sandy_b

We arrive in Bangkok late July 26 and want to take the night train to Vientiane the next night. Can anyone help with these questions?

1. Do we need to make reservations for the train in advance?

2. What is the difference between 1st-class sleeper and 2nd-class?

3. How much time before the train departs should we arrive at the station?

4. Any other thing we should know?

We've been to Bangkok three times before, which is why we are just passing through this time . . . we'll return at the end of our trip for a couple of days.

Thanks in advance,
Sandy (in Denton)

Craig

Sandy (in Denton),
Why don't you just fly?

mrwunrfl

Good questions. I have one of my own: what is the travel time?

Hanuman

Craig and mrwunrfl do have good points but the answer to your question can be found at: http://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

live42day

I took the train from Bangkok to Chaing Mai a few years ago, and of the entire trip this was the only part that I did not enjoy.....at all.

We took a day train however, so just regular seats. The seats were comfy enough however we wanted to take the train to see the sceanery. The windows on the train had this film on them to keep the sun out, which also meant that you could not see out the windows. The air conditioning quit 1/2 hour out of the station. We ended up hanging out in the bathroom as that was the only window that would open. We travelled in either first or second class.
I would not do it again. Having just spent lots of time on trains in India I preferred them to THailand. Just saying....

sandy_b

Thank you for your replies. So far, the flights have been in the $230+ range . . . and the 2nd-class sleeper (about 12 hrs) is about $30. We're cheap.

We took the night train to Chiang Mai about 10 yrs ago . . . loved it. Can't remember what class but the berths went the same way as the rails (like in the old 40's movies) and were long and comfy . . . had a curtain for privacy. Back then, we went to the station a couple of days ahead of time to book our tickets, don't know if we needed to or not but we were nervous travelers back then . . . still cheap but not nervous.

This is our first trip to Laos so are asking the experts.

Sandy (in Denton)

vinovino

I thought I read somewhere that you fly to Udon Thani and then take a bus or train to Vientiane.

MaryW

It is certainly very much cheaper to fly to Udon Thani - I've done this several times. There are a few carriers - Thai (the most expensive but you might get an add on to your international fare) - Nok Air - I think they still do and Air Asia - those are the ones I know. You then get the international bus or car up to Vientiane Bus goes from in town but you can get a "limo bus" from the airport however I believe it still only goes to the border. Its all very easy though. Have a look at Travelfish for some good info on border crossing that way. Also as much as I hate to point anyone away from Fodors you will find a lot of good info on this on Tripadvisor - look at the Laos forum not the Thailand one. The flights aren't much different from the train fares especially in 1st class. You aren't paying international airport taxes which are a big saving.

Also note the train to Vientiane only goes to the station outside of town - unless its all changed in the last short while and as there was no track I doubt that. So you are still a taxi/tuk tuk ride from the city.

thursdaysd

The train is fine - same "sideways" bunks as the Chiang Mai train (love the privacy). When I took it it stopped short of the border and you took a tuk-tuk on into Vientiane, but now I see that you can go a bit further by train, but I think you have to change trains to do it - I'd stick with the old method. As best I remember I bought my ticket a couple of days ahead of time in December '04, I would think it would be less crowded in July than December?

rhkkmk

you couldn't pay me to take the train!! i do understand the $$ issue however...

what about the border crossing....do you have to get up in the middle of the night?

security of your belongings has often been mentioned as a problem on night trains in some parts of asia including thailand...

thursdaysd

"what about the border crossing....do you have to get up in the middle of the night?" - No.

"security of your belongings" - if I was really worried I'd take a cable lock for my bigger pack, and I keep the day pack (with the electronics and pharmaceuticals) with me. Can't say I've worried about Thai trains, though.

Smeagol

The train now goes all the way into Vientaine along the friendship bridge. I would say its about a 15minte ride into town from there. They process you thru immigration too at the station in Vientiane. Although i thought this was only an Orient Express train that did that, so i have learnt something new today.

sandy_b

Thanks again for the additional responses. My dad worked for Southern Pacific RR so most of my best memories are of train trips. We were dirt poor but had (free) passes. My parents would put my sister and me on the (non-stop) train to the next town, the conductor would put us back on to return . . . we had a blast and our parents had a free babysitter.

I have a nostalgic attachment to trains.

Sandy (in Denton)

simpsonc510

Sandy,
I understand your appreciation of travel via the train. I, too, enjoy train travel, having done both of the Chicago to west coast 'zephyr' routes numerous times, plus lots of other over night train trips in the USA... and I've also done the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, as well as several other over night train trips (Ghan included) in Australia. I do enjoy train rides!

That said, I'm thinking of the BKK to Chiang Mai train. The overnight ride is probably what I'd do, but it isn't in the works just yet. Right now I'm making mostly 1-day trips to CM from BKK and flying is the only reasonable way to get there in the morning, do my market shopping, and get back to my BKK hotel room the same night!

But I understand about trains!!! I hope you can work out your train trip to Vientiane!
Carol

thursdaysd

Train travel is not only (often and certainly in this case) cheaper, but greener. And less hassle. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

I've slept well on night trains between BKK and Ubon Ratchathani, Chiang Mai and BKK, and BKK - Nong Khai - BKK. Admittedly, arguably my worst ever night train experience was Sungai Kolok to BKK, but that was entirely my own fault for winding up in third class. More interesting than second class, but not recommended for more than a couple of hours! (Do buy those tickets at least a day or two in advance!)

ekscrunchy

I have friends from the US who have spent winters in Vientiane for the last 6 years or so.

Each year they travel there by train from Bangkok and have never reported any problems.

crellston

I have done the trip from Vientienne to Bangkok and vice versa and thoroughly enjoyed it. I would STRONGLY recommend 1st Class from BKK to Nong Khai if you want to stand even a remote chance of getting some sleep. Probably best to buy tickets from Huamlampong station as soon as to arrive in BKK as I do not beliive it is yet possible to buy 1st class online. The ticket office staff are really helpful as are the Thailand Railways staff that frequent the concourse with the specific task of helping tourist (beware the touts that hang around outside the station!).

On arrival at Nong Khai I think you have to buy a further ticket but a better alternative may be to pre arrange a taxi or tuk tuk with your hotel in Vientienne. Not sure what it is like now but the border control area going from Vientienne to Nong Khai used to be a bit of a circus with the officials collecting passports en- masses from the waiting queues and processing them en-masse - I think it took us about 90 mins to get through.

Finally, the food available on Thai trains can be a bit hit and miss and sometimes very expensive. We tend to buy food before departure or from the vendors at the stations along the way. Also, take care re your luggage and do not leave it unattended or leave your valuables in your main pack. Have fun, it is a great way to see Thailand.

thursdaysd

I did that trip in 2nd class and slept fine - and I am used to dark and quiet at night. I bought my tickets from a travel agent in my hotel. I didn't have any particular difficulty crossing the border and finding transport into Vientiane - I shared a tuk-tuk with a guy carrying a canoe... Could have been a bit quicker, but wasn't close to 90 minutes! Haven't tried the train food, so can't comment on that.

Kathie

lol - I love it, Thursdays - "I shared a tuk-tuk with a guy carrying a canoe" Do you have a photo?

thursdaysd

Lol! No, Kathie - the camera I took was a bit on the heavy side and lived in my pack while traveling. It was an inflatable canoe, and he was planning to travel down the Mekong - he was collecting rivers in a slightly different way than dogster. I don't seem to have his website address anymore, but a little digging on the 'net turned up this: http://tinyurl.com/25axb8o - see page 6 for article and photo.

I dug out my notebook to check on the canoe: I discovered that I bought beer from a female attendant on the train, that there was one western and one squat toilet for the carriage, and that breakfast was "bad" but coffee and juice were OK. The young man with the canoe was aiming to do seven rivers for Save the Children. We took a tuk-tuk to the border, bought our visas there (ignoring the travel agency stop the tuk-tuk driver suggested) and shared another tuk-tuk into town.