Laos-China railway was officially opened today

[Moses]

From south of China to Vientian via whole Laos. 160 km/h, modern trains. Now is very easy to reach Luang Prabang's historical and natural reserve area from Vientian.

[dinagam]

Three generations of the Lao people will be paying for the debt incurred as a result of the Chinese hegemony over poor neighbours.

[Moses]

Three generations of the Lao people will be paying for the debt incurred as a result of the Chinese hegemony over poor neighbours.

As per my sources present "generations" from Luang Prabang are very happy with this railway - it will bring much more tourists to area. Means it will bring more money.

[goji]

I'd be a customer if Laos would open the borders to tourists. Preferably during the sweet spot when China still has severe restrictions on returning tourists, therefore limiting their numbers.

[a447]

As per my sources present "generations" from Luang Prabang are very happy with this railway - it will bring much more tourists to area. Means it will bring more money.

And like goji, I'd also like to go to Laos, perhaps as a side-trip from Thailand.

I've been twice and although I'd probably give Vientiane a miss I'd go back to Luang Prabang.

The first time, I flew on a shakey old ATR-72 turboprop - I was sitting right next to the propeller. Had I known it was not going to be a jet aircraft I would never have flown.

Now that there's a train, it means I can go back. I just wonder why the train is so slow, as bullet trains in Japan, China and South Korea travel at 300 kph. Did the Chinese use last generation technology?

[goji]

The first time, I flew on a shakey old ATR-72 turboprop - I was sitting right next to the propeller. Had I known it was not going to be a jet aircraft I would never have flown.

I once took a domestic flight from Paakse to Vientiane, having confirmed they run "western" aircraft and was expecting an ATR. My bag was weighed on a scale with a pointer and the baggage handling system carried it out of the door on his back.
As I walked out to the plane, I realised it was a Chinese Avic. Thankfully it got us there, unlike an ATR which ended up in the river a few months later.

On an earlier trip, my journey to Liang Prabang was overland. Six hours from Viang Vieng in a minibus, on twisty mountain roads. Spectacular views. The most spectacular of all was 3 lads taking a roadside shower, presumably fed by a mountain stream. Totally naked, so some of these mountain dwellers were far less shy than the lads from the city.

[latintopxxx]

hopefully the Pattaya of yesterday will be reborn ...

[christianpfc]

I saw the construction sites in Luang Phrabang and along the road to Vientiane in 2018. Now just a gap of about 20 km is missing to connect it to Thailand rail network. But in China they use railway tracks 1435 mm, and in Thailand 1000 mm. It will be a while until you can go from Bangkok to Kunming.

[latintopxxx]

...why...??? just hop onto another train

[dinagam]

Now there is only one railway station in Vientiane at Thanaleng across the Mekong from the Nong Khai railway station where passengers from the Thai railway alight for onwards transfer by road to the city. For the time being there is no rail connection between the new Vientiane station to existing line going across the Mekong to Thailand.