Advice needed planning a trip to Savanaket Laos

[Kenny202]

Hi. I live in Isaan and planning to go over to Laos at Savanaket. I guess I will drive to the Thailand side of the border and leave my car there or is it a simple matter to drive into Savanaket?

 

Do I organise a visa before I go?

Does it take a long time to get across and clear customs etc?

Can I just walk across the bridge and enter on foot and get a tuk tuk to the city?

Is the main centre of Savanaket far from the border crossing?

Is it a big city or small enough to wander around?

 

Any help or advice appreciated

 

[ubonjoe]

To take your car into Laos you will need a passport for it issued by the Department of Land Transport.

You will get a visa on arrival for a Laos on entry. The fee is $30 to $42 or 1500 baht.

You have to take the bus across the bridge. The bus will wait for your on Lao side of the bridge that will take you to the bus station in Savannakhet or you can take a tuk tuk into the city.

It is a fairly large city. 

[rasg]

It doesn't take much planning.

 

My then GF who is now my wife and I just parked near the bridge and walked to the pool of taxis hanging around and went for the day. You can't walk across. Than it was around £30 for the day for the taxi. My GF just used her Thai ID card, I paid the 1500 baht and we spent the day there. Came back and the Thai immigration lady official gave me a big wink and a 30 day stamp. Pretty pointless as I flew home the following day.

 

It was a shame as the following day was the dragon boat racing and I had to leave half way through. Well worth a look and it was around October.

 

The only time I ever had a bad tum in South East Asia after a meal that I had in Savannakhet. Many of the signs are in French and one of the biggest temples doesn't allow women to go in. My wife was just about to walk in and I read the sign in French and stopped her going in and saved her the embarrassment. I don't remember Savannakhet being very big.

[steve187]

park the car on the Thai side and buy a bus ticket. get the bus to the other side ( no walking allowed)get on last, that way you will stand on the journey but will be first off, gives you a chance to catch the same bus when you finish at lao visa on arrival, immigration counter. try and have the Lao immigration forms already completed, correct form i think download here - https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-T/Workshops-and-Seminars/bsg/201207/Documents/visa-application.pdf    if you miss the bus there are plenty of taxis. while there try cafe chez boune 

 

Edited April 29, 2018 by steve187

[juice777]

If you want to save a bit of money get some dollars for your visa.

 

Check the price of your visa first them get Dollars

 

For Example, my visa is 1500THB or $35 and that's about 1150THB at the moment.

 

Good advice before about doing your paperwork before but remember you will need to ask for A landing card.And getting on the Bus last is a good idea too.

 

If you plan to go back again ask for 2 landing cards and one for next time also ask for an Arrival card when you leave Thailand so you can fill that out beforehand.

 

Also when you get your Visa check to see if they have given you an arrival stamp at the same time if they have you can walk past the line of people who don't need a visa.But last time I went it seemed they have stopped this but there weren't many people anyway.

 

When you get into Laos depending on how much time you have you might not want to get back on that bus anyway and get a taxi.

 

I know people do take there car but most people seem to park it in Laos.

 

It's probably to big to walk about I think most people stay near the Embassy or near the Cathedral where most of the tiny bit of nightlife is.

 

Rember it can be a bit tricky to get A Taxi after about 11pm so if you are having a beer in The cathedral area is best to stay there and get a taxi in the morning to the Embassy.

 

 

There was a good Thread the other day about where to eat and drink you shuld read it.

 

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[Kenny202]

Isn't there a Casino in Savannakhet? Where about's is that?

[Kenny202]

On 4/27/2018 at 11:30 AM, ubonjoe said:

To take your car into Laos you will need a passport for it issued by the Department of Land Transport.

You will get a visa on arrival for a Laos on entry. The fee is $30 to $42 or 1500 baht.

You have to take the bus across the bridge. The bus will wait for your on Lao side of the bridge that will take you to the bus station in Savannakhet or you can take a tuk tuk into the city.

It is a fairly large city. 

Thanks Joe. I'm on an O/A visa retirement....Do I need to do anything special so I don't void my visa when I leave / re enter Thailand?

 

I will be getting the bus across from Muddakhan. Is it safe to leave my vehicle at the bus terminal or is there even parking there?

Edited May 11, 2018 by Kenny202

[jenny2017]

25 minutes ago, Kenny202 said:

Thanks Joe. I'm on an O/A visa retirement....Do I need to do anything special so I don't void my visa when I leave / re enter Thailand?

 

I will be getting the bus across from Muddakhan. Is it safe to leave my vehicle at the bus terminal or is there even parking there?

If you only want to visit then think about a re-entry permit! ( Please, Joe, correct me if I'm wrong!) You can park your car right at the bridge, not at the Mukdahan bus terminal. Just buy a ticket for the bus to get you over the bridge.

 

   First, you'll have to visit Thai immigration, then get stamped out. At the Lao Immigration, you've got to purchase a visa, around 1,500 baht, cheaper if you have US dollars.

 

  Then on the bus and it will take you to the local bus station. Be aware that the TukTuk guys are rip-offs. 

 

  Some good restaurants and a duty-free shop are there. Enjoy it.

 

Look for a restaurant with a big penguin in front, forgot the name, great food, and breakfast! 

 

 

 

  

 

   

Edited May 11, 2018 by jenny2017

[Kenny202]

If you only want to visit then think about a re-entry permit! ( Please, Joe, correct me if I'm wrong!) You can park your car right at the bridge, not at the Mukdahan bus terminal. Just buy a ticket for the bus to get you over the bridge.
 
   First, you'll have to visit Thai immigration, then get stamped out. At the Lao Immigration, you've got to purchase a visa, around 1,500 baht, cheaper if you have US dollars.
 
  Then on the bus and it will take you to the local bus station. Be aware that the TukTuk guys are rip-offs. 
 
  Some good restaurants and a duty-free shop are there. Enjoy it.
 
Look for a restaurant with a big penguin in front, forgot the name, great food, and breakfast! 
 
 
 
  
 
   

Im on a current OA visa exp September so not doing a visa run as such. I believe i will need a re entry permit from Thai immigration before I go?

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[theoldgit]

Im on a current OA visa exp September so not doing a visa run as such. I believe i will need a re entry permit from Thai immigration before I go?

If your visa is multi entry then you won’t need a re-entry permit, if it isn’t then yes you will.

[pearciderman]

11 hours ago, jenny2017 said:

If you only want to visit then think about a re-entry permit!

 

The OP states that he is on an OA visa, this is a multi-entry visa - so why, oh why would he need a re-entry permit?

 

You are stamped in for a year each entry on an OA visa, (up to the use before date).