Jun 13, 2024
Recommend the train - Booked our 5 train tickets through the hotel we stayed in at Luang Prabang. It includes pick-up from the hotel in a mini van and was on time. The train was comfortable and we were all stead close by in the same carriage. Today we do the same to Vientiane.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 11, 2024
Smooth Train Ride - What an experience. The train station is so clean, so organized and safe. Several staff around to assist you. You have to show your train ticket and passport (if you’re a foreigner). They will scan your belongings including your luggage. I love how they keep everyone safe. The staff assisting the travelers will tell you not to cross the yellow line. There are several numbered platforms to let you know which box to ride. The staff inside the train will also check your ticket to ensure you are sitting on the right seat. The train ride was so smooth. They will announce your destination in Lao and English.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 21, 2024
The train was on time and extremely clean and comfortable. The online booking was smooth and stress free. - We enjoyed the comfort of first class seats. Very enjoyable experience from beginning to end. Maybe a few too many onboard announcements.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 3, 2024
Very modern fast train and ease of booking process - Booking process and standard of train travel. Very efficiently run and excellent staff on hand to ensure embarkation and disembarkation is smooth
Review provided by Viator
Jul 12, 2024
Remove all deodorants and aerosols - Done bring any deodorant or aerosol that is marked ‘flammable’ as it will be confiscated. Other than that the check in process was very smooth
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 5, 2024
Bizzar but fast connection - Station about 45 min outside town and you need to be there well in advance (check with your hotel) Book ticket a few days in advance via your hotel.
Some of these reviews feel a little dramatic. Yes aerosols over 100ml are confiscated, which feels silly. But ok.
I saw no evidence of guards forcing bribes. Look at it this way: the staff doing the checks are local. The rules made and checked via CCTV by the Chinese. Rule is: pocket knife is not allowed. So the staff cannot hand it back in plain view/without risk. But no coercion, just options....
But the whole thing is a fabulously ludicrous experience: long before the train comes you queue, first in the station, then again on the hot platfrom. Then the staff force the queues into blobs :-). Despite the fact there is no other train is on this track, all boarding is supposed to happen within 3 minutes. Guards do nothing to let passengers unboard. Fabulous chaos :-)
But you will make the train. So enjoy the absurdity..... and worry about the influence of China.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 26, 2024
They confiscate valuables like sunscreen , tools, first aid kits. Stricter than a plane for domestic train rides. - I assume most of these reviews are marketing. Had multi tool, first aid kit and other tools worth nearly $400 in my main luggage , had $60 worth of sunscreen as well. The staff attempted to confiscate it all. I had to forfeit my ticket, and bus it back into town and catch the bus the next day, as it just wasn't worth it to use my train ticket. I've caught 4 flights with what I had, no issue. Most backwards train I've encountered anywhere on the planet after travelling over 30 countries, stricter than an airport, for a one hour domestic train ride. Seems a bit scam like, the confiscations. I met 2 other tourists in 3 days in Vang vieng who had their valuables confiscated as well.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2024
Warning about this train journey - It is strongly discouraged to take the express train. Baggage will be checked as at the airport. But unfortunately, unlike on flights, problematic items cannot be stowed away from carry-on baggage into checked baggage.
With us, it was the sun milk of mine that is felt and that was objected to. Shaving foam, nail scissors, corkscrews or Swiss knives are also not possible. I had all this in my luggage, but was waved through. The sun spray, of course, was pure arbitrariness.
Since my wife didn't want to do without it (after several procedures wg white skin cancer), that was it with the train ride. Refund of ticket price: Misrepresentation, that only works where you have booked (with us 12go.asia).
The bus ride on the route to Luang Prabang was very special: Almost 8 hours of riding through potholes where cows could bathe.
If flies stay...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 6, 2024
Lots of restrictions on what you can take - Can’t take a pen knife even though we took it from Vientiane to Vang Vieng. Also no deodorant more than 100ml.
If you do decide to use the train you can send a pen knife by HAL logistics to your next hotel depending on how long you’re staying, it took 4 days to get to our hotel and only cost 60p.
Also book your train ticket at the station! It was £5 per ticket whereas on 12goasia it is £17!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 19, 2024
not recommended when you carry regular travel necessities - The train journey itself was good and fast. But the regulations for boarding the train are hilarious. Throwing away travel essentials like a Swiss knife or deodorant spray is incomprehensible. We saw people leaving the station because they didn't want to take half their luggage. I would never recommend taking a train in Laos if you don't have your basic essentials with you.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
