Travel across Laos on its new semi-high-speed train
(CNN) — The train is just north of Vang Vieng when the sound of a woman crying echoes through the carriage.
“I’m sorry,” sobs Ying, my seatmate on the journey north from Vientiane to Luang Namtha on Laos’ new semi-high-speed railway, tears streaming down her face.
“It’s just been so long since I saw my mom.”
Ying has been restless since the train pulled out of the station in the Laos capital, Vientiane.
She flits between apps on her phone as her feet play a skittish drumbeat on the floor.
The new train features white, red and blue stripes —