Luang Prabang Today

Showing posts with label Laos News & Updates. Show all posts

ประเภท	ราคา
รถนอนชั้น 2 แอร์ เตียงล่าง	~874 บาท
รถนอนชั้น 2 แอร์ เตียงบน	~784 บาท
รถนั่งชั้น 2 แอร์	~574 บาท
รถนั่งชั้น 3 พัดลม	~281 บาท

ขบวน	ประเภท	ออก	ถึง
C86	ความเร็ว 160km/h	07:30	09:16
D888 / D88	นานาชาติ	08:08	09:53
K12	รถธรรมดา	08:25	11:04
C92	ความเร็ว 160km/h	09:50	11:51
D84	ความเร็ว 160km/h	11:25	13:11
C82	ความเร็ว 160km/h	13:05	15:04
C84	ความเร็ว 160km/h	15:55	18:16

ชั้นโดยสาร	ราคา
Second Class	280,000 – 350,000 กีบ
First Class	400,000 – 450,000 กีบ

Bangkok to Luang Prabang by Train (2026 Guide)
A Cross-Border Railway Journey into the Heart of Laos

Traveling from the energetic streets of Bangkok to the quiet temple town of Luang Prabang has long been a classic Southeast Asian journey. Today, the expansion of regional rail connections has made this route more accessible than ever.

What once required multiple buses, border crossings, and long mountain drives can now be completed largely by train—linking Thailand, Laos, and the historic landscapes of the Mekong region.

For travelers seeking a slower and more reflective way to reach Luang Prabang, the railway offers a journey that is both practical and memorable.

Step 1 — Bangkok to Vientiane (Khamsavath Station)

The journey begins at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, Bangkok’s main railway hub.

From here, travelers can board an international train that crosses the Thai–Lao border and continues directly to Khamsavath Station in Vientiane.

Recommended Train: Rapid Train No.133 (Bangkok – Vientiane)

Departure: 21:25 from Bangkok
Arrival: 09:05 at Khamsavath Station, Vientiane

Ticket Classes

Second Class A/C Sleeper: approximately 784–874 THB
Second Class A/C Seat: approximately 574 THB
Third Class Fan Seat: approximately 281 THB

During the journey, passengers complete immigration procedures at Nong Khai Station before crossing the Friendship Bridge into Laos.

Step 2 — Transfer Across Vientiane

The train from Thailand arrives at Khamsavath Station, while the high-speed Laos–China Railway departs from Vientiane Station, located roughly 15–20 kilometers away.

Travelers can transfer between the two stations using shuttle buses available outside the station.

Estimated cost: 30,000–50,000 LAK

For additional convenience, ride-hailing services such as the LOCA app can also be used to book a private car.

Step 3 — Vientiane to Luang Prabang (High-Speed Railway)

The final stage of the journey is the high-speed railway connecting Vientiane with northern Laos.

This route, part of the Laos–China Railway, has transformed travel across the country. What once required an eight-hour bus journey through mountain roads now takes less than two hours.

Train type: EMU Lane Xang High-Speed Train
Travel time: approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours

Typical ticket prices

Second Class: approximately 600–700 THB equivalent
First Class: approximately 950–1,000 THB equivalent

Tickets can be booked through the LCR Ticket mobile application, usually available 3–7 days before departure.

Traveler Tips

Currency

Although some businesses in Luang Prabang accept Thai Baht, carrying Lao Kip is recommended for small expenses such as local transport.

Connectivity

SIM cards are available at major stations and convenience stores, providing reliable mobile data for navigation and travel planning.

Scenic Views

Keep your camera ready during the northern segment of the journey. As the train moves through tunnels and mountain valleys, the landscape gradually reveals limestone cliffs and river basins characteristic of northern Laos.

Arrival in Luang Prabang

The railway station in Luang Prabang is located about 15 kilometers from the historic town center.

Shared vans and taxis operate outside the station, transporting travelers into the heritage peninsula.

The journey from station to town takes roughly 20–25 minutes, descending gradually into the quiet streets of the UNESCO-listed city.

Journey Summary

Total travel time: approximately 16–18 hours including transfers
Estimated budget: 1,400–1,900 THB depending on seating choices

For many travelers, the train offers more than transportation. It provides a gradual transition between landscapes, cultures, and tempos of life across mainland Southeast Asia.

Arriving in Luang Prabang by rail allows the journey itself to become part of the experience.

Part of the roof and ceiling collapsed at the Border Patrol Police 100th year schoool in Bo Klua district of Nan province during the earthquake on Thursday mornning. The school has been temporary closed. (Photo by Rarinthorn Petcharoen)

An earthquake centred in Laos caused damage in neighbouring Nan province on Thursday morning, with reports of cracks appearing in walls and collapsed roofs, mainly in Bo Klua Bo Klua and Chalerm Prakiat districts.

The 6.4-magnitude shock hit near the border in Laos just before 7am.

Residents in several provinces in the North and Northeast were woken by the earth's shaking. Tall buildings were reported seen swaying in Bangkok.

In Laos, employees of the Hongsa Power plant in Xayaboury province were placed on full alert for quake damage, company executive Khathayut Chuphun said.

The epicentre was recorded at a depth of 3 kilometres and about 19km southeast of Nam Chang village in tambon Khunnan, Chalerm Prakiat district, in Nan province.

The Earthquake Observation Division of the Meteorological Department reported that a 4.3-magnitude quake with a depth of 5km occurred first, at 4.03am. The epicentre was in Laos.

At 6.50am, the 6.4 quake struck, the division reported.

About the same time, in bordering Nan province, cracks appeared in walls and roofs and ceilings were reported damaged in Bo Klua and Chalerm Prakiat districts.

Local leaders in the two northern border districts assessed the damage and compiled their reports.

A Border Patrol Police school roof partially collapsed in Bo Klua district. Cracks were found in walls at the front of the building and at the teachers' living quarters. Management closed the school for the day.

Cracks were also found in the wall of the ordination hall of 500-year-old Wat Phra That Khao Noi, a hilltop temple.

Phra Mahacharan Sirithammo, the abbot, said he felt the ground shaking and monks and novices fled from the buildings into the temple yard.

Broken window glass was seen at a branch of the Government Savings Bank in Tha Wang Pha district.

Witthaya Khanthayos, chief civil engineer of the 7th Fine Arts Office in Nan, said engineers were checking for damage at 25 registered historical places in the northern province.

Col Rattana Pattanasophon, commander of the army's 32nd ranger special task force said his soldiers were assisting with the damage survey and repairs.

In Phayao, residents reported feeling both quakes this morning, but there were no early reports of damage.

In Phitsanulok province, Vorawut Niamnoi, director of Kwai Noi Barung Daen dam, said the 6.4 quake was felt in the area, but the dam appeared unscathed.

The dam was designed to withstand earthquakes of 7 on the Richter scale, he said. Even so, a thorough survey would be made of the structure.

In Khon Kaen province, surprise tremors led to patients being evacuated from Ratchaphreuk Hospital in Muang district as a precaution. They were accommodated in the parking area.

Dr Theerawat Srinakkharin, executive of the hospital, said it was the first time most people in the northeastern province had felt an earthquake. It was particularly unnerving for people in high-rise buildings.

“It was the first time a quake in Laos has been felt at Ratchaprephreuk Hospital. For the sake of safety and relief of patients, relatives and hospital staff, we decided to evacuate patients from buildings in case there were fires.:

He said the shaking was not severe.

"It was just like a fire drill. Everything went smoothly. We will move the patients back into buildings as soon as things return to normal,’’ he said.

Meteorological Department chief Somsak Khaosuwan said the main quake was preceded by 13 foreshocks, between 11.49pm on Wednesday to 6.28am on Thursday, and there were nine aftershocks, between 7.33am to 8.32am.

He said the tremors were felt in Nan, Phayao, Chiang Mai, Lamphang, Uttaradit, Lamphun, Phrae and Phitsanulok provinces. Nan was the most seriously affected.

Mineral Resources Department chief Sommai Techawal said residents in Loei, Khon Kaen and some areas in Bangkok and surrounding provinces also reported feeling the vibrations, particularly those in high-rise buildings.

There could be more aftershocks but they would not be severe, Mr Sommai said.

He allayed any fear of possible damage to dams,which could withstand quakes of 7.5 or more, he said.

credit: https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1799074/strong-quake-in-laos-widely-felt-causes-damage-in-nan

At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 are missing in flooding following the collapse of an under-construction dam in south-east Laos.

Workers found the hydroelectric dam in Attapeu province was partially damaged on Sunday, and villagers living nearby were evacuated.

The dam collapsed late on Monday, sending flash floods through six villages.

More than 6,600 people have been made homeless, Lao News Agency reported.

Pictures showed villagers and young children stranded on the roofs of submerged houses.

Attapeu is Laos' southernmost province, and borders Cambodia and Vietnam.

It is known for agriculture, rich trees and wood-based industries - and hydropower is one of its major exports.

What do we know about the dam - and how did it collapse?

The dam that collapsed is part of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydroelectric power project, which involves Laotian, Thai and South Korean firms.

The subsidiary dam, known as "Saddle Dam D", was part of a network of two main dams and five subsidiary dams.

SK Engineering & Construction, a South Korean company with a stake in the project, said fractures were first discovered on the dam on Sunday, before it collapsed:

Sunday 21:00 local time (14:00 GMT) - The dam is found to be partially damaged. The authorities are alerted and villagers near the dam start to be evacuated. A team is sent to repair the dam - but is hampered by heavy rain, which has also damaged many roads.
Monday 03:00 - Water is discharged from one of the main dams (Xe-Namnoy dam) to try to lower water levels in the subsidiary dam.
Monday 12:00 - The state government orders villagers downstream to evacuate after learning that there could be further damage to the dam.
Monday 18:00 - More damage is confirmed at the dam.
By Tuesday 01:30, a village near the subsidiary dam is flooded, and by 09:30 seven villages are flooded.

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding, the main Thai stakeholder, said in a statement that the dam "was fractured" after "continuous rainstorm[s]" caused a "high volume of water to flow into the project's reservoir".

As a result, water "leaked to the downstream area and down to Xe-Pian River" about 5km (three miles) away, it added.

"Saddle Dam D" was 8m wide, 770m long and 16m high - and was designed to help divert water around a local reservoir, the company said.

Both Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and SK Engineering & Construction say they have been helping with evacuation and relief operations.

What is being done to help those affected?

Officials have been trying to rescue stranded villagers by boat.

Local authorities have appealed to government bodies and other communities to provide emergency aid such as clothing, food, drinking water and medicine.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has postponed government meetings and gone to the affected area in Sanamxay district to monitor relief efforts, state media says.

One local Attapeu official told AFP news agency that there was no phone signal in the flooded areas, adding to communication problems.

Hydroelectric ambitions in Laos

The government in Laos has launched an ambitious dam-building scheme to become the "battery of Asia"
Laos sits on the Mekong River and its tributaries - a perfect location for hydroelectric power
The country had 46 operational hydroelectric power plants in 2017, and 54 more under construction
By 2020, Laos also plans to build 54 more electricity transmission lines and 16 substations
Laos already exports two-thirds of its hydropower, with electricity making up roughly 30% of all Laotian exports

Sources: Hydropower.org, the Laotian Times and Lao News Agency

credit: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44935495

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