If last time I shared how to get to Laos via Train from Thailand, now I am sharing the reverse experience where it is a bit different and something to take a note on especially if you cross the border via overland.

Last time I was going with a 3rd class train that was quite a unique experience. I have to say that it’s not for everyone and I generally do not recommend anyone to board the 12 hours train ride and if they have more means, it is best to book 2nd class sleeper in advance.

There's an interesting phenomenon in Laos where it seems that hostels also offer services to get you within the country and overseas such as Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand. It is also quite a unique experience and unlike in Thailand where transportation is much easier, in Laos, it is much challenging to do the DIY transportation and getting yourself to the border. This is why, getting it from the hostel with a little extra price is quite a deal. For example, they priced the 3rd class train for 600 Baht which is around $16 and it already includes transportation from the hostel, the border, and to the train station. That scheme is actually pretty reasonable considering you also avoid paying tuk tuk or local drivers that could end up overcharging you in some cases. For my 2nd class sleeper train, I was paying 1500 baht for the lower berth which is usually more expensive than the upper berth. That 1500 Baht or around $40 will get you a 2nd class sleeper train along with transportation from the hostel to the train station for free. That being said, I have to say that buying the service from the hostel is quite a deal and hassle free. The only problem is that you will experience a slight confusion but it’s not too big a deal.

So unlike crossing the border from Thailand to Laos, you have to go to MRT, reach Nongkhai, Cross border with tuktuk, then bus to the Lao side and then at the mercy of local taxis, tuktuk, bus or van. Crossing from Laos to Thailand was a lot more straightforward.

I got picked up at almost 2:30 PM and the driver also picked up another guy who used the same travel agent. We were then dropped at CBS (central bus station) and the guy gave us a sticker to mark that we’re from the same travel agent. The guy told us that someone in Nongkhai will pick us up. Here’s what I first thought;

• I thought this taxi would go all the way to the border.
• I will get the ticket as soon as I am with the guy and at the border.

But that wasn’t the case.

He only gave us the bus ticket, paid for it and left us a message in Laotian that somebody at the border will pick us up. We boarded on this bus that you see below; it is a Lao-Thai bus that stopped at the Nong Khai Border.

Me and the Czech guy were in a big confusion but we kept telling each other, “ it’s adventure, whatever happens happens”. So we just boarded the bus and we only hoped for good things to happen.

Then, inside the bus there was this obnoxious Swiss guy who kept complaining about how corrupt and bad Laos was. The Swiss guy sat across from me after a bit of commotion as he didn’t want to be seated based on his number on the ticket.

Then, he kept rambling about how Laotian were trying to scam him and how it’s a bad poor country and he didn’t want to go back. He also talked about how bad the road was. He was talking to Indonesian guys and they were the only ones who talked to him and he kept wondering if “ Indonesian is smart as he is and maybe he was an exception”. He said some random crazy stuff while me and the Czech guy looked at each other in cringe.

When we got down for the immigration, I ended up talking to these indonesia guys and that they were only a night in Vientiane and already on their way back to Thailand. I told them that I was staying in Vientiane for almost 3 weeks and they were surprised because again, “ what’s there in Vientiane?” and almost everyone I met was like, “ you have to go to Luang Prabang. Vang Vieng '' then I politely told them that I generally look less for nature and I want to hang around in the city, talk to people, learn a little about their language, customs, culture, and be in the melting pot and less foreigners. 😉

Now, as we reached the border, I also met up with a Vietnamese girl who also booked through the same agency. It was a scary moment because we were all in internal confusion as we reached Nongkhai, we also had to fill out the form and apparently, the bus couldn't go further. The Vietnamese girl was sent back and was asked to fill a form and we were all filling the forms. Then we got to know each other.

Unfortunately, the Vietnamese were sent to another room while the rest of us were stamped and finally, we’re out of the immigration and in Thailand. Then, a lady approached me and I was not prepared for anything and was still in a bit of anxiety. Then, the lady explained she’s from the travel agent and she saw my orange stickers.

But then I realised, I left my water bottle outside the immigration!

As the Czech guy cleared the immigration, I told him that I lost my water bottle and we’re also waiting for the Vietnamese girl. He asked me if that was an expensive bottle and though it is and I am internally screaming, I calmly said that I can always get another one. But the truth is, there’s only a limited stock for that bottle. And he was like, let me get it for you!

And he did! He got the bottle for me and went through the immigration and back, just to get the water bottle that I left just outside the border where we filled out the papers. Then, the Vietnamese girl came and we all followed the lady to the tuktuk!

Thankfully, we didn’t really have to pay for the tuk tuk. Me and The Vietnamese girl got down into the train station and the Czech guy to the bus station. I started talking to this friendly Vietnamese girl and she boarded the 3rd class. I was like, Bless her! And I told her, it’s a lifetime experience and an unforgettable one.

2nd class sleeper train review

The train that you see below is the 2nd class sleeper train number 26 if I am not mistaken. At Nong Khai station, you can see the sun slowly sinking and people were taking the chance to take pictures there. I was trying to but only got some blurred pics so that’s why I didn’t feature it.

Once I was allowed into the carriage, I was surprised how convenient, clean and comfy it looks. It made me think that Indonesian trains should have something similar at a more reasonable rate for long distance journeys.

The 2nd class train features AC, lamps, charging ports, blanket, a pillow, a table that fits a laptop and a water holder. There are outside wash bins and also a clean toilet with automatic flushes. The doors were also automatic and no-touch doors. It was such an upgrade from my 3rd train experience and I was just stunned how comfortable it was.

Before the train departs, the kitchen staff also go around and ask if you want to have a meal. The price starts from 190 Baht and it’s already a meal with soup, fried rice and fresh fruit. I got a water bottle from the train service as well.

So, it was such an upgrade compared to the 3rd class train that I boarded before.

The meal was also pretty delicious, warm, and after the immigration, the border and everything, it was so satisfying and filling. It took a while for the food to arrive, so I am assuming they sort of made it fresh which is something I appreciate. As hard as I try not to compare it to Indonesian train service, it’s just a different ballgame. It seems like with tourism and public services, they know how to do it right and always consider value for money.

It was one of my most comfortable train journeys ever. I also got to see a beautiful morning sky from the train window as I got to the lower berth. However if you board on the upper berth, there’s no window. This train ride makes me want to explore all the trains in Thailand as I think that they have good service and interesting train rides. If you made it to Thailand, I definitely suggest you experience the 2nd class train even if it’s to Chiang Mai or even perhaps Nong Khai!

More Notes

If you’re from Laos to Thailand, sometimes there are processing fees at the border. Some people pay some people don’t but just to make sure, always have spare 100 Baht or just 50000 for the border hassles, with a note that you don’t need a visa to Laos. At the Thai border, they don’t do this kind of thing but just be mindful about how many times you’ve been to Thailand in a year. As I am going back and leaving the country in a few weeks, I do not see that as a concern if I go back to Indonesia again and only come back to Thailand after a period. There are so many things to see and do in Thailand that I’ve not been doing. Not to mention, I also want to celebrate my birthday in Thailand. There’s that too 🙂

See you in my next adventure!