Khamsavath ↔ Nong Khai: the Laos to Thailand border crossing
About 60 minutes of formalities between Laos and Thailand, and this is one of the frontiers you can cross without abandoning your seat.
Laos ↔ Thailand · about 60 minutes · 1 service · 6 written-up journeys
How the crossing works
Khamsavath ↔ Nong Khai
Laos ↔ Thailand- Where
- Lao formalities at Khamsavath, Thai immigration and customs at Nong Khai
- On the train?
- Yes, on the through sleeper
- Luggage
- Yes — all luggage comes off the train at Nong Khai for customs
- Visa
- Lao visa-on-arrival is generally available; Thai entry is visa-exempt for many nationalities. Confirm for your passport.
- Cash on the far side
- Small amounts of Thai baht and Lao kip.
- Time cost
- About 60 minutes of formalities
The trap. You must take every bag off the train at Nong Khai for customs. Travellers who do not know this get caught out at night, half asleep, and hold up the carriage. Separately: arriving at Khamsavath does not put you on the Laos–China Railway — that is Banthen, 15 km away, different gauge, separate ticket.
What crosses here
| Service | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane (Khamsavath) → Nong Khai Rapid 133/134 · Special Express 25/26 | State Railway of Thailand | 24m | $2 |
Typical scheduled running time for the crossing leg itself, which does not include the 60 minutes of formalities above. Allow for both when you are working out whether a connection holds. Fares are indicative.
State Railway of Thailand. The official e-ticket site. Foreign cards fail on it fairly often, and an aggregator is the usual fallback when they do. Punctuality: poor.
State Railway of Thailand sells out
Sleepers on trains 9/10 and the southern overnights sell out first. Booking window: ~90 days
Getting to each side
The frontier is rarely the problem. Reaching it on a day when something onward is still running usually is.
Vientiane (Khamsavath)
LaosWorth knowing. Serves ONLY southbound trains to Thailand. 15 km from Banthen, no rail link between them.
| Reached by | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vientiane (Khamsavath) → Hanoi Sleeper coach via Nam Phao / Cau Treo | Long-distance coach | 20h | $30 |
| Thakhek → Vientiane (Khamsavath) Route 13 coach to Vientiane | Long-distance coach | 5h | $12 |
| Vientiane (Banthen) → Vientiane (Khamsavath) Taxi across Vientiane | Local transfer | 45m | $12 |
Nong Khai
Thailand| Reached by | Operator | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nong Khai → Udon Thani Rapid 133/134 · Special Express 25/26 | State Railway of Thailand | 1h | $3 |
Journeys through Khamsavath ↔ Nong Khai
Written up in full, each with this crossing in its proper place in the itinerary rather than as a footnote.
- Kunming to Singapore overland 8 legs · 5d · $260
- Bangkok to Hanoi overland 2 legs · 2d · $64
- Laos to Malaysia by train 5 legs · 3d · $130
- Bangkok to Vientiane by train 1 legs · 2d · $34
- Bangkok to Kunming by train 3 legs · 2d · $122
- Bangkok to Luang Prabang overland 3 legs · 2d · $62
Plan a journey through it Pick two places and the crossing appears in the itinerary, with the buffer it needs.