According to China State Railway Group Co., Ltd news China-Laos cross-border service is expected to start on April 13th, a day before the Laotian New Year. According to a report by Vientiane Times on March 29th, preparations for the China-Laos cross-border passenger service are going well. Passengers who are in China and want to experience the celebration of Laotian New Year in Laos can buy a direct train ticket from Kunming to Vientiane on April 11th.
Train Information
The departure time of each side is Kunming South Station departing at 8:08 a.m. Beijing time, and Vientiane Station departing at 9:08 a.m. Beijing time. The train will pass through 8 stations, including Kunming South, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna, Mohan, Boten, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng, and Vientiane. The journey time is 10 hours and 30 minutes, including port clearance time.
Customs Clearance:
It will adopt the mode of separate inspection and clearance in both places. For example, from Kunming to Vientiane:
1. After the train arrives at the Chinese railway port station Mohan Station, cross-border passengers must carry all their luggage and enter the exit joint inspection area, and then cooperate with Chinese customs personnel to complete the exit joint inspection before returning to the train to continue their journey.
After the train runs to the Laotian railway port station Boten Station, passengers must carry all their luggage and get off the train, enter the entry joint inspection area, and then cooperate with Laotian customs personnel to complete the entry joint inspection. Passengers who are going to the Boten station can directly leave the station, while passengers going to other Laotian stations should return to the train to continue their journey.
Ticket Booking
Passengers in China can book tickets on the China Train Booking app or go to the ticket counters at Kunming Station, Kunming South Station, Pu'er Station, Xishuangbanna Station, and Mohan Station to purchase cross-border train tickets. Passengers who purchase tickets online should bring their own valid passport and go to the ticket counters at the five designated stations to exchange for paper tickets. Passengers in Laos can book tickets through LCR Ticket APP or go to the ticket windows at the four designated stations, which is Vientiane, Boten, Luang Prabang, and Mohan, to purchase cross-border train tickets from Vientiane to Kunming South. For passengers who purchase tickets online should bring their own valid passport and go to the ticket counters at the four designated stations to exchange for paper tickets.
Passengers in Laos can book tickets through LCR Ticket APP or go to the ticket windows at the four designated stations, which is Vientiane, Boten, Luang Prabang, and Mohan, to purchase cross-border train tickets from Vientiane to Kunming South. For passengers who purchase tickets online should bring their own valid passport and go to the ticket counters at the four designated stations to exchange for paper tickets.
Cross-border passengers need to have their paper tickets verified by station staff when entering or exiting the station and during port clearance when getting on and off the train. For passengers who are not crossing the border on the international travel train, the China section will implement e-tickets, while the Laos section requires passengers to pick up paper tickets.
The start of the China-Laos cross-border service will make it much easier for Chinese and Laotian passengers to communicate and do business with each other, which will promote commercial intercourse and cultural exchange and be significant for both countries.
Further reading:
Top Things You Should Know before Taking the Train in China Currently
