visa run to vientiane

[terryc]

Visa Run ...Hua Hin to Vientiane

Option 1 VAN - PLANE - SHUTTLE

Van from Hua Hin Soi 51 to Don Muang.airport. Fly to vientiane, avoiding the overland border chaos, shuttle bus to ur hotel..its too late for the embassy, but you arrive fresh and you can arrive embassy at 8.00 am (processing starts at 8.30 am) with paperwork already complete.Your hotel can help. No queing in the heat day 1 or day 2. An extra night to enjoy Vientiane. There are two thai embassys on google maps. The correct location is surounded by coffee houses and pizza outlets.

 

Option 2 TAXI -  SLEEPER TRAIN 

Taxi to Hua Lumphong or Bang Sue, lovely overnight sleeper to Nong khai, choose lower bunk for extra 100 bart, From Nong khai follow the crowd. Try to find the No 14 AC bus from Loa border to ventienne at just 30 Bart (bus stop 14 in vientine is marked on google maps). This is the bus that locals dont want you to find! Taxis want 400 bart from border to vientiane.

 

Option 3 VAN - SLEEPER TRAIN/PLANE

Van direct to Mo chit from Hu Hin or from Pak Nam Pran (where i live).From mochitt there are numerous options:

M/B or taxi to Bang Sue or Hua Lamphon for the over night sleeper to Nong khai (be aware of timetables). Then follow the crowd.
Shutle bus to Don Muang airport. Fly to vientiane, then shuttle to your hotel.

 

Other options involve  cramped overnight buses and slow state trains (albeit very cheap). 

Booking.com allows for advance bookings without a credit card. I chose usouk hotel (metered taxi rank outside).

 

Things to avoid...

Touts outside the Embassy
Mobile catering staff on overnight train (go direct to restuarant area)
Over night bus. Too cramped

 

Things to bring...

Visa card cleared for Laos.(although i relied soley on Thai Bart)
Coulpe of pens
FULL thailand address.

 

The vientienne visa run is a process that manages felangs, expect to be misled a few times.

[ubonjoe]

Moved to here.

[JackThompson]

I would recommend re-entering Thailand over the bridge, as immigration at that location is not a problem for those with more time in Thailand.  There is also a separate train that runs over the bridge, but only runs certain times.  Entering by air is OK if you only spend a few weeks here per-year. 

 

Once inside Thailand at Nong Khai, you could bus, train, or fly-ride back to Bangkok or HH.  I find the 3-across VIP Buses to have plenty of room.  There are 2-seats, and isle, and a 3rd seat.  If traveling alone, select a seat by-itself across the isle from the 2-together seats.  If traveling overnight, you can sleep through most of the ride (similar to the train, but much faster).

 

The train on the way up is nice, but may arrive late, so don't go up that way if an extra night would be a problem - or if it would leave you stuck there over a weekend until the consulate re-opens.

[KhunBENQ]

33 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

I would recommend re-entering Thailand over the bridge

And for that of course the cheaper flight to Udon Thani would be an option.

(also with an overnight at Vientiane)

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by KhunBENQ

[CanuckThai]

Hua Hin to Vientiane?  Sounds like a painful exercise in futility.  Wouldn't it be easier/quicker/cheaper to do a run to KL? 

 

Not sure when you're planning your Vientiane trip, but I'm doing a run (driving myself) tomorrow....Khon Kaen to friendship bridge.  PM if a lift from Khon Kaen or Udon to FBridge might help.

[BritTim]

2 hours ago, JackThompson said:

The train on the way up is nice, but may arrive late, so don't go up that way if an extra night would be a problem - or if it would leave you stuck there over a weekend until the consulate re-opens.

In my opinion, the new appointment system will virtually eliminate the train as an option unless (unlikely) you plan to arrive the day before your appointment. It would just become too risky. Remember, if you fail to arrive for your appointment, at least officially, you will be unable to apply for your visa for a month.

[Prissana Pescud]

I live near Kabinburi. I caught the coach from Pattaya to Nong Khai via Nakon Ratchisima.

Was supposed to take 8 hours but took 9.5. Also the coach arrived 1 hour late.

The coach was carefully driven, I did not feel unsafe.

Stayed the night in Nong Khai and caught the coach to Vientiane next morning. It took Nearly 2 hours to finally reach the hotel in Laos.

The formalities were minimal at the border. It cost me 1300 baht or $30 US for a Lao visa.

I spent 4 relaxing and stress free days there. Very cheap, good food, the people were wonderful. Lao beer has about 6 different varieties. A change from Thai lager.

It cost me 10,000 kip to leave Lao. Formalities at Thai border were minimal.

I caught the 10.30 bus back to Kabinburi. It took 11 hours because I returned on a Sunday and caught the weekend traffic crush. Stop/start coach trip.

My first border run. I was nervous but need not have been. My Issan wife accompanied me. She got to practice Lao.

Many thanks to ubonjoe especially,and briggsy for valuable advice. Thanks Joe. In Lao- kop jai. lol