Oil shock is affecting people's livelihoods here - some closed gas stations but no major petrol queues in Vientianne.

Took the China–Laos train northbound. The line mainly serves cargo, with only one international (~4 domestic) passenger train a day. The train was only 1/3 full. For Chinese tourists, the ~9-hour ride to Kunming is still more of a novelty. There are many better-known destinations within that radius.

Laos borrowed heavily from China to build it. Questions remain over whether it was worth it. The opaque terms of Laos' bilateral debt also give China significant leverage. And, much like Chinese investment elsewhere, it's channeled through Chinese companies with Chinese workers.

That said, Laos is landlocked, poor, and hard to do business in. It struggles to attract international capital. Without Chinese credit, it likely would get even less investment.

The railway also opens up time-sensitive exports (e.g. fruit and veg)— where low wages gives Laos exports a price edge— to Chinese mkts. The tourism spillover also helps builds (much-needed) foreign reserves.

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