Take The Train Bangkok to Laos
According to The Guardian the first train to run from Thailand to Laos will be inaugurated this Thursday 05 March 2009. It will then be possible to travel by train from Bangkok, across the Friendship Bridge over the Mekong to Tha na Lang, around 20 miles from Vientiane, the capital of Laos.
The train will travel through Isan, the relatively unknown north-eastern region of Thailand. The two main tourist sites here are Surin famed for its annual elephant roundup held in November and the Khmer temple at Phi Mai.
Isan is one of the poorest regions of Thailand with a mainly agricultural economy. This new train service could help the region by bringing more tourists to it. Currently the rail service stops at Nong Khai on the Thai side of the Friendship Bridge and only the more adventurous would come this way as opposed to flying. On the other hand it might have no affect at all as visitors trundle by to their final destination, Laos. I hope the former is true.
This train service notwithstanding, I would say that Isan is best seen as part of a road tour perhaps taking in Surin, Phi Mai, the ancient capital of Ayuthaya and Pha Taem National Park with its pre-historic cliff paintings.
It is worth bearing in mind too that, according to The Guardian report, by taking the train across the bridge to Laos the visitor is only gaining around 2 miles (3.5 kms): there is still a 20 mile (32 kms) road journey to Vientiane. That’s a long way in a tuk tuk!
Flying still has an appeal for me and then there is also the option of taking a boat down the Mekong from Chiang Khong in the north of Thailand.
However you get there – train, boat or plane – you will need a visa to enter Laos and I recommend you contact your local Lao Embassy for further advice.
