Trains from Khon Kaen to Vientiane

By train it takes just under 4 hours to travel from Khon Kaen to Vientiane. Passengers travelling to Laos need to disembark the train on arrival at Nong Khai to complete immigration procedures for exiting Thailand and then board the train again for the last part of the journey.

Train Times from Khon Kaen to Vientiane

There is currently 1 direct train per day from Khon Kaen to Vientiane.

• The fastest service from Khon Kaen to Nong Khai is Train #133 departing at 05:13 from Khon Kaen and scheduled to arrive at Vientiane 3 hours 52 minutes later at 09:05.

Buy Tickets from Khon Kaen to Vientiane

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Location of Khon Kaen Railway Station

Location of Vientiane Railway Station

Trains from Khon Kaen to Vientiane terminate at Khamsavath Train Station.

About Travel to Vientiane

There is only one train a day from Khon Kaen to Vientiane so booking in advance is essential, particularly if you want to travel in an air-conditioned sleeper berth.

Seat Types on the Train to Vientiane

There are 3 seat types available on Train #133 from Khon Kaen to Vientiane:

• 2nd Class A/C Sleeper
• 2nd Class A/C Seat
• 3rd Class Fan Seat

Even though the journey is less than 4 hours, because of the very early departure from Khon Kaen (05:22) passengers may want to travel in a sleeper berth. The number of sleeper berths, however, is very limited.

Before reaching Khon Kaen, Train #133 departs from Bangkok at 21:25, with stops on route at cities such as Ayutthaya. Anyone travelling from Bangkok or Ayutthaya will definitely want to book a sleeper berth and unless you book well in advance all the sleeper berths on Train #133 will be full before the train reaches Khon Kaen.

Immigration Procedure during Train Travel to Vientiane

The system which is in place for travel by train from Thailand to Vientiane in Laos is that you need to show your passport and complete immigration procedures twice during the journey:

• Passport Check 1: Train #133 will stop for 40 minutes at Nong Khai Railway Station. Passengers travelling to Laos need to leave the train and go to the immigration desk in the railway station to get a stamp out of Thailand. Passengers who fail to complete this procedure won’t be given permission to enter into Laos on arrival at the train station in Vientiane.
• Passport Check 2: Once Train #133 reaches its final destination (Khamsavath Train Station) passenger need to pass through Laos immigration control and possibly apply for a visa, the need for which depends on your nationality. Customs officials will also be at the station ready to inspect people’s luggage. Be careful in respect of what you bring to Laos. Thailand and Laos have different laws in relation to a variety of things, including the possession of controlled substances.

Local Transport in Vientiane

Khamsavath Train Station is located some way outside Vientiane city centre, 8 km to the east of the Patuxai Monument. Khamsavath Train Station is also a long way (16 km by road to the south) from the main Vientiane Railway Station, from where trains to Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang and China depart.

Travel by Tuk Tuk

Passengers need to negotiate a fare with the tuk-tuk drivers who wait outside the station for the twice daily train arrivals. There is no fixed or generally agreed price for the journey by tuk-tuk into the city centre or any other destination.

Travel by Local Bus

There is now a public bus service from Khamsavath Train Station to Vientiane Central Bus Station (city centre):

• Ticket: 30,000 LAK (Adult)
• Journey Time: 30 to 35 minutes
• Bus Number: 12
• Departure Times from Khamsavath Train Station: 10:10. 10:40, 11:00, 13:30, 16:00, 17:30, 18:30 & 18:40

Where to Stay in Vientiane

Most foreign visitors to Vientiane choose to stay overnight in a small area close to the Quai Fa Ngum (riverside road) and Chao Anouvong Park. This part of the city has lots of hotels, bars and restaurants focused on catering to leisure visitors, particularly foreign leisure visitors.

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