video it looked reasonably busy on the train. I wondered if they were Laos nationals or Thais mostly? Was there a particular age demographic?

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Paul. I think the train looks busy because only a small number of carriages actually cross the border. So other than third class, there's just one second-class air-conditioned seated carriage and one second class sleeper carriage. In terms of the demographic in my carriage, there were some Thais, some Koreans, and some Filipino people. Mostly fairly young I'd say. But then again, everyone looks young to me these days!

[@peapaulofthailand6539]

@@balloonchaser I was about to say looking "young" to you. Surely that is a majority 😉 I hope there is a follow up vlog around Laos

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

Cheers for the tips etc, thats great that they accept the Baht, did you have to do a quick calculation when handing over the baht or do they have both prices displayed.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Steve. I just did the quick calculation using 600 kip to the Baht, which isn't far off. Didn't notice anywhere trying to use a dodgy conversion as a rip-off. Think many places would rather have the baht. Always worth checking that they are ok to accept baht before ordering. There was just one place, a food court in a shopping centre, that said no baht. Otherwise, all good!

[@vientianetv7384]

Well, you probably don't want to exchange Thai baht for Laotian kip...Do you know why all the Thais come to Laos, first of all, they exchange Thai wat for Laotian kip? because in any restaurants, shops, taxis, hotels etc., if you want to pay Thai baht (not Laotian kip), then they give you the price they want, and not like the rate in banks, where for every baht you lose 100 kip...for example, the rate at the bank is 1 Thai wat = 650 kip, in shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. they will calculate what rate is profitable for them, for example, 1 Thai wat = 550 kip, and not 650 kip, like the rate at the bank...That's why every tourist, every person, when you travel to any country, must exchange for the currencies of the country where you are.

[@gaogeorge]

If this railway could prolong to China that will be nice choice for me to go to Bangkok😊

[@balloonchaser]

Hopefully, in the future! The best option at the moment by train is from Yunnan to Vientiane and then change stations and then get the direct train to Bangkok. Not sure it's the quickest or most convenient, but it would be an adventure! Thanks!

[@gaogeorge]

@@balloonchaser this is the Chinese dream about the expressway from China to Singapore

[@balloonchaser]

@@gaogeorge I guess it's going to happen, but when I'm not sure yet! 😕

[@lori25hu]

i just saw some very informative videos and want to ask how can i find out at what time is the last ferry from KOH SAMET to RAYONG pier ??? thank you 🤝

[@balloonchaser]

There are various companies operating slow and speed boat services between Koh Samet and Ban Phe (Rayong). Scheduled boat services only run in daylight, from around 07:00 - 18:00 daily year round.

[@lori25hu]

@@balloonchaser that’s great info ℹ️ Better off booking a stay 😅 don’t wanna miss the fire show, cheers

[@balloonchaser]

@@lori25hu Yeah, fire show more suited to after dark than trying to navigate a ferry full of people! 😀 👍

[@vgshwk]

Surprised there is a direct to Vientiane as there are so many people going in between Bangkok and Khoi kaen or udon Thani.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks. It's a new thing that started on 19th July 2024. There's also a separate train running from Udon Thani, so there's two direct services running. Obviously, they stop at other stations, so for example, some people got on at Nong Khai. Anyway, interesting new line extension to the outskirts of Vientiane!

[@yaterspoon57]

Welcome to Laos. Rhymes with blouse.

[@balloonchaser]

That may be true for you, depending on where you come from, but it's not true for Laotians,Thais or most Europeans.

[@yaterspoon57]

@balloonchaser You didn't spend much time is Laos did you?

[@balloonchaser]

@yaterspoon57 I spent time making a video about how to get there from Thailand and spoke to dozens of locals and visitors and read the signs. Hopefully, that is useful to some people. 👍

[@AnwarHossain-ir3mv]

Thanks Thai & Lao government for this cheaper & wonderful transport,, How we can collect ticket, i's it’s possible by online ?

[@balloonchaser]

Yes, you can buy online using the State Railway of Thailand website or the d-ticket application available to download on playstore or appstore.

[@bijanbayne3259]

What's Laos' entry visa (or waiver) requirement for Westerners, and how long a trip are we talking? I rode a train from Ban Lamphung to the Cambodian border last week. About five hours. Was headed to Siem Reap

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for the question. I'm told that different passport holders may have different rules applied. I hold a UK passport and I was given a 30 day visa on arrival for 40 USD. The train journey from Bangkok to Vientiane takes almost 12 hours, and this includes a 40 minute stop at Nong Khai where passengers to through Thai immigration formalities to "exit" the country. Hope this helps.

[@NainNem]

do you know why on 12go i can’t book sleeper tickets? thanks for the video!!

[@balloonchaser]

I think it probably depends on how far in advance you're trying to book? I know when I went, there was only one sleeper carriage, and that is nowhere near enough capacity for demand. So certainly, they get booked up weeks or months in advance. Another alternative is to get a sleeper from Bangkok to Nong Khai. There's one that arrives a couple of hours before the direct train. Then, wait at Nong Khai and get a seat in third class on the Laos bound train for the last leg of the journey.

[@NainNem]

@@balloonchaser thanks! it’s for the end of the month and i’m on waiting list on the app you mentioned! thanks for the tip. do you know if the quality of the Nhong Khai bus is similar? Would love to spend the night laying down rather than sitting if that alternative you mention is good enough. thanks again!

[@balloonchaser]

@NainNem Train number 25 goes from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Nong Khai. It's a newer train with First and second class sleeper berths. I even saw some availability at end of January. It arrives 06.25am, then book a seat on Laos train. It's not far.

[@NainNem]

@ thanks i think we will do that if you think it’s convenient enough!

[@balloonchaser]

@NainNem Some people actually prefer it. I'm sure you'll have a great time

[@sushmatamang1910]

When i again come back to thailand by the same train am i getting visa at the same stop for thailand

[@balloonchaser]

Yes, you'll get your thai visa stamp at Nong Khai on the way back.

[@bensmith1448]

I'm currently trying to book a sleeper from Bangkok to Vientiane in January 2025, but can't find any tickets on 12Go or the official railway site? Any ideas?!

[@balloonchaser]

Yes, Ben. The most common problem is that people naturally search from "Bangkok," which is logical. But you need to use Krung Thep Aphiwat as your starting point. I've just checked, lots of availability for January 2025. Let me know if this works!

[@bensmith1448]

@@balloonchaser Legend thanks! Out of interest what would you choose, direct train to Vientiane in 2nd class sleeper, or train to Nong Khiaw in 1st class sleeper followed by the border crossing etc.?

[@balloonchaser]

@@bensmith1448 Glad to help. I think I'd probably take the second class all the way, although first class and change at Nong Khai is definitely an alternative. Personal choice at the end of the day 👍

[@jjacques-y6x]

great, what is adress of the new station please, thanks

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks. This is the Google maps location maps.app.goo.gl/q8j93bRTtZbvHJUB9

[@aemjay7225]

So we can use Thai Baht in all of Laos?

[@balloonchaser]

I certainly can't guarantee that, I'm afraid. All I can say is that on my short trip to Vientiane, Thai Baht was welcomed (albeit the exchange rate used was probably not the best). So for convenience when coming from Thailand to Vientiane, it was useful to be able to pay in Baht. Interestingly, to pay for your visa, they want American Dollars for that. You will get Laotian Kip as change, even if you pay in another currency. So it's inevitable you'll end up with small change in Kip. I can't comment on the situation in the country as a whole as thus far I've only got as far as Vientiane.

[@ericdewanderer]

Hi, does this route also go vice versa? Laos to Thailand? And iif you happen to know, is there a train from Laos to Vietnam too?Please reply. Thank you 😀

[@balloonchaser]

Firet the good news. Yes, this train does the return journey, so you can definitely get a train from vientiane to Bangkok. It's train number 134 and departs at 18.25 and arrives in Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat at 07.30. Now the bad news. As far as I know it is not possible to travel by train from Laos to Vietnam because there is no railway line. But there is a plan to build a railway link in the near future.

[@ericdewanderer]

@@balloonchaser oh wow! quick response thanks alot! I do have a lot of questions as I plan to travel Thailand, Laos and Vietnam just not sure though where my first base would be.

[@balloonchaser]

@ejtraveler I've never been to Vietnam, although I plan to. Laos just one trip, but I'll try the Laos China railway in the next few months. And Thailand, I've lived for 15 years and have been on quite a few trains!

[@sushmatamang1910]

And for the laos visa can i pay by bhat or any card

[@balloonchaser]

They told me cash only in US Dollars or Thai Baht

[@ayrabrigette1685]

Hi sir! What do you mean by re-entry permits are not available in Nhong Kai?

[@balloonchaser]

I have a one-year Thai visa. To maintain that, I need a re-entry permit for when I return to Thailand. I was informed that these are not available at the Nong Khai Railway Station crossing and, therefore, need to be obtained before (at a local immigration office). This only affects people on long-term Thai visas.

[@ayrabrigette1685]

@@balloonchaser Oh thanks for this. I really appreciate this video as there were few vlogs about this new route. Just a quick question again, we can easily go back from vientiane to thailand through this route again right? I jsut booked the tickets roundtrip. Thanks so much. This is really helpful!

[@balloonchaser]

@ayrabrigette1685 Yes, absolutely! There should be no difficulty in doing a round trip on this route at all! Sit back, relax, and enjoy. I'm sure you'll love it!

[@jeffrussell488]

@@ayrabrigette1685no you can't, all the trains are one way, there's a big train scrapyard next stop CLOWN

[@ayrabrigette1685]

@@jeffrussell488 What do you mean? I was able to book them.

[@Monamimonde]

Hi if u are still sleeping once you arrived in the border is there anyone who will wake you up?

[@balloonchaser]

If you are in a sleeping berth, they'll come round and wake you up to change the bed back into a bench seat. If you're in a seat, I guess that they'll wake you up at Vientiane station, which is where immigration is!

[@smessdup5286]

Hi mate i am back in Australia for a while lol😂

[@balloonchaser]

Hi! No trains between Australia and Thailand, yet! When you in Thailand?

[@smessdup5286]

@balloonchaser maybe a few months, then we should catch up

[@balloonchaser]

​@@smessdup5286Look forward to it, mate!

[@pherdauzjivrailishmael7078]

Singapore...kuala Lumpur Bangkok vietine

[@balloonchaser]

Just looking right now about going to Hat Yai and then crossing into Malaysia to head to KL. Love to go by rail to Singapore. One of my favourite places in Asia, so far!

[@lyndonbalaga22]

Was the sleeper carriage cold?

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for the question. I'd read elsewhere that the trains were freezing. That's certainly true of the second class seated carriage. But my sleeper carriage wasn't really cold when I went. I did take a thin hoodie just in case. It's probably best to be prepared, but the night I went it was OK.

[@banpaksebangfaixaibouri1107]

The used train from Japan.

[@balloonchaser]

Unfortunately, Thailand doesn't have many new trains for the railway. Think the newest ones are the CNR carriages that were bought from China in 2016. But SRT staff are very good at reconditioning old stock!

[@sarathdassanaike2807]

I visited Thailand 🇹🇭 by train by Highways and by Boat I couldn't enter Laos 🇱🇦 or Cambodia 🇰🇭 I from Sri Lanka Sarath Dassanaike a Sinhalese and Buddhist from Sri Lanka

[@balloonchaser]

Welcome to the channel and many thanks for your comments. Sorry you couldn't get to Laos and Cambodia. Hopefully, one day!

[@vientianetv7384]

Well, you probably don't want to exchange Thai baht for Laotian kip...Do you know why all the Thais come to Laos, first of all, they exchange Thai wat for Laotian kip? because in any restaurants, shops, taxis, hotels etc., if you want to pay Thai baht (not Laotian kip), then they give you the price they want, and not like the rate in banks, where for every baht you lose 100 kip...for example, the rate at the bank is 1 Thai wat = 650 kip, in shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. they will calculate what rate is profitable for them, for example, 1 Thai wat = 550 kip, and not 650 kip, like the rate at the bank...That's why every tourist, every person, when you travel to any country, must exchange for the currencies of the country where you are.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for your input. For me, if I was going to stay in Laos for reasonable amount of time, I'm sure I'd change some currency to Lao Kip. For a short trip, I didn't and that's what I reported here. Yes, you can lose on the exchange rate, but when I sat down with a calculator and worked out how much the difference was, it wasn't significant to me in terms of the overall trip. Thanks for explaining an alternative viewpoint.

[@vientianetv7384]

@@balloonchaser Thais who decided to go to Laos for 2-3 days (Thais give them free 3 days and no passport and no visa if they only go for 3 days)...and so they exchange Thai waht for Laotian kips where they calculate how much money they will spend in 2-3 days...otherwise, for every watt you lose 100 kip... and for every 1000 watts, you lose 100,000 kip, and believe me, that's a lot of money...

[@vientianetv7384]

@@balloonchaser maybe not every hotel, restaurant, shop you will lose 100 kip every Thai watt...maybe 50-70 kip will be lost every watt... but what you will lose is 1000%

[@balloonchaser]

@vientianetv7384 Thanks again for an interesting point. I have to say the worst "exchange" rate I was given was when I asked to pay in baht at an Italian restaurant. The owner explained he could only give 600 kip per baht, on a day when the bank exchange I think was 611. For me, the convenience outweighed any loss. Others may see it quite differently, which of course is fine, and you've provided some interesting food for thought. Thanks.

[@vientianetv7384]

@@balloonchaser yes, in Laos they also accept baht... but if it weren't for the favorable conditions, the Thais wouldn't exchange them for Laotian kip... since they exchanged everything for Laotian kip... it means they had to, otherwise you would have lost a lot of money...

[@khomkritkhomkrit]

Loas the best in the world

[@balloonchaser]

Definitely worth visiting 100% 👍

[@travelnbowls9644]

​@@balloonchaser I tried to book the sleeper seat using the D app unfortunately it's on the waiting list. Hmmm can u help me what to do? TIA

[@balloonchaser]

@travelnbowls9644 The other thing worth trying is to take another sleeper train to Nong khai and swap onto the vientiane train there. You'll be travelling the last section in a seat, not a sleeper berth, but it's an option when tickets are sold out. The vientiane train only has one sleeper carriage, which is not enough !

[@davehobwest]

Yeah the overnight trains don't have the usual flow of food vendors jumping on and off.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Dave. I should have known that before. Rookie error by me! Then again, the food and particularly the coffee, on the overnight to Chiang Mai was excellent. Guess they must have a restaurant car!

[@davehobwest]

fwiw, I'm a rookie on the crossing into Lao thing, and I live in Udon lol.

[@balloonchaser]

​@davehobwest We all learn every day. That's the fun. Or in my case, learn, forget and re-learn! 😅

[@tobyprice1092]

I have seen a load of Thai vloggers changing baht into kip. I've always just used baht. They don't want kip really in Laos and nobody wants it when you go back to Thailand.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks, Toby. That was exactly my experience. Nobody seemed to want Laos Kip, and I don't think you can change it back outside the country. The only good thing was I finally became a millionaire! 😀

[@vientianetv7384]

Well, you probably don't want to exchange Thai baht for Laotian kip...Do you know why all the Thais come to Laos, first of all, they exchange Thai wat for Laotian kip? because in any restaurants, shops, taxis, hotels etc., if you want to pay Thai baht (not Laotian kip), then they give you the price they want, and not like the rate in banks, where for every baht you lose 100 kip...for example, the rate at the bank is 1 Thai wat = 650 kip, in shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. they will calculate what rate is profitable for them, for example, 1 Thai wat = 550 kip, and not 650 kip, like the rate at the bank...That's why every tourist, every person, when you travel to any country, must exchange for the currencies of the country where you are.

[@tobyprice1092]

@@vientianetv7384 Nope. Not correct. Do you not have a currency converter on your phone?

[@vientianetv7384]

@@tobyprice1092 Thais who decided to go to Laos for 2-3 days (Thais give them free 3 days and no passport and no visa if they only go for 3 days)...and so they exchange Thai waht for Laotian kips where they calculate how much money they will spend in 2-3 days...otherwise, for every watt you lose 100 kip... and for every 1000 watts, you lose 100,000 kip, and believe me, that's a lot of money... yes, in Laos they also accept baht... but if it weren't for the favorable conditions, the Thais wouldn't exchange them for Laotian kip... since they exchanged everything for Laotian kip... it means they had to, otherwise you would have lost a lot of money...

[@vientianetv7384]

@@tobyprice1092 for example, in hotels, restaurants, shops, etc... they set a rate that is beneficial to them, and not beneficial to you, like the exchange rate at the bank... well, if you don't want their rate, then they'll tell you to go to the bank to change it and then pay them kip...

[@BushmanUKoriginal]

Hiya, I am a bush.

[@balloonchaser]

I think the "branch line" train maybe more to your liking?

[@pavement422]

It’s Laos with an S. The people are Lao and they speak Lao. But the country is Laos.

[@balloonchaser]

I read it in Thai and I read it in Lao, and that's what I came up with. But as long as we both know what place I'm talking about it's ok by me

[@sengyang6780]

Vientiane pronounce Viengchan. ວຽງຈັນ

[@balloonchaser]

Actually, I do agree with you if you read it in Laos or Thai. You're correct. Thanks.

[@AnwarHossain-ir3mv]

We want Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam Connecting train service from Bangkok

[@balloonchaser]

That would be great. Maybe in the future, especially if those countries agree a common visa allowing freedom of travel

[@45641560456405640563]

Interesting.

[@balloonchaser]

Thanks for your comment