Nong Khai Train Station to Vientiane

There are four ways to travel from Nong Khai Train Station to Vientiane:

• Train: Travel by train from Nong Khai direct to Vientiane.
• Tuk-Tuk, Bus and Minivan: Take a tuk-tuk to the border, a bus over the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge, and then a bus or minivan from there to Vientiane.
• Direct Bus: This service takes passengers from the main bus station in Nong Khai to the main local bus station in Vientiane.
• Minivan Transfer: This service takes passengers from Nong Khai all the way to any destination in Vientiane.

For some travellers the best option is the first one (train) because you avoid the long and chaotic queues to pass through immigration on the Laos side of the bridge. Minivan transfers, however, save you expense and effort of travelling from the train station in Vientiane to the centre of the city.

Train Times from Nong Khai to Laos

There are currently 2 trains a day from Thailand to Laos.

• Buy tickets from Nong Khai to Vientiane.

Trains from Nong Khai to Vientiane in Laos

As there are only two trains a day from Nong Khai to Vientiane in Laos you need to make sure that you arrive in in Nong Khai in time to catch one of those trains. The train journey itself is very quick, only 30 minutes, but it gets you across the border by-passing the usual chaos at the Laos end of the Thai-Laos Friendship Bridge which connects the Thai and Laos sides of the Mekong River.

The cheapest train fare from Nong Khai to Laos is available at Nong Khai Train Station. Tickets purchased in advance online are slightly more expensive:

• 2nd Class
  • Station Price: 120 THB
  • Online Price: 170 THB
• 3rd Class:
  • Station Price: 70 THB
  • Online Price: 120 THB

There is very little difference between 2nd and 3rd class on these trains.

Buying Your Train Tickets to Laos

Tickets can be purchased on the day of travel (if seats are available) at the ticket counters inside Nong Khai Train Station. You can also guarantee a seat on the train by purchasing your tickets online in advance using the Search Box below.

Immigration Procedures for Entering Laos by Train

The best way to explain the immigration procedures for travelling from Thailand to Laos is to break the process into two stages:

• Leaving Thailand: Go to the immigration booth on platform 1 at Nong Khai Train station after you have collected your train ticket to Vientiane. Hand your passport to the immigration official in the ticket booth for an exit stamp out of Thailand.
• Entering Laos: After leaving the train at Vientiane go to the immigration booth at the train station. At window #1 collect an arrival/departure card and a visa application form for Laos. Complete the application form, the arrival card, and hand them back to the officer at window #1 with a passport photograph and $35 USD or 1,500 THB. Then wait near window #2 for the officer at that window to hold up your passport for collection.

Bus from Nong Khai to Vientiane

You can also take a bus from Nong Khai Bus Station to Vientiane Central Bus Station.

• Transport Operator: Naluang
• Ticket: 189 THB
• Depart: 10:00, and 18:00
• Arrive: 11:30, and 19:30

There is also a more expensive bus and minivan transfer service to the centre of Vientiane available to book online.

• Transport Operator: Tara Tour and Travel
• Ticket: 709 THB
• Depart: 07:00, 08:00, 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00
• Arrive: 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, and 14:00

Travel to Vientiane via the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge

• Border Opening Times: You need to cross between the hours of 06:00 and 22:00.
• Travel from Nong Khai train station to the bridge: Exit the train station and take a tuk-tuk to the Thai Immigation office. Simply the tell the tuk-tuk driver you want to go to Laos and he will take you to the immigration office. Expect to pay 60 to 80 THB.
• Warning: Some tuk-tuk drivers at Nong Khai will try to insist that they take you to a special office where they can quickly issue you with a visa for Laos. This is a scam. Get your visa at the Laos border.
• Thai Immigration: Hand your passport to Thai immigration and get your stamp out of Thailand.
• Shuttle Bus Across the Bridge: You can walk over the bridge but most people choose to take the shuttle bus which costs 20 THB. There is a ticket counter as soon as you pass through Thai immigration.
• Laos Immigration: After you leave the shuttle bus go to the office with the the sign stating ‘Visa on Arrival’. A 30 day visa costs $35 USD or 1,500 THB. You need to complete the visa application form and provide a passport photograph. They also charge a fee for a ‘border pass’ which is $1 USD or 40 THB.
• Travel to Vientiane: Once you have obtained your visa there are a variety of different transport options available. The cheapest is the green air-conditioned bus which will take you to Vientiane Central Bus Station for 8,000 kip. Vientiane Central Bus station is located in the town centre and a relatively easy walk to the popular riverside area if you don’t have too much luggage. A more expensive option is for a seat on a minivan which will cost you around 400 THB and take you direct to the Thai Embassy in Vientiane.

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