I need to get a tourist visa in Vientiane and my current stamp is expired April 12th which is the first official day of Songkran I believe. The embassy is closed starting the 12th right? Do they have any other closures/issues traveling around that time I should be aware of? Really terrible timing I know, but that's how it worked out. Thanks in advance.

They only show the 13 and 16 of April as holidays on their calendar. The 6th of April is also a holiday.

See: http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/embassy/calendar.php

The 12th is a additional day recently approved by the cabinet. Hard to say if they will be open or not. But embassies do not always close for the additional days.

Have you already extended for 30 days?

22 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

They only show the 13 and 16 of April as holidays on their calendar. The 6th of April is also a holiday.

See: http://vientiane.thaiembassy.org/en/embassy/calendar.php

The 12th is a additional day recently approved by the cabinet. Hard to say if they will be open or not. But embassies do not always close for the additional days.

Do you mean the Thai government just added this date recently or is this a Laos thing? Maybe I need to contact them to make sure. Thanks.

3 minutes ago, genericptr said:

Do you mean the Thai government just added this date recently or is this a Laos thing?

The Thai government made it a additional holiday.

3 minutes ago, genericptr said:

Maybe I need to contact them to make sure. Thanks.

I looked at a visa run companies website earlier that does runs to Vientiane. They are not doing a run due to the12th being a holiday. Not sure if it is inside info or speculation.

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I looked at a visa run companies website earlier that does runs to Vientiane. They are not doing a run due to the12th being a holiday. Not sure if it is inside info or speculation.

Thanks for looking at that for me. I'm going to be safe and come before the 12th then. My girlfriend works for the government and she's off on the 12th also. It's only a one day turnaround so coming early is not a big deal. Thanks again.

Solution: Go 9 or 10 to be sure. Why not make life simple?

3 hours ago, Get Real said:

Solution: Go 9 or 10 to be sure. Why not make life simple?

Makes sense to you and I but some people try to squeeze every hour (baht) out of an entry. 

4 hours ago, Get Real said:

Solution: Go 9 or 10 to be sure. Why not make life simple?

8 or 9 even. :) I take a bus from CM and arrive early morning so I can get my papers in before noon (the plane misses it). If they closed the 12th and the 13th I'm stuck until the 17th as my next change to pickup. It's a really terrible time to go and lots can go wrong. Missing songkran would be pretty sweet though. :)

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The Thai government made it a additional holiday.

I looked at a visa run companies website earlier that does runs to Vientiane. They are not doing a run due to the12th being a holiday. Not sure if it is inside info or speculation.

I would imagine its also due to the fact thats its a Holiday, and the Visa Run company Employees will be having the Day off.

17 hours ago, genericptr said:

8 or 9 even. :) I take a bus from CM and arrive early morning so I can get my papers in before noon (the plane misses it). If they closed the 12th and the 13th I'm stuck until the 17th as my next change to pickup. It's a really terrible time to go and lots can go wrong. Missing songkran would be pretty sweet though. :)

Monday the 9th would not be a good choice since it is a day that visa run vans will be there. The 10th and pickup on the 11th would be good.