legendarysurfer

1 hour ago, Will27 said:

I used the wifi for Skype and streaming so you should be fine.

I'm on Thai AIS and can use my phone anywhere along the riverside, Savannakhet, @TheRoadWarrior.

Just came back from getting my one-year Thai Non-Immigrant "O" Visa at the Savannakhet Consulate... I purposely did not include a copy of my passport page with the most recent Lao entry stamp and they did not ask for it.

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Photocopy of my passport photo page and my Lao entry stamp 

It would appear that a photocopy of the passport page showing the Lao entry stamp is an additional new requirement. Can you confirm this, @ubonjoe

I always post travelogues on my visits outside of Thailand and my life in the Thai countryside. The beginning post in a series of about 5 -- about this year's trip to Savannakhet to get my Thai visa -- is located here: https://the-isaan.blogspot.com/

21 hours ago, kanook said:

 

On the date or even a day or two before your visa expires, do a border crossing that will give you another 90 days. Before the 90 day entry expires, visit immigration and extend for another 60 days to visit your wife at a cost of 1900 baht.

Thanks, kanook. Will keep in mind going forward. The extra months add up!

On 7/7/2017 at 4:15 PM, anto said:

You know you can get 3 months more just before the 12 months end ,and another 2 months just before the 3 months end ?

Curious about this, also. How?

I will be in Savannakhet, Lao, first week in August 2017. Last time I was there (a year ago), the Riverside area (near the old Thai embassy and ferry-turned-restaurant) was being cleared out to make way for a facelift. Anyone been in Savannakhet's Riverside area lately and can provide useful intel will be much appreciated.

On 1/1/2017 at 4:28 AM, Scik said:

Excellent post with a lot of useful information! Thanks everyone who posted!!

 

I am going to be flying into Siem Reap (from Bangkok) in early February, and after a couple days checking out Angkor Wat and surroundings, I plan on making my way to Ubon Ratchathani via the Choam Sa Ngam border crossing. (Attached a map of what I am thinking, shame Google doesn't list the buses in that area...)

 

As I understand it, I will need to Taxi from SR to the border, then make my way to Highway 24 to hopefully catch a bus to Ubon? Does that sound right? Does anyone know any helpful details for this (i.e. what buses I should be looking for or where to find them, and recent prices)? I assume that the buses mentioned previously will go both ways for the same price... but just want to make sure. xD 

There are buses that run between Siem Reap and Analong Veng. Recommend overnight at AV instead of trying to reach UR in one day. Next day, moto from AV to the border and once across, another moto to Highway 24. Once there, ask the group of moto drivers when the next bus to UR is expected to come by. You may have a while to wait or you just might get lucky. 

19 hours ago, DILLIGAD said:

Sorry, cannot source info about the bus, maybe try Surin Bus Station or PM Khwaibah (he will know).
Vans to border go about every 10 minutes (taking the ixxxts to the Casino)


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Sounds like I don't have to worry about catching transpo. I'll just leave Surin during the peak time, in the morning (8am). Thanks again for your help.

On 12/9/2016 at 0:20 PM, DILLIGAD said:

Majestic Hotel or Thong Tarin are nearby but for more inexpensive, I'd suggest Majestic Twin at the far end of Soi Kola (Entertainment street).
Transport. There is a new bus service to SR from CC (very cheap) or taxi's might cost around 2000b.


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Great news about the bus. Do you know the general departure times for it and the vans from Surin to the border? Thanks, DILLIGAD.

On 12/9/2016 at 10:14 AM, SantiSuk said:

Like that you came back to thank/update. Sorry I am not familiar with the transport from Surin beyond what I have surmised previously.

I remember your help from three years ago, SantiSuk; complete with a very useful map. Thanks again!

I am the OP of this thread and glad to see it's had a useful life since 2013.

With the help of a number of ThaiV members,  my first trip to Kampuchee (what it's called here in The Isaan) was relatively problem free. I wrote about my Choam Sa Ngam crossing then, at: http://the-isaan.blogspot.com/2013/10/cambodia-trip-12.html, complete with video. Subsequent posts tell about the entire trip... I had a great time.

Well, I'm back. Gonna rendezvous with my son from America, in SR, and do the temple thing once again. This time, however, I plan on crossing at Chong Chom after an overnight in Surin.

Two questions:

• What's a clean, inexpensive hotel within walking distance of the bus station in Surin?
• How much is transpo from the border to SR likely to cost me? I don't like moto's, as I'm paranoid of an accident (I'm 68), but up for anything else adventurous that's got more wheels to it.

I plan to be overnight in Surin on Friday, 16 Dec, and in SR on the 17th... returning Friday, 23 December for another overnight in Surin. Homebase is Nong Bua Lamphu.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Concerning various times I've been in Savannakhet on a visa run, you may enjoy reading some of them beginning at: http://the-isaan.blogspot.com/2016/07/lao-trip-149-visa-in.html - They are not nuts-and-bolts stuff like ubonjoe is so good about providing, but they provide a little color to the whole process. Savan remains the best place to go for a Thai Visa.

This year's trip to Savan for my annual visa is not so much technical as it is cultural. It is chronicled, beginning at: http://the-isaan.blogspot.com/2015/05/lao-trip-101a-to-nong-khai.html

Quite easy to travel through Ken Thao and not see much of the town, JoePi. Yeah, interesting how the whole community is laid out and strange that they don't take more advantage of being next the the Nam Hueang. Thanks for your intel, cumgranoslum.

I've traveled through Ken Thao many times and wondered if there were guest houses by the river. Are there? Anything else riverside?

Anyone have info on Botan District, Xayabouli Province, Lao? Anything to see? Places to stay?

Thanks, ubonjoe. Will be going back to Savannakhet and noting the change in location.

I'm about to go to Thai Consulate in Vientiane for another one-year Thai Non-Immigrant "O" Visa.

Anybody done this run, lately? Any advice, tips, etc.?

My last visa run was at Savannakhet, this time last year; very pleasant experience.

Before then, my Thai visas were obtained in Los Angeles, California; no problems there, also, although a bit more paperwork.

I'm planing to spend a couple of days in Vientiane next week and hoping to stay overnight in a location that's near the Khong or close to downtown. I'm not looking for anything pricey; just clean and friendly. Thank you for any recommendations you might share.

Anyone have recent or fairly recent intel on outdoor beer gardens or bars where freelancers ply their trade in Vientiane? I'm particularly interested in day-time venues, as I'm not much of a late-night person... Advance thanks to all responders.

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Thank you, krisb, I hadn't thought of that. Yes, got all my answers there. alt=wai.gif>

ALMOST all... I was really looking for this one below:

It's seems to be much the same as in Vietnam:

"Relationship with Lao citizens: Lao law prohibits sexual contact between foreign citizens and Lao nationals except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao Family Law. Any foreigner who enters into a sexual relationship with a Lao national risks being interrogated, detained, arrested, or fined. Lao police have confiscated passports and imposed fines of up to $5,000 on foreigners who enter into unapproved sexual relationships. The Lao party to the relationship may be jailed without trial. Foreigners are not permitted to invite Lao nationals of the opposite sex to their hotel rooms; police may raid hotel rooms without notice or consent."

http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country/laos.html

Thanks, oldthaihand99. This is what I was most looking for. I'd seen it somewhere before, but couldn't remember all the details.

Thank you, krisb, I hadn't thought of that. Yes, got all my answers there.

Can anyone point me to info on such things as legal age in Lao, restrictions on Lao/Falang realationships, laws, etc.? Thanks in advance for all replies.

One question and an assumption:

Do I need to be listed in the housebook (tabien baan) or is the housebook with my wife listed in it sufficient?

I assume that our marriage certificate from the USA is OK and that I don't need a Thai marriage certificate.

Thanks in advance for all replies.

You cannot be listed in your wife's house book. Only your wife's entry is needed.

Your US marriage certificate is fine. A translation of it would be useful.but not normally required.

Thanks, ubonjoe!

http://http:the-isaan.blogspot.com