bamboozled

The one I took doesn't go into Laos. It stops at the Mukdahan bus station and then you have to transfer to a different bus for the 15 minute ride to the bridge. It stops and you get out and exit through Thailand immi. Then back on the bus and across the bridge where you exit again with all your <deleted> and do your Visa/immigration stuff for entering Laos.. Then you have to get a taxi of some sort. I took a bus such as you speak of from Vientiane to Udon without having to change buses. I don't know if there is one like that going into Laos from anywhere, Bkk or KK included. But sure there are buses from KK to Mukdahan.

Oh yes, I got one!

Hi all, I spaced on this thread after I began my journey and have just crossed back into Thailand after two weeks. I went straight to Savannakhet with no stop in Muk but Unblocktheplane now I'm wishing I did. ...in a time machine, perhaps. Since it was Sunday, I was in no rush to get to the consulate which made things much more relaxing. I ended up staying 4 or 5 days there as I met a guy at a bar and we had a lot of fun drinking the nights away. The two Laos owners also speak great English and have lived in the US. They were wonderful to talk to and we all had a lot of fun. Having folks to while away the days/nights makes all the difference. I also bicycled around a lot. The bar is called Senorita. No issues getting the visa and no long lines. After 4 nights I took a day bus to Vientiane 13 hours), and stayed for two nights. I haven't been in 10 years but I didn't recognize the place. Much more built up around the river area and many, many places now out of business because of Covid. It was a bit depressing and what was nice and relaxing before seems to have been "modernized" and ruined. IMHO. I then got a $36 flight to Luang Prabang and stayed for 4 nights. Back to Vientiane on the new high-speed train. One more night staying there and today took a bus to Udon. Tomorrow flight back to Chiang Mai. Note: I had not heard of this train but it's been built by China and runs all the way up to the border with eventual plans to end in Singapore. Currently, it is not running to China I think because of Covid. However, I foresee everything changing drastically in Laos as soon as the border opens up. Laos is currently still relaxing, even Luang Prabang but I don't think that will last long once China citizens are able to pop into Laos on this train (only 2 hours between Luang Prabang and Vientiane, for example, instead of 10 hour bus ride). There are just so many of them and Laos is not very big. Just some FYI. If you want to enjoy peaceful, relaxing, Laos. Better do it very soon.

Well well well it's finally time to try my luck getting a Non-O at the Savannakhet consulate. I'll be arriving to Mukdahan Sunday morning on the overnight bus from Bkk. I'm contemplating staying the day/night in Mukdahan before crossing over to Laos on Monday morning just to break it up a bit. Break up the journey AND the scenery. The overnight bus and straight into visa stuff at border can be a bit trying. I will be quite early, however, so getting a hotel at 7 am might be difficult. Anyhoo, anyone wanna weigh in with a yea or nay on this? Something interesting to do in Muk for a day/night? Is Monday morning at Laos immigration busier and more trying than a Sunday morning? Thanks folks!