You can travel from Kunming to Bangkok entirely by train, but not on one ticket or one train. As of October 2026 the journey has three parts: the Laos–China Railway from Kunming to Vientiane in a day, a taxi across Vientiane to a different station, and the overnight Thai train from Vientiane to Bangkok. Allow at least two days.
The fast line from China ends in Vientiane, the Lao capital. Thailand's railway reaches Vientiane too, since July 2024, but at a separate station across town. There is no high-speed line in Thailand yet: the Thai–Chinese high-speed railway is under construction and has a planned opening of 2030, and only as far as Nakhon Ratchasima.
This page follows the trip southbound, from Kunming to Bangkok, and is written with readers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao in mind. Times and fares come from the national railways' announcements where we could read them and from the seat61 rail guide; check them before you book.
Kunming to Bangkok by rail, October 2026
- Leg 1
- Laos–China Railway (中老铁路), Kunming or Kunming South – Vientiane, about 10 hours including the border
- International trains
- Four a day in total (two each way), since 18 July 2025
- Border
- Mohan (磨憨, China) and Boten (磨丁, Laos); get off with all luggage at both
- Lao visa
- No visa on arrival at Boten station; eVisa or embassy visa in advance if your passport needs one
- Leg 2
- Taxi from the LCR Vientiane station to Khamsavath station
- Leg 3
- Thai train 134, Vientiane Khamsavath 18:25 – Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat 07:20
- Thai entry
- At Nong Khai station; Chinese passports get up to 30 days visa-free
The route in three legs
| Leg | From – to | Train | Book through |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kunming / Kunming South – Vientiane (LCR station) | D87 or D83 | 12306 or station windows in China |
| 2 | LCR station – Khamsavath station, Vientiane | Taxi | On the spot |
| 3 | Khamsavath – Nong Khai – Bangkok | Thai train 134 (or 148 + a Nong Khai train) | State Railway of Thailand |
The obvious plan is to spend one night in Vientiane. The Chinese train arrives in the afternoon or evening, and the Thai train to Bangkok leaves Vientiane in the evening, so a same-day connection would leave almost no time for the cross-town transfer and the Lao exit check. We would not try it.
Leg 1: Kunming to Vientiane on the Laos–China Railway
The Laos–China Railway opened in Laos on 3 December 2021, and international trains to Kunming began on 13 April 2023. Since 18 July 2025 there have been two pairs of international trains a day, one starting at Kunming South and one at Kunming main station, according to China State Railway Group. Trains run at up to 200 km/h in China and 160 km/h in Laos.
| Train | Departs | Arrives Vientiane |
|---|---|---|
| D87 | Kunming South 08:08 (Beijing time) | 16:44 (Lao time) |
| D83 | Kunming 10:55, Kunming South 11:20 (Beijing time) | 19:59 (Lao time) |
Times are from the seat61 timetable for 2026. China is one hour ahead of Laos (GMT+8 against GMT+7), so the 10:55 departure arriving at 19:59 is about ten hours on the train, which matches China Railway's "about 10 hours including border time". Train numbers can be shown differently: China Railway's July 2025 notice lists the newer Kunming train as D86/83. Older articles call the first pair D887/D888; seat61 uses D87/D88 for 2026. Search by route and time in the booking app rather than by number.
The stations in China are Kunming (昆明), Kunming South (昆明南), Pu'er (普洱), Xishuangbanna (西双版纳) and Mohan (磨憨). In Laos the train stops at Boten (磨丁), Muang Xai (孟赛), Luang Prabang (琅勃拉邦), Vang Vieng (万荣) and Vientiane (万象). If you want to break the trip in Luang Prabang, that is easy: domestic Lao trains run on to Vientiane several times a day.
Buying tickets: 12306, the LCR app and station windows
According to China State Railway Group (July 2025), cross-border tickets on trains that start in China are sold on the China Railway 12306 website and app and at the international ticket windows of Kunming, Kunming South, Yuxi, Pu'er, Xishuangbanna and Mohan stations. Tickets on trains starting in Vientiane are sold on Laos's LCR Ticket app and at Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang, Muang Xai and Boten stations.
- Paper ticket needed. When international tickets went on sale in 2023, the state news portal China.com.cn explained that an online cross-border ticket must be exchanged for a paper ticket at one of the designated stations, with the passport used to book, because paper tickets are checked at the border. Seat61 confirms that e-tickets are still exchanged at an information booth in Kunming in 2026.
- Fares. At launch in April 2023, the 12306 app showed Kunming South – Vientiane at 542 yuan in second class and 864 yuan in first class (China.com.cn). Seat61 gives 2026 fares from the Lao end of 1,626,000 kip second class and 2,592,000 kip first class. Check the current yuan fare on 12306.
- Foreign passports. We could not confirm whether 12306 accepts every foreign passport for international tickets in 2026. If you hold a non-Chinese passport, a station window in Kunming is the safe option.
- Sell-outs. The first trains in 2023 sold out within an hour of going on sale. Book as soon as sales open for your date.
The border at Mohan and Boten
China and Laos run a two-stop border. At Mohan you leave the train with all your luggage for Chinese exit checks, then reboard; a few minutes later, at Boten, you get off again with everything for Lao entry. China.com.cn's 2023 guide put the exit and entry formalities at about 1.5 hours each. Keep your paper ticket and passport in your hand.
Laos does not issue visas on arrival at Boten railway station. If your passport needs a Lao visa, get it before you travel: Boten Railway Station is one of the eVisa entry points named on the Lao eVisa portal; an eVisa gives 30 days, usually takes three working days, and needs over 180 days left on your passport. A Lao embassy or consulate in China can also issue a visa. Rules depend on your nationality, so check before you book the train.
Stations on this line have airport-style security. Seat61 reports that knives, opened bottles of alcohol and flammable aerosols are confiscated, and boarding runs from about 30 minutes to 5 minutes before departure.
Leg 2: across Vientiane to Khamsavath
The two railways do not share a station in Vientiane. The Laos–China Railway station is about 14 km from the city center; the Thai trains use Khamsavath station, about 7 km from the center. You need a taxi between them, so budget time and some kip or US dollars. From the LCR station into the center, seat61 gives about 30 minutes by taxi for around US$15.
Stay the night in the city center and go to Khamsavath the next day. Seat61 advises arriving 45 to 60 minutes before the Thai train leaves, because Lao exit formalities happen at the station, and there is a Lao exit fee of 10,000 kip (or 40 baht) in cash.
Leg 3: Vientiane to Bangkok on the Thai sleeper
Since 19 July 2024, Thai trains run across the First Friendship Bridge to Khamsavath. The through train to Bangkok in the 2026 timetable (seat61) is train 134: Khamsavath 18:25, Nong Khai 18:55 (dep. 20:15), Ayutthaya 06:13 and Bangkok Krung Thep Aphiwat 07:20. It has one air-conditioned second-class sleeper car, one air-conditioned second-class seat car and two third-class cars.
| Vientiane – Bangkok, train 134 | Fare (baht) |
|---|---|
| 2nd class sleeper, upper berth | ฿784 |
| 2nd class sleeper, lower berth | ฿874 |
| 2nd class seat | ฿574 |
| 3rd class | ฿281 |
Fares as given by seat61 for 2026. With only one sleeper car, berths can sell out; book ahead through the State Railway of Thailand; the steps are in how to book Thai trains online. If train 134 is full, take the morning shuttle 148 (Khamsavath 09:35, Nong Khai 10:05) and continue from Nong Khai on the evening sleeper 26 to Bangkok (dep. 19:40, arr. 05:30). Sleeper classes and berths are compared in our night-train guide.
At Nong Khai everyone gets off with their bags for Thai immigration and customs on the platform. The town and its crossing are covered on our Nong Khai page. In Bangkok the train terminates at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Hua Lamphong is no longer the arrival point); our station guide explains the onward connections.
Entering Thailand at Nong Khai
Chinese citizens with ordinary passports enter visa-free under the Thailand–China agreement: 30 days each time, capped at 90 days within any 180 (as of October 2026). Hong Kong and Macao passports get 30 days under bilateral arrangements. The agreement is explained on our page on Thai entry rules for Chinese citizens, and other nationalities should check the visa exemption rules, which cap most other passports at two exempt land arrivals a year.
Everyone must file the free TDAC digital arrival card before arriving, also for land arrivals. Immigration may ask to see onward travel and funds, and customs limits are the same as at an airport; see Thai customs allowances, including the ban on e-cigarettes.
Is there a high-speed train from China to Bangkok?
Not yet, and not soon. The Thai section of the planned link is being built in phases. Phase 1, from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima (250.77 km), was 52.4 % complete in March 2026 against a target of 80.73 %, with opening planned for 2030 and at risk of slipping, as The Nation reported. Until it opens, and until a later phase reaches Nong Khai, the journey south of Vientiane is on the existing metre-gauge line. If speed matters more than the trip, our page on flights from China and the rest of Asia lists the direct options from Kunming.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct train from Kunming to Bangkok?
No. As of October 2026 you take the Laos–China Railway from Kunming to Vientiane, a taxi across Vientiane to Khamsavath station, and a Thai train from there to Bangkok. They are separate trains with separate tickets, and most travelers spend a night in Vientiane.
Can I buy Kunming to Vientiane train tickets on 12306?
Yes. China State Railway Group says cross-border tickets on trains starting in China are sold on the 12306 website and app and at international ticket windows in Yunnan. Exchange an online ticket for a paper ticket at a designated station with your passport before boarding.
Do I need a Lao visa to take the train through Laos?
If your passport requires one, yes, and you must get it before you travel, because no visa on arrival is issued at Boten railway station. The official Lao eVisa portal lists Boten Railway Station as an eVisa port of entry.
How long does Kunming to Bangkok take by train?
About two days with a night in Vientiane: around ten hours from Kunming to Vientiane, then the overnight Thai train, which leaves Khamsavath at 18:25 and reaches Bangkok at 07:20 in the 2026 timetable.
When will the Thailand–China high-speed railway open?
The first Thai phase, Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima, is planned for 2030, and officials warned in March 2026 that it may miss that date. No high-speed trains run in Thailand in 2026.
Sources
- China State Railway Group – New Kunming–Vientiane international passenger trains (22 July 2025) (checked October 2026)
- China.com.cn – Kunming to Vientiane by train: tickets and border procedures (12 April 2023) (checked October 2026)
- Seat61 – Train travel in Laos, Kunming and Vientiane (checked October 2026)
- Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Lao eVisa ports of entry (checked October 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand – Visa-free access for tourists from China (checked October 2026)
- The Nation – Thai–Chinese high-speed rail progress (22 March 2026) (checked October 2026)
- The Star – Thai-Chinese high-speed rail project risks delay (checked October 2026)