Explains the options for overland travel to, from & around Laos. You can now travel between Bangkok & Vientiane by train, as a new rail link opened in March 2009 across the Friendship Bridge from Nong Kai in Thailand to a new international rail terminal at Thanaleng, about 13km short of central Vientiane. The first railway in Laos! You can travel between Vientiane & the amazing city of Luang Prabang either by bus or river boat, and buses link Vientiane with Vietnam. Feedback from travellers to help add to this page would be much appreciated.
It's easy to travel from Bangkok to Vientiane (or vice versa) by train, using the daily overnight sleeper train direct from Bangkok to Nong Khai and a special connecting international shuttle train from Nong Khai to the new international rail terminal at Thanaleng in Laos, some 13 km outside Vientiane. The train uses the new rail link over the Friendship Bridge across the Mekong river into Laos, opened on 5 March 2009. You can then take a local go to central Vientiane. It's safe, cheap and comfortable. Alternatively, you can still travel between Bangkok & Vientiane the old way, using any of the Bangkok-Nong Khai trains