Laos-China Railway - A review of the Vientiane to Boten train

The Laos-China Railway opened on the 2nd of December 2021, making it the first railway in Laos (not counting the border shuttle at Thanaleng from Nong Khai in Thailand ). The train from Vientiane to Boten takes just 3.5 hours, and its main stops include Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, and Muang Xai. Laos was still closed for international travel when it opened, so the railway has been running as a domestic service during its first few months of operations. Laos reopened its borders in May 2022, so I returned to see for myself. I have been waiting to ride this…