The China-Laos Railway project commenced operations in December 2021, with the aim to improve Laos’ connectivity to the rest of the world. The railway began passenger services on April 13, 2023, with a train departing from Kunming, China and heading towards the capital city of Laos, Vientiane, while another train departed in the opposite direction. The train travels through mountains and valleys at a maximum speed of 160 km per hour, covering a route consisting of eight stations over 1,000 km, with custom procedures included. The railway project has contributed significantly to Laos’ economy, with over 18 million tonnes of cargo transported and almost 14 million domestic passenger trips handled as of mid-April 2023. As a result, it is expected that the Lao tourism industry’s future is bright as it is likely to welcome 368,000 Chinese travellers, representing a 21% increase from the previous year.