Love at First Sight

Arriving by Train

It was early in the morning when our train slowly rolled into Nong Khai station. We had barely slept on this overnight train from Bangkok to the Laotian border—not because it was uncomfortable (in fact, the first-class sleeper was far more comfortable than its €50 per person price tag would let you expect), but simply because we were still suffering from jet lag after the long flight and a six-hour time difference.

We had departed from the ultra-modern Bang Sue Station in Bangkok the evening before , where we’d enjoyed a delicious meal and stocked up on snacks—which we would not have needed as the train unexpectedly had a dining car.

Both of us are big fans of train travel, which is why we chose this route over a flight or a bus. Flying would have been faster, the bus cheaper, but the night train seemed by far the most exciting option.

Our compartment was surprisingly comfortable. It was small, as train cabins usually are, but in addition to the seating bench that could be converted into a bed—another bed could be folded down from above—we had enough space to stow our luggage. At the end of the carriage, there were several very clean toilets and even a modern shower.

The journey was simply a dream and passed in no time. Once we arrived in Nong Khai, most passengers continued their journey by tuk-tuks, whose drivers were already eagerly competing for fares despite the early hour. But as true railway fans, we decided to take the train into Laos.

We officially left Thailand right at the station. Not long after boarding the train, the old carriages clattered off toward Laos. Crossing the Friendship Bridge in the golden light of sunrise was a truly unforgettable moment.

Once in Laos, we bought our visas for about €30. The whole process took around twenty minutes. Then we grabbed a coffee. Our tiredness mingled with a growing sense of excitement—before us lay a new country, one we had barely known anything about just a few months earlier.