China - Laos Trains: D87/ D88

Currently, there is one pair of trains, D87/88 running between Kunming, the capital city of southwestern China's Yunnan Province and Laos' capital city, Vientiane on a daily basis. The duration is 9.5 hours for both, counting in the time used for custom procedures at the border. Ticket price is around CNY864 for a first class seat and CNY542 for a second class seat.

The China - Laos railway project is actually a section of the Kunming-Singapore Railway Project, which is planned to connect Kunming with Singapore, passing through Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. 
  Open Time: April 13, 2023
 Speed: 160 km/h (99mph)
 Running Length: 1,022 km (635 mi)
 Duration: about 9.5 hours, including the time for custom formalities
 Stations: Kunming South, Yuxi, Puer, Xishuangbanna, Mohan, Boten, Muang Xay, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane
 (Last Update on November 11, 2024)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Duration
D87	08:08 - 17:34	9H26M

 (Last Update on November 11, 2024)

Train No.	Departure - Arrival	Duration
D88	09:08 - 18:34	9H26M

 

First Class Seat	Second Class Seat
CNY864	CNY542

 1. From the designated ticket windows at the railway stations including Kunming, Kunming South, Yuxi, Puer, Xishuangbanna in China and Boten, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane in Laos.
2. Through China's website 12306.cn and its App, or Laos LCR Ticket App.

 Kind Reminders: 
1. Please note China's railway stations, website and App only sell tickets for train D87 and Laos' railway stations and App only issue tickets for train D88. 
2. Passengers' ID certificates, like passports are needed when purchasing the ticket. 
3. Even if you've bought an e-ticket on the website or via apps, the paper ticket should be collected, by showing the ID certificate used for booking. Because it will be checked at the departure station, arrival station and the borders when completing the custom procedures. 
  Kunming-Mohan: This section is made up of the Kunming-Yuxi Rail Line and the Yuxi-Mohan Rail Line. The former section is 88 km (55 miles) long with a trip duration of 37 minutes. The running speed is 124 mph (200 km/h). The latter section is 507 km (315 miles) with the the allowed top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).

 Mohan (Boten)- Vientiane: The designed speed is 160 km/h and the length is 422 km (262 miles). Around 165 bridges and 75 tunnels have been built along the way, accounting for about 60% of the overall length, making it a really difficult project. Among the bridges, two super ones run over Mekong River, measuring 1,220 m (1,334 yards) and 1,436 m (1,570 yards) respectively.
 In addition to train, there are two other ways to travel between the two countries: by air or by coach.

The fastest way to travel between the two countries is by air. There are direct flights between Vientiane and Kunming and Guangzhou; air travel takes 1.5 hours and 2/2.5 hours respectively; and the ticket price for economy class is around CNY 1,300 and CNY 1,600 respectively.

Taking international coaches to travel between the two countries is popular among many budget travelers. You can take a coach at Kunming South Bus Station to Vientiane or Luang Prabang. The Kunming-Vientiane coach departs at 18:00 and takes 22 hours to cover a distance of 883 miles (1,421 km); ticket price is around CNY 600. The Kunming-Luang Prabang coach leaves at 18:30 and takes 17 hours for 684 miles (1,100 km); ticket fare is about CNY 400. The ticket price here is for reference only. The actual ticket price is subject to the ticket office.

 Tips for taking coaches:
1. No toilets are available on coaches, so you'd better not drink too much water! The coach will stop along the way for passengers to rest, have meals and use the washrooms.
2. Only sleepers are provided onboard and only a few sleepers are single ones; the others are double ones. So it's very possible you will share a double sleeper with a stranger. Be prepared!
3. The above coach duration excludes time for customs formalities which may take some time.

Other International Trains between China and nearby Countries

K23/K24: Beijing - Ulaanbaatar	K27/K28: Beijing - Pyongyang	T8701/T8702: Nanning - Hanoi
4652/4653: Hohhot - Ulaanbaatar	Z5/Z6: Beijing - Hanoi	K9795/K9796: Urumqi - Almaty K9797/K9798: Urumqi - Astana
K19/K20 Beijing - Manzhouli - Moscow	K3/K4 Beijing - Ulaanbaatar - Moscow	Erlian - Ulaanbaatar

 International railways under construction/planning from China to: