How much does the train to Kunming cost?

Roughly CNY 552 (about US$81) second class and CNY 881 (about US$129) first class for Kunming–Vientiane.

A high-speed train emerging from a tunnel portal painted with the Lao and Chinese flags

Laos → China · Verified 4 September 2026

Laos to China by Bus & Train: The Boten–Mohan Crossing

Q: Is the border open right now?

The road to it is not. National Route 13 North has been closed between the Oudomxay provincial border and the Boten–China crossing since 30 August 2026 after landslides and washouts. Reports conflict on whether the checkpoint building itself is operating. The railway is running normally.

Q: How does the train crossing work?

Through trains hold for about 60 minutes at Boten and again at Mohan while everyone clears immigration. You stay on the same train. The railway checkpoint is a separate entry on the Lao immigration register from the road crossing.

Q: How long is Vientiane to Kunming?

About 9.5 to 10 hours including border formalities. Services run D87 08:08→17:44 and D86/83 10:55→20:59 southbound, D88 09:00→18:34 and D84/85 12:25→22:08 northbound.

Q: Can I get a Lao visa on arrival at Boten?

Yes. Both visa on arrival and the Lao eVisa work here, and unlike the Vietnam and Cambodia crossings the eVisa is reliably accepted at Boten.

Q: How far is Boten station from the road border?

About 4 km. A shared taxi costs 60,000 kip or 20 RMB.

One crossing into Yunnan, served by both road and rail. Right now the road is closed by flooding and the train is the way north.

06:30–22:00
Through train to Kunming
VOA and eVisa
Road closed, flooding

Search routes to the China border

Flooding has closed the road to the China border Luang Namtha was declared a disaster zone on 29 August 2026. National Route 13 North is closed between the Oudomxay provincial border and the Boten–China crossing after landslides and washouts, and Lao Airlines has suspended Vientiane–Luang Namtha flights. The railway is running normally, right now the train is the way north, not the road. Reports conflict on whether the checkpoint building itself is operating; check before you travel. Checked 4 September 2026

Can I cross into China right now?

Boten in Luang Namtha to Mohan in Yunnan, open 06:30–22:00, with both visa on arrival and eVisa available on the Lao side. It works two ways, the road crossing, and the Laos–China Railway, which has its own separate immigration checkpoint. Through trains hold about an hour at each side while passengers clear immigration.

Last verified 4 September 2026

The crossing

Laos–China checkpoints. The road crossing and the railway are separate entries on the Lao register.
Crossing	Connects	Hours	Lao visa on arrival
Boten – Mohan Also written Mohan, Bohan	Luang Namtha → Mohan, Yunnan, China	06:30–22:00	Yes
Boten railway checkpoint Also written Lao-China Railway checkpoint	Boten, Luang Namtha → Mohan, Yunnan, China	06:30–22:00	Yes

Gilded stupa gateway over the road at Boten International Check Point — The gateway arch at Boten International Check Point, the road crossing into Yunnan.

The through train to Kunming

The Laos–China Railway runs 1,035 km from Vientiane to Kunming, and the through service is by far the most comfortable way across this border. Trains hold about 60 minutes at Boten and again at Mohan while passengers clear immigration. You stay on the same train.

Kunming–Vientiane through services.
Service	Direction	Departs	Arrives
D87	Kunming → Vientiane	08:08	17:44
D86/83	Kunming → Vientiane	10:55	20:59
D88	Vientiane → Kunming	09:00	18:34
D84/85	Vientiane → Kunming	12:25	22:08

Fares run about CNY 552 (US$81) second class and CNY 881 (US$129) first class. For travel inside Laos on the same line, see Laos train tickets.

VientianeBoten

Duration: approx 3.5 hrs

Check Vientiane to Boten prices

VientianeKunming

Duration: 9.5–10 hrs including border formalities

Check Vientiane to Kunming prices

Common questions

Is the border open right now?

The road to it is not. Route 13 North has been closed between the Oudomxay provincial border and Boten since 30 August 2026. Reports conflict on the checkpoint itself. The railway is running normally.

How does the train crossing work?

Trains hold about 60 minutes at Boten and again at Mohan. You stay on the same train.

How long is Vientiane to Kunming?

About 9.5 to 10 hours including formalities.

How much does the train cost?

Roughly CNY 552 (US$81) second class, CNY 881 (US$129) first.

Can I get a Lao visa on arrival at Boten?

Yes, and unlike the Vietnam and Cambodia crossings the Lao eVisa is reliably accepted here too.

How far is Boten station from the road border?

About 4 km; a shared taxi is 60,000 kip or 20 RMB.

Laos Bus Tickets

Written and maintained from Vientiane. The people behind this site have lived in Laos for two decades and cross these borders themselves. Routes and visa rules get rechecked whenever something changes, not on a fixed schedule that lets stale information sit for months.

Sources for this page

Lao Department of Immigration: checkpoint list, opening hours and visa status
The Laotian Times: the August 2026 flooding in northern Laos