The world’s longest train journey now runs from Singapore to Portugal, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers across 13 countries and linking Southeast Asia to Western Europe entirely by rail.
The Laos-China Railway (LCR) is a key player in this achievement, linking Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network.
The Route in a Nutshell
The journey begins in Singapore and travels north through Malaysia and Thailand before entering Laos.
The route then continues across China to Beijing, follows the Trans-Siberian Railway through Mongolia and Russia, to Moscow, and proceeds westward through Europe, passing through Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain, before reaching the final destination of Lisbon, Portugal.
Traveling back-to-back, the entire journey takes approximately 21 days, with the longest single leg being the seven-day, 7,622-kilometer Moscow-Beijing segment.
Laos-China Railway: The Crucial Connection
Inaugurated in December 2021, the 420-kilometer Laos-China Railway has transformed Laos from a “landlocked” to a “land-linked” nation. The railway has already carried over 62 million passengers on the Vientiane-Kunming route and more than 12 million passengers within Laos.
Most significantly, the LCR provides the critical overland connection between Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network, enabling seamless travel from Singapore all the way to Europe.
Without this railway linking Vientiane to Kunming, the Singapore-to-Portugal route would not be possible.
Currently, a 15-kilometer bus connection near Vientiane links the LCR with the Laos-Thailand Railway. However, construction of a new railway bridge across the Mekong River between Vientiane and Nong Khai will soon create a direct rail link, further enhancing connectivity as part of Laos’ transformation into a regional transportation hub under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Challenges and the Future
While this route represents a unique route in global rail connectivity, geopolitical tensions present challenges. Since 2022, the suspension of rail services has blocked direct train travel across Russia’s western borders, requiring travelers to make alternative arrangements.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webp00Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-01-13 10:03:282026-01-20 10:06:45Laos-China Railway Enables Record-Breaking Journey from Singapore to Portugal
Luang Prabang authorities have issued a notice urging tour companies, transport operators, and tour guides to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness and public order in the city, warning of escalating fines and possible license suspensions for violations.
According to the notice from the Mayor’s Office, all tourism-related operators, including tour companies, tour bus and boat associations, tourism businesses, and licensed guides, must ensure that staff and clients do not dispose of waste in public areas or waterways.
This includes throwing rubbish from vehicles or boats into rivers, canals, or public spaces.
Under the new measures, a first offence will result in re-education, an official record, and a fine of LAK 300,000 (USD 14), along with mandatory clean-up and compensation for related enforcement costs.
A second offence will carry a LAK 1 million (USD 46) fine, plus clean-up expenses.
Repeated violations may lead to fines five to ten times higher than the second offence, with cases reported to relevant authorities or consulates and handled in accordance with the law.
The notice also states that if offences involve tourists or clients under the supervision of tour companies, vehicles, boats, or guides, the responsible operators will face enforcement action.
In serious cases or where significant damage occurs, authorities may suspend or revoke business licenses.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/trash-idol-1920x1440-1.jpeg14401920Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-01-12 10:00:132026-01-20 10:03:05Luang Prabang Warns Tour Operators of Fines for Littering, Disorderly Conduct
Delegates at the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) have elected a new Party Central Committee that will shape the country’s political direction from 2026 to 2030.
More than 800 delegates from central and local Party organisations took part in the vote, representing over 421,000 Party members nationwide.
The election concluded late on the second day of the three-day congress.The vote marked the end of the five-year term of the 11th Party Central Committee, following a closing address by Party Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith.
Politburo Leadership Confirmed
The newly elected 12th Party Central Committee comprises 73 members.
The top 13 figures form the core leadership of the Politburo, the Party’s most powerful decision-making body.
The senior leadership includes:
Thongloun Sisoulith
Xaysomphone Phomvihane
Sonexay Siphandone
Khamphanh Phommathat
Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun
Vilay Lakhamfong
Sisay Leudethmounsone
Saleumxay Kommasith
Khamphanh Pheuyavong
Thongsalith Mangnomek
Phet Phomphiphak
Khamlieng Outhakaysone
Vansay Phongsavanh
The remaining members of the Central Committee come from a wide range of government ministries, provincial administrations, mass organisations, and the security sector.
Reserve Members Selected
The Congress also elected 15 reserve members to the Party Central Committee. These members may assume full roles if vacancies arise during the five-year term.
Senior state and Party leaders, including the National Assembly president and the prime minister, participated in the vote alongside other delegates.
At the close of the second day, Khamphanh Pheuyavong, head of the outgoing Central Propaganda and Training Committee, said the Congress had completed its agenda as planned, noting orderly proceedings and broad participation.
Next Phase of Leadership Transition
Following the election, the 12th Party Central Committee held its first plenary session to select the Party Secretary General, members of the Politburo, and other key Party bodies.
Delegates then reviewed and adopted the Congress resolution, which outlines Laos’ political and socio-economic priorities for the next five years.
Final assignments to state leadership positions are expected to be announced in late March or early April, following nationwide elections in which citizens will vote for representatives to the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils.
National Elections Ahead
Laos will hold nationwide elections on 22 February to elect members of the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils, following the conclusion of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
The vote will be overseen by a 21-member National Election Committee chaired by Xaysomphone Phomvihane. Lao citizens aged 18 and above will be eligible to vote, except those legally restricted.
The election will select 175 National Assembly members, an increase from 164 in the current 9th Legislature.
The 9th Legislature will complete its five-year term on 22 March, after which the 10th Legislature will convene to elect state leaders, approve a new government cabinet, and adopt the National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026–2030.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Thongloun-Sisoulith-1920x1280-1.jpg12801920Soutsada Xaphouvonghttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSoutsada Xaphouvong2026-01-10 01:01:002026-01-13 13:06:48National Party Congress Elects New Central Committee
Laos-China Railway Enables Record-Breaking Journey from Singapore to Portugal
The world’s longest train journey now runs from Singapore to Portugal, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers across 13 countries and linking Southeast Asia to Western Europe entirely by rail.
The Laos-China Railway (LCR) is a key player in this achievement, linking Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network.
The Route in a Nutshell
The journey begins in Singapore and travels north through Malaysia and Thailand before entering Laos.
From Laos’ Vientiane, passengers board the LCR to Kunming, China, passing through the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang.
The route then continues across China to Beijing, follows the Trans-Siberian Railway through Mongolia and Russia, to Moscow, and proceeds westward through Europe, passing through Belarus, Poland, Germany, France, and Spain, before reaching the final destination of Lisbon, Portugal.
Traveling back-to-back, the entire journey takes approximately 21 days, with the longest single leg being the seven-day, 7,622-kilometer Moscow-Beijing segment.
Laos-China Railway: The Crucial Connection
Inaugurated in December 2021, the 420-kilometer Laos-China Railway has transformed Laos from a “landlocked” to a “land-linked” nation. The railway has already carried over 62 million passengers on the Vientiane-Kunming route and more than 12 million passengers within Laos.
Most significantly, the LCR provides the critical overland connection between Southeast Asia and China’s extensive rail network, enabling seamless travel from Singapore all the way to Europe.
Without this railway linking Vientiane to Kunming, the Singapore-to-Portugal route would not be possible.
Currently, a 15-kilometer bus connection near Vientiane links the LCR with the Laos-Thailand Railway. However, construction of a new railway bridge across the Mekong River between Vientiane and Nong Khai will soon create a direct rail link, further enhancing connectivity as part of Laos’ transformation into a regional transportation hub under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Challenges and the Future
While this route represents a unique route in global rail connectivity, geopolitical tensions present challenges. Since 2022, the suspension of rail services has blocked direct train travel across Russia’s western borders, requiring travelers to make alternative arrangements.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/12/laos-china-railway-enables-record-breaking-journey-from-singapore-to-portugal/
Luang Prabang Warns Tour Operators of Fines for Littering, Disorderly Conduct
Luang Prabang authorities have issued a notice urging tour companies, transport operators, and tour guides to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness and public order in the city, warning of escalating fines and possible license suspensions for violations.
According to the notice from the Mayor’s Office, all tourism-related operators, including tour companies, tour bus and boat associations, tourism businesses, and licensed guides, must ensure that staff and clients do not dispose of waste in public areas or waterways.
This includes throwing rubbish from vehicles or boats into rivers, canals, or public spaces.
Under the new measures, a first offence will result in re-education, an official record, and a fine of LAK 300,000 (USD 14), along with mandatory clean-up and compensation for related enforcement costs.
A second offence will carry a LAK 1 million (USD 46) fine, plus clean-up expenses.
Repeated violations may lead to fines five to ten times higher than the second offence, with cases reported to relevant authorities or consulates and handled in accordance with the law.
The notice also states that if offences involve tourists or clients under the supervision of tour companies, vehicles, boats, or guides, the responsible operators will face enforcement action.
In serious cases or where significant damage occurs, authorities may suspend or revoke business licenses.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/12/luang-prabang-warns-tour-operators-of-fines-for-littering-disorderly-conduct/
National Party Congress Elects New Central Committee
UPDATED on 8 January at 2:42 PM
Delegates at the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) have elected a new Party Central Committee that will shape the country’s political direction from 2026 to 2030.
More than 800 delegates from central and local Party organisations took part in the vote, representing over 421,000 Party members nationwide.
The election concluded late on the second day of the three-day congress.The vote marked the end of the five-year term of the 11th Party Central Committee, following a closing address by Party Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith.
Politburo Leadership Confirmed
The newly elected 12th Party Central Committee comprises 73 members.
The top 13 figures form the core leadership of the Politburo, the Party’s most powerful decision-making body.
The senior leadership includes:
The remaining members of the Central Committee come from a wide range of government ministries, provincial administrations, mass organisations, and the security sector.
Reserve Members Selected
The Congress also elected 15 reserve members to the Party Central Committee. These members may assume full roles if vacancies arise during the five-year term.
Senior state and Party leaders, including the National Assembly president and the prime minister, participated in the vote alongside other delegates.
At the close of the second day, Khamphanh Pheuyavong, head of the outgoing Central Propaganda and Training Committee, said the Congress had completed its agenda as planned, noting orderly proceedings and broad participation.
Next Phase of Leadership Transition
Following the election, the 12th Party Central Committee held its first plenary session to select the Party Secretary General, members of the Politburo, and other key Party bodies.
Delegates then reviewed and adopted the Congress resolution, which outlines Laos’ political and socio-economic priorities for the next five years.
Final assignments to state leadership positions are expected to be announced in late March or early April, following nationwide elections in which citizens will vote for representatives to the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils.
National Elections Ahead
Laos will hold nationwide elections on 22 February to elect members of the National Assembly and Provincial People’s Councils, following the conclusion of the 12th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.
The vote will be overseen by a 21-member National Election Committee chaired by Xaysomphone Phomvihane. Lao citizens aged 18 and above will be eligible to vote, except those legally restricted.
The election will select 175 National Assembly members, an increase from 164 in the current 9th Legislature.
The 9th Legislature will complete its five-year term on 22 March, after which the 10th Legislature will convene to elect state leaders, approve a new government cabinet, and adopt the National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026–2030.
source: https://laotiantimes.com/2026/01/08/national-party-congress-elects-new-central-committee/