Just a 45-minute drive across the First Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge and with a linguistic resemblance to the Isan dialect, Vientiane is one of the most welcoming destinations for Thais seeking a weekend experience. This humble town radiates the allure of a bygone colonial age and its laid-back lifestyle allows visitors to avoid any rushing. From the northeastern town of Nong Khai, it's easy to take a bus to the capital of Laos or catch a train to Thanaleng Railway Station, which is 14km from Vientiane.
The good news is that travellers may now have a new option to save time and money in the near future. Two weeks ago, the Lao National Railway State Enterprise and the State Railway of Thailand started a trial run of a new cross-border service that connects Thanaleng Railway Station to Vientiane Khamsavath Station. The official launch of the service is expected to take place in the coming months.
For this trip, my travel companions and I opted to take an early morning flight from Bangkok to Vientiane. We were greeted with a regionally inspired breakfast that blends French and Vietnamese flavours, transporting us back to the time of European colonisation in Southeast Asia. Pairing fresh herbal beverages and coffee, the best-selling dishes are special pork combo banh mi (Vietnamese-style sandwich filled with ham, marinated pork, vegetables and sweet and spicy sauce), pork spare ribs rice noodles, vegetarian bun (egg and tofu rice noodles served with fresh spring rolls), and bun cha.