This morning, I took the train across the Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos. In this THREAD 🧵, I will tell you how I went by train from Bangkok to Vientiane and the cost.
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My journey started in #Bangkok onboard Special Express No. 25 sleeper train. This left Bangkok at 8:25 pm and arrived in Nong Khai at 6:45 am. The ticket cost me 994 Baht for the lower berth. If you want to save money, the day train is a lot cheaper. thaitrainguide.com/timetables/no-25
There are two shuttle trains across the Friendship Bridge from Nong Khai Station. The ticket costs 20 baht for the 15-minute journey to Thanaleng Station. The train leaves at 7:30 am and 2:45 pm. I was told that it will wait for the sleeper train if it is delayed.
The Thai immigration officer arrived at the station at 7:00am. He quickly stamped out every passenger within a short time as there were only twenty of us on the train. We then left promptly at 7:30 am.
As our train crossed the Friendship Bridge, traffic had to be halted to make way for us. The views of the Mekong River on both sides of the train were stunning.
On arrival at Thanaleng Station in Laos, everyone queued up for Immigration. I filled out the form for Visa on Arrival and then handed it in with a passport photo and $40 in cash. The friendly Immigration officer then gave me a visa and stamped it. Very quick and painless.
While I was filling out my immigration form, someone came up and asked if I wanted to go to Vientiane. He had a minivan. The cost for the 16km journey was 200 baht per person. My backup up plan was the Loca taxi app.
The total cost from Nong Khai Station to Vientiane city was 220 Baht. The total time for passing through Thai Immigration, the train journey, Laos Immigration, and transfer to Vientiane city by minivan, was just over one hour. Not bad at all. I would do that again.