Laos → China · Verified 14 October 2026
Laos–China by Train or Bus: The Boten–Mohan Crossing
Travellers cross between Laos and China at Boten–Mohan, by road or by rail. The through train runs from Vientiane to Kunming in about 10 hours.
- Road 07:30–20:30, rail 06:30–22:00
- Road post: VOA and eVisa
Search routes to the China border
Can I cross into China right now?
Yes, at Boten in Luang Namtha to Mohan in Yunnan. Most European, Australian, New Zealand and Canadian passports enter China visa-free for 30 days; US passports need a visa arranged in advance. The dependable way across is the through train from Vientiane to Kunming, about 9.5 to 10 hours.
The Boten–Mohan crossing
| Crossing | Connects | Hours | Lao visa on arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boten – Mohan Also written Mohan, Bohan |
Luang Namtha → Mohan, Yunnan, China | 07:30–20:30 | Yes |
| Boten railway checkpoint Also written Lao-China Railway checkpoint |
Boten, Luang Namtha → Mohan, Yunnan, China | 06:30–22:00 | No |
Boten – Mohan
Boten railway checkpoint
One more road link exists, and it is not straightforward. Since April 2026 a daily bus has run between Jinghong in Xishuangbanna and Xieng Kok in Luang Namtha, 158 yuan, about seven to eight hours, crossing at the Mengman/Chahe port. State media reported it.
But Xieng Kok does not appear anywhere on the Lao immigration register's 33 checkpoints, which we checked entry by entry. We could not confirm that third-country travellers may use that crossing at all. Treat Boten as the crossing to plan around until that is settled.
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. It is not, however, a journey you sleep through: the border is handled as two separate inspections, one on each side, and you are out of your seat for both. The through train also calls at Luang Prabang: see the train north from Luang Prabang to Boten.
What happens at the border
- The train holds roughly an hour at Mohan on the Chinese side, then again at Boten about ten minutes further on.
- At both stops you take all your luggage off the train, clear the inspection hall on foot, and reboard. You keep the same train and the same seat, but you do not stay in it.
- Bring a pen. Arrival forms are handed out and there are rarely any to borrow.
- Chinese tickets are electronic; Lao tickets are not. For the Lao leg you collect a paper ticket in person, with your passport, from the station counter before you travel. Turning up with only a booking reference is the way people miss this train.
| Service | Direction | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| D87 | Kunming → Vientiane | 08:08 | 16:44 |
| D86/83 | Kunming → Vientiane | 10:55 | 19:59 |
| D88 | Vientiane → Kunming | 08:00 | 18:34 |
| D84/85 | Vientiane → Kunming | 11:25 | 22:08 |
Times change: every train this week, including these through trains with all their stops, is on the Laos train timetable, checked every morning.
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.
Vientiane
VientianeKunming
Laos to China, and China to Laos
The railway and the road run both ways through Boten. The paperwork does not work the same way in each direction.
Entering China from Laos
Most readers of this page need no Chinese visa at all. China's unilateral waiver gives 30 days visa-free to 50 nationalities, and it applies at any sea, road or air port, so it covers Boten. That includes the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. US passport holders are not on the list.
If you are not covered, arrange the visa before you travel: there is no visa on arrival at Boten, and Vientiane is the practical place to apply if you are already in Laos. The waiver covers tourism, business, family visits and transit, but not work or study, and it runs to 31 December 2026 for most nationalities.
Have proof you will leave China within 30 days: a booked train, bus or flight out. Airlines flying in check it, and in October 2026 one traveller was refused boarding because the onward plan was a walk over the land border into Vietnam, not a ticket out of China. Coming in by train from Laos, keep it to hand at Boten too.
Entering Laos from China
Which Boten you arrive at changes the visa answer, so check which one you mean. They are two separate entries on the Lao register, about 4 km apart.
- Boten road crossing, 07:30–20:30: both visa on arrival and the Lao eVisa work. Visa on arrival is about US$40 in cash. This is the easiest land entry into Laos after the Friendship Bridges.
- Boten railway checkpoint, 06:30–22:00: the eVisa works, but the register stopped showing visa on arrival here on 5 September 2026, while continuing to show it at the road crossing next door. We have not seen that change explained, so treat it as unsettled and do not gamble on it. Arriving by train, have your visa or eVisa before you board.
From Boten station to the road border is roughly 4 km, about 60,000 kip or 20 RMB in a shared taxi. Which crossings issue which visa is in the Laos visa guide.
Common questions
Should I use the road crossing or the railway checkpoint?
Two separate posts, about 4 km apart, with different hours. Road (07:30–20:30) for buses and cars, rail (06:30–22:00) for the through train. Visa on arrival is only shown at the road post.
How does the train crossing work?
About an hour at Mohan, then again at Boten. You take your luggage off at both, clear the hall on foot and reboard the same train. Collect your paper Lao ticket with your passport beforehand.
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.
How do I get from Kunming to Vientiane?
The same through train southbound, about 9.5 to 10 hours including both border inspections at Mohan and Boten.
Can I get a Lao visa on arrival at Boten?
At the road crossing, yes; arriving by train, get your visa or eVisa first. The Lao eVisa is reliably accepted here.
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
- Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: visa-free entry FAQ: the 30-day visa waiver and the ports it covers
- The Laotian Times: news coverage of Lao border and transport changes