Frequently asked questions

No. You book and pay through Naga Rail, so you do not need a Lao SIM card or the official app.

You can reserve close to departure or further ahead. We secure your seat the moment the railway opens it for sale — about 7 days before departure for domestic trains, a narrow window that's easy to miss from abroad. That's the gap we close.

We send your QR e-ticket by email. Each traveller gets their own QR code. Show it at the station gate with the passport used to book.

If your requested seats are unavailable, our local operator checks the railway system and contacts you about alternatives. If we cannot secure an option you accept, you receive a full refund.

We guarantee you a seat, or your money back: if we cannot secure a seat and you decline the alternatives we offer, you receive a full refund. Before Naga Rail accepts your request, you may cancel for a full refund. After acceptance, refund requests are reviewed manually. Once we issue and send your QR ticket, it is non-refundable. Changes cost US$10 per ticket, must be requested more than 48 hours before departure, and depend on availability. See our refund policy for details.

Yes. We aim to secure every traveller on the same train and seat groups together where possible. If we cannot secure the requested booking and you decline the alternatives, we refund you in full. Each traveller gets their own QR ticket.

At checkout, PayPal authorizes the all-in amount but does not charge you. We capture payment only when our operator accepts your request, before ticket work begins. Your NR reference confirms we received your request; it is not a ticket confirmation.

No. Naga Rail is an independent booking service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Laos–China Railway. We book official tickets on your behalf.