Passengers board the newly-introduced morning train to Vientiane at Boten Station.

Additional morning train expands Boten-Vientiane services

The Laos-China Railway Company has added a new morning service between Boten and Vientiane, giving passengers more travel options and strengthening connections along the railway corridor.
The company launched the C95/C96 service on September 28 to make travel more convenient for people travelling between northern Laos and the capital, while supporting tourism, trade and business activity.

The train departs Boten at 8am and arrives in Vientiane at 11:47, giving people more flexibility in conducting business, running errands or visiting relatives before returning north later in the day.
Trains stop at six stations – Boten, Nateuy, Muang Xai, Luang Prabang, Vangvieng and Vientiane – linking communities and popular destinations along the route.

The C95/C96 service operates in both directions on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. On Tuesdays, only the C95 operates from Boten to Vientiane, while the C96 runs from Vientiane to Boten on Thursdays.

The new service increases the number of daily trains departing Boten from three to four on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
In adding the new service, the railway company improved its management and addressed constraints in transport capacity and staffing, while keeping passenger safety a top priority.

The additional service comes as the railway increasingly becomes an important part of daily travel and commercial activity. Greater convenience in rail travel enables people to move between provinces for work, business, family visits, and other needs.
Tourism is also expected to benefit from the extra service. More flexible train schedules give visitors greater choice when planning journeys to popular destinations such as Luang Prabang and Vangvieng.
Increased passenger traffic also creates more opportunities for businesses along the railway, including hotels, restaurants, tour operators, shops and other transport services.
The railway has also strengthened social and cultural links between northern and central Laos as easier travel allows more people to visit relatives and communities in other provinces.
The railway is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative, improving transport links between Laos and the wider region while supporting the country's economic and social development.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 28, 2026)