That Luang Lake SEZ is a new urban area in Vientiane designated as a special economic zone. Also referred to as That Luang Marsh Specific Economic Zone, the area of 365 hectares is expected to accommodate up to 300,000 people. The development is centred around a round ornamental lake, and there are plans to build […]
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Laos-China Railway review – observations while riding the train from Vientiane to Boten
The Laos-China Railway opened in December 2021, and I would have tried to get a ticket on the inaugural trip had the borders been open. I was in Thailand when Laos reopened on the 9th of May, so I took the opportunity to visit shortly thereafter. I have written a Laos-China Railway travel guide on […]
Vientiane construction update – 2022 edition
Vientiane has some big projects lined up in order to attract more investment in the capital. Like most cities in the region though, Vientiane was hit hard by the extended international border closure during the pandemic. Laos reopened in May 2022 (over two years since the borders closed), and I went to Vientiane shortly thereafter […]
Vientiane BRT – Urban Transit System
Vientiane has a proposed to build a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system as part of a planned sustainable transport system for the city. This page includes links and resources to any planned urban transit systems that are proposed for Vientiane. Other proposals in the past have included a Light Rail Transit (LRT) and a commuter […]
Current and proposed railways in Laos
A list of current railways in Laos, and proposed railways connecting Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia. In December 2021 Laos began operations of the Laos-China Railway from Vientiane to Boten, launching the era of railway travel in Laos. There are other lines that have been proposed to connect Laos to Thailand, Vietnam, and maybe even Cambodia […]
Vientiane – Vung Ang Railway: proposed railway connecting landlocked Laos to a seaport
The Vientiane – Vung Ang railway is a proposed railway connecting Vientiane in Laos to the Vung Ang seaport in Vietnam. Vung Ang is the closest feasible seaport to Vientiane, thus the railway would enable landlocked Laos access to a deep seaport for shipping. The railway would also interchange with Vietnam’s North-South railway, opening up […]
Boten-Vientiane Railway: construction history and news about the Laos-China Railway
The Boten-Vientiane Railway (also known as the Laos-China Railway) is a new railway that connects Kunming in China to Vientiane in Laos. From Boten on the China/Laos border, the railway travels 414 km through Laos to the capital of Vientiane. Apart from the border shuttle operated by the State Railway of Thailand, this is the […]
Future Vientiane
Vientiane is the capital of the landlocked nation of Laos. It’s the second smallest capital of ASEAN, with a metropolitan population of over 800,000. It’s often described as a sleepy capital, especially when compared to the neighbouring capitals of Bangkok and Hanoi. Things are changing though in this city by the Mekong River. Vientiane has […]
