How to book train tickets in Laos

Foreign tourists can book and purchase tickets for the Laos-China high-speed railway at the regular price using the official railway company app, “LCR Ticket.” We created this page because there is a lack of adequate information for foreign travelers. Please read this page carefully to purchase your tickets and enjoy your trip to Laos.

You can purchase train tickets through the official “LCR Ticket” app for iPhone/Android.

To purchase tickets through the app, you need your passport, email address and VISA credit card.

Online ticket sales begin early in the morning, 3 days before the departure date (Please note that during peak tourist season in Laos, tickets may be available for purchase up to 7 days in advance).

All seats on this train are reserved.

During peak tourist season (December to February), tickets tend to sell out as soon as they go on sale, making it difficult for short-term travelers to obtain train tickets after arriving in Laos. Therefore, we recommend installing the LCR app in advance and purchasing tickets as soon as they go on sale.

It is important to have a flexible travel plan in case you cannot purchase your desired ticket through the LCR Ticket app, to avoid disrupting your entire trip. Consider alternative transportation, such as a Lao Airlines flight between Vientiane and Luang Prabang (which costs around $50), or be prepared to travel on a different day.

• The latest timetables can be found on the LCR mobile app and on the official Facebook page of Laos China Railway Company Limited.
• Most up trains from Vientiane to Luang Prabang depart in the morning.
• Most down trains from Luang Prabang to Vientiane depart in the afternoon.
• High-speed train between Luang Prabang and Vientiane takes about 2 hours. Even ordinary train takes less than 3 hours.
• There is only one round trip international train to Kunming, China per day (there seems to be an additional trip during Chinese holidays).

The LCR application can be downloaded from Apple and Google APPs stores.

• Lao Railway tickets can be purchased from early morning 6:30 AM 3 days in advance. International tickets to China can be purchased from 14 days in advance. (However, around Chinese holidays such as the Chinese New Year and National Day, or during peak tourist seasons 7 days in advance.)
• For trains from China to Laos, tickets can be purchased 15 days in advance from the official Chinese app “铁路12306” (Railway 12306), not the LCR app. This app does not require SMS verification.
• Multiple payment options are offered, but only VISA credit cards (not MASTER or others) and China Union pay for foreign travelers.
• A QR code will be displayed in the app, which can be used as your ticket at the station. (For international trains, you must go to the ticket counter in advance, present your QR code and passport, and have a physical ticket issued.)
• You can purchase tickets for up to 10 people at once (passport information for every person is required).
• Ticket purchases cannot be made at night (Laos time). If you tap “Book,” a message will appear stating, “Not accessible during non-business hours.”
• Children above 1.2m (394 feet) must purchase a ticket. There is a child discount rate provision for children 1.2-1.5 meters but it is not implemented in the app.
• Official face-to-face ticket sales and support services are conducted at the sales offices at each station and city (Luang Prabang, Vientiane)
• An additional fee of 20,000 Kip (about $1 USD) is charged when using the app or purchasing from an official ticket office outside a station. Other resellers will charge higher fees (typically 30% or more).
• Even if tickets from Luang Prabang to Vientiane are sold out, there may still be tickets available for the same train from stations like Boten or Muang Xai to Vientiane Station, so you can buy a ticket from these stations to Vientiane and then just take the train from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, but it will be more expensive.
• Every day from 6:30pm to 9:45pm, cancelled or exchanged tickets will be made available again on the app.
• This train does not sell standing tickets and all seats are reserved. However, it seems that it is only possible to do so while on board. Therefore, you can buy a ticket from Vientiane to Vang Vieng in advance, pay the additional fee to Luang Prabang while on board, and then stand from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang.

The express trains are limited to 20 kilograms of luggage per passenger.

Passengers must carry photo identification (passport) and should arrive at the station at least one hour before departure time and remain in the waiting area for inspection of tickets and documents.

Ordinary train tickets are sold for same-day travel and immediate departure so passengers may have a good chance to a get a ticket and a seat if they arrive early and may not need to purchase tickets the day before. Passengers will be allowed to carry more baggage on ordinary trains than the 20 kilogram limit.

Fast Train (Train number C8X for domestic, D8X for interternational)

Ordinary Train (Train number K1X)

To and from the railway stations

Make sure to ask us or your hotel to pick you up in advance. You can use the following local public services:

Vientiane: City bus available to/from train station. They are connected to/from Central Bus Station (CBS) (15 km) and Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge boarder point (22 km). You can take a tuk-tuk from the Central Bus Station (CBS) to your hotel. Cabs are also available from the station. You can use the Mobile Taxi app (LOCA, iphone or android) to dispatch a ride from a designated location to the station.

Vang Vieng: Tuktuk (2 km)

Luang Prabang: There is a shared/private shuttle van service. Your hotel staff will arrange it for you. (12 km)