Trip to Thailand & Laos- Train from Nong Khai to Bangkok

The Royal Family is greatly revered in Thailand. Members spend a great deal of time visiting charities they sponsor and "opening" things. A couple of years ago the rail link from Nong Khai Thailand across the Mekong into Laos was completed and, of course, had to be "opened". The King's second daughter, Princess Sirindhorn did the honors. When a Royal "opens" something apparently everything they deal with must be preserved and shown. In the Nong Khai station is this large glass case with the Princess's photo, a sofa she sat on, the podium she used for her speech, photos of the event and so on. My daughter, son-in-law and I happened to be in the station a couple of years ago the day before the opening and the station was full of folding chairs in rows, neatly covered with white cotton slipcovers waiting for the great event.

I was waiting for the evening train to Bangkok. I used to buy a First Class ticket and reserve the whole compartment (upper and lower) but the Railway changed the rules and I was no longer able to purchase tickets online. I then discovered that 2nd class was very comfortable and much cheaper. The racks hold luggage and serve as steps to the upper bunks.

The seats which face each other are wide and very comfortable.

An attendant makes up the beds adding a foam mattress and clean bedding. I always bring a pillow and extra blanket (which comes in handy just about everywhere with the air conditioning)

And all the bunks have privacy curtains and there is a western toilet at the end of the car. The train leaves Nong Khai around 6:30 pm and arrives in Bangkok around 7am the next morning. Not a bad trip. The second class ticket is around $25.00.