Vientiane Visa/holiday Trip 12th - 16th January

[Nana]

Just got back from Vientiane - Laos last week with a double entry tourist visa.

Used my mileage on Thai airways to buy two return tickets from Bangkok to Udon Thani. I did ask for a ticket direct to Vientiane, but no seats available. Paid 1560 baht in taxes for each ticket.

Before I left I checked up different hotels on the net. Called about 13 - 14 before I found anyone that had available rooms.

Ended up with a place called Lani Guesthouse for 33$ a night. The guesthouse was fair enough. Clean and cosy. But not really worth the 33$. No TV, and a quite noisy aircon. Then again I really didn't need the aircon since it had a fan, and the night temperature was around 20 degrees. And the water heater in the bathroom was placed so that I was in a constant fear of electric shock. Breakfast was included and good. If the room rate had been under 20$, it would have been a fair deal.

I left my apartment in Sukhumvit Saturday the 12th about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. And only an observant taxi driver prevented me from going to Suvarnabumi airport. Just as we where going on to the tollway he asked me to check my tickets, because he believed the Thai airways flights to Udon left from Don Muang. And sure enough.

I bought some $ in the airport before leaving. Landed in Udon Thani airport about 7 o'clock. Paid 900 baht for a private car to friendship bridge. Got 300 baht back since we took on another passenger. In the taxi I reallised that I had forgotten pass photos.

Again lucky. The passenger travelling with us knew about a shop on the way that could take some photos for me. Five minutes and it was done for 100 baht.

At the border about 8.30 the Thai immigration officer claimed that the Lao border was closed and that I had to pay him 500 bath in overstay since I couldn't leave before the next day. After politely explaining to him that I knew the border was open until 10 o'clock. He asked me if I had pass photos. I said yes. He looked at me for a long time. Me smiling back. Not paying him anything, he stamped my passport.

Then off to wait for the buss. 20 baht each.

On the other side I went to the Lao visa office, filled out the form and handed over 35$ plus 1$ weekend fee.

Did go through the Lao immigration without any problems. Was only about five other people passing the border at the time.

The only transportation I could find, was a tuk tuk. He took me and my girlfriend to the guesthouse for 100 baht each.

In Vientiane we checked in and went to the Bor Pen Yang roof top bar for someting to eat and a few beers. This is my favourite bar in Vientiane. Friendly staff and a good mix of people. Closing the sale at 11 o'clock, but you can still sit until 11.30 -12 o'clock. Just 100 meters from my guesthouse there is another bar called Samlor bar. Open until 1 o'clock.

Spent the sunday discovering Vientiane. I really like the place. Very laid back.

Monday morning I went to the Thai consulate with a visa application form, two passphotos, photocopy of my passport and the passport. Showed up at 8.50 in the morning. BIG MISTAKE. The consulate is opening for visa application at 8.30, not 9 o'clock as I thought.

One thing that really anoyed me, was all the idiots that thought the waiting in line thing doesn't apply for me. They see somebody they probably have met once or twice before. And thinks that entitles them to bypass everybody else and just take a place with their newfound "best friend". It would be better for all if they installed a queue number system.

Took me about 2 hours to reach the counter. When I got there the officer told me that the application form that I had down loaded from Thai ministry of foreign affairs consular services web page, for some reason, couldn't be used. He gave me a new form that I filled in at the counter while he served other applicants. Asked him where on the form I could ask for a double tourist visa. He took the form and wrote x2 on it.

Waited in the consulate for over an hour to pay the fee. Whilst in there I saw many paying 2.000 for a double. So I guess it's not a problem at the moment. I even overheard a spaniard standing next to me, saying thet he had applied for 4 tourist visas. Obviously because he believed one entry was good for 30 days. The person he was talking to explained to him that each was good for 60+30. But when his name was called I saw him handing over 4000 baht.

But if I'm correct it is of no use to apply for more than a double. As the last entry have to be utilised within 90 days.

It could only be justified if he should travel in and out of the country 3 times in that period. Then he would have saved 800 baht

contrary to applying for a re-entry permit each time.

I spent the rest of the day, drinking wine and eating at the Bor Pen Yang. A good bottle of imported wine starting from 220 baht, a big bottle of the excellent Beer Lao for 30 baht. A dinner with lamb chops for less than 200 baht.

Tuesday I showed up at the consulate at 12.15. It was about 20 people in front of me waiting already. When the gate opened, there where about another 20 that managed to bypass everyone.

Well enough said.

Got my passport with a double entry tourist visa after 10 min. Back in the guesthouse my girlfriend said she had enough of Vientiane and no TV. So we decided to go to Udon Thani the same afternoon. And stay the last night there.

The guesthouse ordered a taxi for me to the border. In the taxi I asked the driver if he could take us all the way to Udon. He said he could do it for 2500 baht. I didn't bargain, so I probably could have got it cheaper. But I was only happy to save myself the hustle of finding new transport on the other side. Also when I saw the queue at the immigration for the people that came with the bus. I was more than happy that I had private transport. The taxi driver had to pay a few hundred baht for taking the car into Thailand plus a fee for himself. So maybe 2500 baht wasn't that bad after all.

We checked in at the Silver Reef hotel in Udon Thani. Just behind the busstation, within walking distance of everything from shopping to bars downtown.

Paid 750 baht a night. And the hotel was fearly new and very clean. The owners being asian canadians off course spoke perfect english. Very friendly as well.

Next day 280 baht for a taxi to the airport after a brilliant 69 baht chinese/thai buffet close to the hotel.

Only one advice. I will try to avoid going to the Thai consulate on a monday. As it seems to be more people there then.

Also it wasn't as easy to find a hotel room in Vientiane as in the low season. Went in to many different hotels and asked for price when I was there, and they where all full. So book your room before you go.

Cheers

[cali4995]

Thanks for the report and all the detail. As our "alternate" list grows shorter

Vientiane is going to be doing a brisk business. One interesting point you

mentioned is that it is actually possible to purchase US dollars at the airport.

At one point I had visited a few local currency exchange booths, thinking since

they had a much higher "sell" rate I could easily get dollars there. Negative.

Quite by accident I stumbled across another resource for rooms In Vientiane.

http://www.vientianetimes.com/Hotels.html It is the high-season I guess.

[I Go With You]

wow that's a great deal. how many miles did that cost you anyway

Edited January 21, 2008 by I Go With You

[Nana]

wow that's a great deal. how many miles did that cost you anyway

It will cost you 15.000 miles for any destinations within Thailand or 25.000 miles if you want to go directly to Vientiane.

25.000 miles will take you to all Thai airways destinations within Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore and also

Chittagong and Dhaka.

[motoyen]

Did you get your passport back in 1 day? On the Thai website it says 2 days. So would you recommend going to the Thai embassy and getting the forms instead of printing them off their site?

[ajahnlau]

Did you get your passport back in 1 day? On the Thai website it says 2 days. So would you recommend going to the Thai embassy and getting the forms instead of printing them off their site?

Dah.I think if you read the original post carefully you'll see he put in Mon. and picked up Tues.

[permanent_disorder]

Did you get your passport back in 1 day? On the Thai website it says 2 days. So would you recommend going to the Thai embassy and getting the forms instead of printing them off their site?

you apply on day ONE in the morning, getting your passport back day TWO in the afternoon.

you can print out the form from the website http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/img/visa.pdf

OP had a print out from the mfa webpage, the standard general one. the form from vientiane embassy is more specific (including lao language etc.)

i had a print out and this was fine.

a quick summery of my visa trip.

DAY 1.

start in the morning with the 6 am flight form bkk to udon thani with NOK Air.

great if you are sentimental, because it starts from the old airport don muang.

seeing the red neon light 'BANGKOK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT' in the morning night was more then nice. felt that feeling again of being the tourist, that i have been years ago when i just come to my first and shorter holiday visits to thailand. also take off a 6 morning is a experience. watch bangkok a night on the ground an then the sunrise comes, the horizon a big orange strip.

arrived in udon one hour later, there was a mini van service to the friendship bridge border. 150 baht per person, very modern and new mini bus.

I was travelling with girlfriend, a thai. she need a temporary Border Pass. that allows thai people to stay in laos/vientiane Area 2 nights.

do get that temporary Border Pass, not more then a print out of the data saved on the chip of her ID-card, takes around 20 minutes. (no pass photo needed)

you can apply for that in a immigration office near the border. didn't went by ourself, there was a kiosk on he border offer that service, right there where the minivan drops you off. a woman take the ID card, drove of with motobike, come back short time later, with that temporary border pass. for that service she charged 100 baht, fee for border pass is 30 baht. thai person don't need a visa with that pass but you can not stay more then 2 night and only in vientiane. with a real thai passport you can travel more and longer but have to apply and pay for laos visa afaik.

now it was around 9 am.

check out at thai immigration. wait few minutes for the 20 baht bus over the bridge.

now apply for loas visa on arrival and fee depends on your nationality. for me it was 30 dollars, in thai baht they charge 1300 for this.

wait for it was around 30 minutes or less.

you could save time if you get your visa in bangkok www.bkklaoembassy.com. a friend have done it. for 200 baht extra you get your passport with visa back in less then one hour.

after i got my VOA i had to queue up again for lao immigration. was done fast. after that one more counter where they charge for an entrance fee 10 baht for me (and 50 baht for temporary passport holders aka thais)

now in laos - 'tuktuk' , 'taxi' 'where you go' calls. i was ready for bargaining, but the point me to an offical taxi counter where i could choose between tuktuk, taxi and bus. i take the taxi car for 300 baht and go to thai embassy.

was at the embassy at 10:30. not to late for apply for my visa. good if you had prepare your papers. no need of a photocopy of the passport page with the laos immigration stamp, a photocopy of the passport side with your photo is enough. make sure to filled out the application form correctly your you get send back in line.

for example, the application form ask for your adress in laos. just write down there a hotel name in vientiane, this is enough. same goes for your adress in thailand, a hotel name if you are just a tourist. they form also ask for adress of local guarantor and guarantor in thailand, i left this field blank - no problem. but they are pedantic with the adress of stay. i front of the embassy there a people offer you help how to fill out the application form for 100 baht. no really need for this, but few people in the queue have been send back, because they had it not done for the full satisfaction of the embassy staff. the main reason that caused the waiting time.

after i hand over my passport and papers i had to wait again in an other building. then pay the fee there and get a receipt and was told i can pick up my passport next day. the website says open until 16:30, but on the receipt was written 1:00 -3.00 pm.

11:30 is was ready to look for a hotel. doing a websearch before it always shows the same hotels on differents sites. i just had write down few names in the 30-50 dollar field. but bad luck, high season and all rooms full. but in the 'center' of vientiane are many other hotels, so you can walk around and look.

afternoon, enjoy vietnamese food and be suprised how lively the city has become i visit last time 9 years ago.

at night time, night clubbing, in the finest hotel in vientiane and also the biggest and tallest structure in Laos (14 storey high). they charge 30.000 kip for entrance and you get one bottle beer for free. (a big bottle) this is little bit more then 100 baht. not really worth to go, just went there out of curiosity. and mention it here that you get an idea of the prices you can expect.

you can pay with thai baht everywhere, for your hotel, your tuktuk, your food in restaurant.

DAY 2

long breakfast session, nice baguette instead of toast.

and around 1:00 pm i go to the embassy and pick up my passport in no time.

now i have could go back to thailand and have plenty time to catch on of the evening flights of air asia or nok air from udon thani and be back in bangkok.

but it was also a holiday trip for me so i stayed longer.

in winter time bring a jacket or pullover. can be cool in morning and night time, specially if you ride on a tuktuk, motobike or bicycle.

on the way back i had payed 200 baht for tuktuk from vientianne to border and 800 baht for a (private) limousine from border to udon thani airport.

one way nok air or air asia is around 1700 baht. for 1000-1500 baht you get nice rooms with A/C, TV, fridge, hot water.

tourist style restaurant with a grilled fish, or thai food, or steak lao is around 100 baht per dish. longer tutuk rides 100 baht. a tour around town, to places to visit and driver wait out side, for a half day 500 baht.

local food you can have much more cheaper, backpacker accomodation as well, or the offical bus between vientiane- nong khai-udon. difficult to find something more expensive, exept the 130 dollar hotels.

try the lao dark beer, a black colour pilsner style lager like you can get in czechia or saxonya.

ahh, on my passport are only few empty pages left and the first time i see that the immigration officers (lao & thai) was looking for a free space on used pages instead of stamp on a blank page. the lao officer had forget to give me a exit stamp, first time als that this happen to me, but i took notice in an instant, so no problem. so always check your passport.

i have the 'red penang stamp' in my passport (and the handwritten 'Final' note on my last penang TR visa). in vientiane i apply for non-ED visa*. no problem. go a single entry for 2000 baht. didn't ask if it is possible to get a multiple entry for one year. (sorry, it was in my mind to detect this information for the TV-forum, but in the moment when i hand over my papers after a long waiting time i was just happy that everything was in order).

whats the difference?:

i take the single entry option, because i can extend my stay without leaving the country for one year and suan plu immigration is right next door where i live. good for one year. a multiple NON would give you one year and three month (if you do a border run on the last day before your visa expire) but you have to do a border run every 90 days. ifi want travel abroad with my extended single entry NON i just have to apply for a re-entry permit and i can do that when i want. that suits me more then 'visa run holiday on command' every 90 days.

the price:

single entry NON 2000 baht plus 1900 baht for extention every 90 days. 1000 baht for re-entry permit

multiply entry non 5000 baht plus cost for border runs every 90 days. if you travel often abroad this one would be better for you.

*paper work included:

- downloaded application form / 2 passport photo

- all the papers i got from school ( thanks thaiwalen)

- copy of photo page of passport

[tropo]

I was travelling with girlfriend, a thai. she need a temporary Border Pass. that allows thai people to stay in laos/vientiane Area 2 nights.

do get that temporary Border Pass, not more then a print out of the data saved on the chip of her ID-card, takes around 20 minutes. (no pass photo needed)

you can apply for that in a immigration office near the border. didn't went by ourself, there was a kiosk on he border offer that service, right there where the minivan drops you off. a woman take the ID card, drove of with motobike, come back short time later, with that temporary border pass. for that service she charged 100 baht, fee for border pass is 30 baht. thai person don't need a visa with that pass but you can not stay more then 2 night and only in vientiane. with a real thai passport you can travel more and longer but have to apply and pay for laos visa afaik.

WARNING!

If you are travelling with a Thai girlfriend who doesn't have a passport, make sure you reach the Thai Immigration checkpoint at the Friendship Bidge early.

I don't know the cutoff time...perhaps 3 or 5pm.

I was travelling with a friend and his Thai girlfriend, and we arrived there just after 6pm and they would not process her and they had to spend the night in Nong Khai. They started giving out temporary border passes again at 7:30am the next day.

If you are on the AirAsia flight to Udon Thani which arrives at 5:15pm, you won't make it on time.

[tropo]

WARNING!

If you are travelling with a Thai girlfriend who doesn't have a passport, make sure you reach the Thai Immigration checkpoint at the Friendship Bidge early.

I don't know the cutoff time...perhaps 3 or 5pm.

I was travelling with a friend and his Thai girlfriend, and we arrived there just after 6pm and they would not process her and they had to spend the night in Nong Khai. They started giving out temporary border passes again at 7:30am the next day.

If you are on the AirAsia flight to Udon Thani which arrives at 5:15pm, you won't make it on time.

I couldn't edit this post, but I've just received new info that 3pm is the cuttoff time for issuing temporary border passes to Thais.

I wouldn't take this as gospel, but get there early.

[genobkk]

getting a doulbe entry in VTE, but it is only goood for 3 months 90 days, meaning you must make sure ou use the 2nd entry before the 90 days is up.....in the past one could get 2 or 3 entries for 6 months but when I went Jan 11 I ended up with 90 dayss to use both etnry so make sure you check the expore date on thevisa or you could lose one of your entryes

[Nana]

Did you get your passport back in 1 day? On the Thai website it says 2 days. So would you recommend going to the Thai embassy and getting the forms instead of printing them off their site?

No I got the passport back the next day in the afternoon. And as permanent_disorder says, the form you print out on http://www.thaiembassy.org/vientiane/img/visa.pdf is ok, I have also used it before. The misstake I did was to download a standard form from ministry of foreign affairs web page. Because I overlooked the other vientiane link when I was searching for it.

I know there are agents around that will help you get in touch with an immigration official, that will let you have a visa the same day. For a "fee" off course.

[Jackjillman]

Visa run to Vientiane

Came back yesterday morning from visa run to Vientiane. Wonderful town. Took the overnighter VIP 999 from Chiang Mai - Udon Thani. Left at 8 pm arr. at 8:00 am. from there grabbed a taxi to the border 600 baht (but could had ridden the leisurely bus and still made it in time for the Thai consulate in Vientiane. At border filed out application for Lao visa $35 or 1400 baht. handed it in at window on left and 10 minutes later received the visa on window on right. Then one must buy a 15 baht bus ticket to cross over to immigration. Whizzed through that after paying 20-30 baht entry fee. At Lao border found a taxi for 300 baht that drove to Thai consulate on the road from the Morning market (dalat sao) and the huge picturesque Patoxay monument (which is a different address than the Thai embassy-mention visa). At consul you go to the tent on the left and hand them filled out visa form, 1 photo, 1 photo of first page in passport. You can secure the visa form and photocopy to the right of the entrance to the Thai consul for 100 baht. Then go inside building and wait for up to 30 minutes for your name to be called. pay 1000 baht for single entry 60 day (plus 30 day extendable) visa or pay 2000 baht for the double entry visa (60 day). Extendable?

the next day pick up visa from 1-3 pm. Get a room in center of town back toward morning market. Go in town. Accomodations $12 and up on several roads leading to the river west of the Lao History museum, which you can take in for free. Good French restaurants. Excellent coffee. Baguette and coffee on waterfront run 20,000 kip, equal to 65 baht. BeerLao is excellent and cheap (not to be confused with LEO).

Return to Chiang Mai

Bus from Morning Market for 80 baht to Udon Thani leaves at 7:30 am 11:30 am 2:00 pm 4:00 pm and one more later.

Arrive in Udon Thani bus station #1 and take a tuk tuk to bus station #2 for 50 baht. Bus to Chiang Mai from there VIP, 1st class or the next class down. prices range from 630 baht (VIP) to (350 baht lower class) VIP departs 8:00 pm arrive in Chiang Mai at 7:00am. First class leaves at 7:30; lower cost bus leaves at 7:00pm-Enjoy your trip

[oceano]

i dont understand.....i was in vientianne the 26 jan and 20 march this year i write "2x60 days tourist visa", i dont have any red stamp, no problem before for make visa and im Italian but both 2 time they give to me only 1 month.....i wrong something??????

tks

[lopburi3]

Probably because they keyed on the "60 days" and you only paid for one entry? Believe X2 or Two Entry would probably look clearer for someone having to read hundreds in a few minutes.

[oceano]

Probably because they keyed on the "60 days" and you only paid for one entry? Believe X2 or Two Entry would probably look clearer for someone having to read hundreds in a few minutes.

Sorry but my english is not good....so i will write "x 2 60 day tourist visa or Two entry tourist visa" right?

Yes they ask me only 1000.

tks

[lopburi3]

Just write "X2" or "two entry". The time of visa is determined by your nationality and some only get 30 days on a tourist visa entry.

[bjhabal]

Don't worry, just tell the guy when submitting your application that you want double entries and he will write it down for you; that is what I have done as there is no space in the application form to let you choose how many entries you want, however, he will write down double beside the tourist visa box, and you will know whether they accept it or not when you pay for the visa as they will write X2 on the receipt and charge you B2000.

Good luck

Bishop